'I knew this is where I want to be for the next three years'

"I can't tell you the feeling of walking out of the door after my audition - I just knew that this is where I want to be for the next three years."

For 18-year-old dancer Evie Bradford, the start of the academic year marks the culmination of hours in the studio, and years of rehearsals and competitions.

The teen from Frecheville, Sheffield will soon be treading the boards and honing her craft at Laine Theatre Arts school in Surrey.

The well-known performing arts institution boasts famous alumni including Victoria Beckham, Warwick Davies and West End star Ruthie Henshall.

Evie jokes she's been dancing "since birth", adding: "I was on stage in my mum's belly. Honestly, I've never looked back and thought, this is not what I want to do."

A love for the arts runs in the family - Evie's mum and dad work for Manor Operatic Society as a choreographer and director respectively.

As a former student of Wakefield's CAPA College and a competitor at showcases, including Miss Dance of Great Britain, the teen is no stranger to performing under pressure.

With places on the three-year programme at Laine Theatre Arts school limited, Evie had to demonstrate she could sing, act and dance.

She explains: "I went to my audition and gave it my all because really, what have you got to lose?

"I was stressing so much because I did loads of different auditions, but Laine, as soon as you walk through the doors, you just know that it's the one."

She describes herself as "feeling extremely lucky" to land one of only a handful of coveted spots, alongside one of her best friends.

"I don't know a lot of people around me that have done any of this," she says.

"I feel like I'm quite fresh to it all."

Evie has already packed up her belongings and moved into her new home down south, ready for her new course to begin.

"I'm petrified, but also it's the start of a new beginning," she says.

"It's the start of my life really, because it's what I want to do in the future."

For the moment her focus is firmly on her studies, according to her.

"So [I'm] just going to take whatever comes my way in the next three years.

"I'm excited to make new friends and be with everybody that wants to do the same thing as me, every single day."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.