THE heats are on for the south east’s primary platform for the dancers of tomorrow.

Dancers from Hampshire will soon be competing against youngsters from six other counties for a place in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) 2015 South East Awards final which will be held at their headquarters in London on Sunday, May 10.

Approximately 6-8 finalists will be selected from each of the heats in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex between January 18 and March 1.

A winner from each level at the finals will be selected by judge Darren Parish, previous judge of the awards and senior RAD teacher.

Former contestant Isabella Knights has gone on to study at the Royal Ballet School and reach the finals of the Young British Dancer of the Year 2014.

She said: “Six years have passed since competing in the RAD’s South East Awards. It was my first competition ever and I was very happy to be placed third.

"One of the adjudicators was Lauren Cuthbertson and little did I know then that two years later while in my second year at White Lodge I was to share the stage with her at the Royal Opera House in Swan Lake. I was a little swan!

"I am now in my first year of the Royal Ballet School. So many wonderful things have happened since that very first competition!”

Darren Parish added: “Once again I am looking forward to seeing the young dancers bring their enjoyment of dance and individual qualities to the studio. It is always exciting to see the talent of the future.”