Bradford's own Billy Elliot is flying high after being short-listed for a national award.

While his mates were honing their footballing skills, dreaming of becoming the next David Beckham, Brandon Lawrence, now 16, was developing his talent and dreaming of becoming a principal ballet dancer.

He started dance classes at Idle's Stage 84 when he was aged eight and then continued at Nydza School of Dance in Bingley.

Now, the Allerton teenager's dreams are coming true.

He was left "gobsmacked" when he was spotted by a visitor from the illustrious Royal School of Ballet in London in the summer of 2006 and he has come on leaps and bounds after gaining a scholarship.

He has now been selected to continue to the upper school.

And the former Rhodesway School pupil has been left overwhelmed after being short-listed for this year's "Britain's Best 2008" award for Home Grown New Talent.

He said: "I saw Riverdance when I was eight and I was transfixed. I just loved dancing in general and started having tap, dance and ballet lessons. I just felt ballet was the one for me. The school is hard but the teachers really push us and encourage us, it is all part of the process of becoming a professional dancer. I enjoy coming home to Bradford and I like seeing my family. To win the award would be an honour."

Supporting Brandon all the way is his mum Lynn and sister Kim, 18.

His mum, a Woolworths employee, has to work hard to support her children's dreams.

But she wouldn't have it any other way.

She said: "He was always dancing in the house and it just escalated from there. I was just glad he was wasn't out and about, getting up to mischief. Not many people get to do what they love in life, you have got to live the dream.

"We told him to give it a try and if he didn't like the school we would still be here for him, nothing changes.

"When I see him dance it is quite unreal. He has a presence about him, the way he stands and holds himself and you can see he loves it.

"He deserves the award, without a doubt. He is a local lad who went to Rhodesway. He practised his dancing every night and studied the films. Kids can go the other way, they can come from Bradford and do something like this. It is just what he wants to do. He wants to make it and I will be there watching him with a box of tissues!"

Pippa Hogg, head teacher at the lower school of the Royal Ballet, believes Brandon has the ability to make it to the top.

She said: "He is a complete natural, he has so much talent. He could develop and take it to the very top at company level. He is also very grounded, I think that comes from his family. He is an asset to the school."

Britain's Best 2008 will be aired on ITV1 at 9pm on Friday, May 23.

e-mail: mel.fairhurst @telegraphandargus.co.uk