"As part of PE at The Earl's High School in Halesowen near Birmingham, we had to study dance. I was around fourteen or fifteen when I was introduced to it and I've been dancing ever since. We did contemporary dance and it really captured my imagination. I got to be active and I was good at dance, which was not always the case with some of the more academic subjects. The teacher was really supportive and encouraged me to continue so I joined her lunchtime dance club and she later invited me to dance with her company Momentum which had young people from school, college and university involved in it. It was really enjoyable to learn and perform with other people who felt the same way about dancing. I also tried different types of dance at the local dance school, even becoming a disco champion - two years running! I studied dance at GCSE level and went on to join a BTEC National Diploma in Dance at Halesowen College."

"At college we trained in Graham technique and it really drove home to me that I wanted to study contemporary dance and become a professional dancer. All my tutors were former NSCD students and were able to give the 'insider's guide' to the School, and the more I heard the more determined I became to get a place there. I auditioned at both Scottish and Northern Schools of Contemporary Dance and luckily got accepted at Northern onto the BPA (Hons) degree in Contemporary Dance. I really wanted to train there because I'd heard about its reputation for producing exactly what I wanted to be - a top-class, professional contemporary dancer."

"My friends and family have only ever wanted me to be happy and achieve my dreams. They don't exactly 'get' the dream of being a contemporary dancer - it is at the end of the day, not everyone's cup of tea to either do or to watch - but they have, none the less, been there for me throughout my training."

"I've just graduated from the BPA (Hons) degree at NSCD. During the three years I felt I would always have the luxury of accessing the classes, the studios, the people and the experiences offered. I now realise it actually goes by so quickly and I'm glad I appreciated and made the most of it despite sometimes finding it hard to keep up the momentum, particularly during the winter. Luckily enough I'm at the School for another year. During my final year I auditioned to join the company pathway on the Postgraduate Diploma course and am now a dancer with Verve along with ten other dance graduates from all over the world. Over the next year, I will be working with an international line-up of choreographers - Filip Van Huffel, Glenn Wilkinson, Jenni Kivelä and Milan Kozánek - and performing in around 20 venues throughout the UK and Europe."

"My main ambition is to perform. I would love to dance with established companies and work with exciting choreographers like Shobana Jeyasingh and Hofesh Schechter, both of whom I have been fortunate enough to meet via company workshops at NSCD. I definitely joined the Postgraduate Company to help me achieve this ambition - by getting loads of experience rehearsing and touring, I'll be more confident and experienced when it comes to auditioning for professional jobs."

"Once you think you'd like to dance, start doing it. Schools like NSCD look for potential rather than experience for some of the courses but any previous experience will give you an extra bit of confidence and fitness. In terms of applying, try to learn about the school and what it does. NSCD places emphasis on the technical training and choreography and creative studies while others will concentrate on different areas. You'll need to find the school which is right for what you want to do. Try to visit the school so you can experience it and feel the atmosphere first-hand and try to see performances by the students. When you're ready to audition, make sure you work hard in creating your solo and that you're well rehearsed. It's at this point that knowing a dance teacher comes in handy as you can ask for their advice. Once you're in full-time training you have to be completely committed and focused - you'll be challenged physically, creatively and emotionally but it's worth it if you are following your dream."