A student has switched roles after returning to her former dance academy as a teacher.

Mary Green spent three years at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance, but it was always her intention to return home and now she is a dance teacher at The Performance Academy in Accrington where she honed her skills.

Katherine Marriott-Pae, principal of the Hargreaves Street academy, has been teaching Mary since she was two and even at such a young age spotted her potential.

Mary, 21, said: “I always wanted to be a ballet teacher and now I am also getting to do a bit of everything including fitness. I never wanted to do anything else.

“All my family are up here and when I left three years ago I told Katherine I would return.

“When I walked back into The Performance Academy it felt like I was returning home; nothing had changed.”

There are only 30 places awarded at the Royal Academy of Dance each year and hundreds of people from all over the world compete for them.

Mary, who lives in Bacup, added: “To secure a place they first teach you a class, then you have to run a bit of the class yourself, have an interview and complete a test.

“It is a full time commitment. You are there every day from 8.30am until 4pm with ballet classes starting at 9am.

“As well as my BA Hons in Ballet Education, I also did extra classes to pass all of the ballet exams. This included solo seal, the top exam.

“I didn’t like London because it was so busy. When you go for a weekend it is fun, but when it is all the time it is too much.

“It is also a very expensive place for students but it was the best place to learn how to teach dance.”

Katherine prepared Mary for the rigorous application procedure at the Royal Academy and was delighted when her student got the place.

She said: “At first I taught her ballet and tap and she was entering competitions. She had confidence.

“When she left to go to London she said she would return once she had been trained and I am delighted to have her back in the academy, this time as a teacher.

“It was also fantastic to welcome her back here. We had all missed her and some of the older students remember her being here before.”

Besides teaching the regular children’s ballet and tap, Mary has introduced new classes including pilates for adults on Tuesdays, a new adults beginners tap class and mini groovers for four to six-year-olds.

To find out more about The Performance Academy call 07971 226389.