IN one way Louis Fendall is a typical 15-year-old enjoying skateboarding and basketball with his mates.

In another he’s something quite out of the ordinary — and in a two-month whirlwind his whole life has changed after being offered a full scholarship to the London Russian Ballet School.

The former Year 10 Woodroffe pupil will now have to dance for four hours a day and get one-to-one tuition for his GCSEs with 14 pupils.

For the next three years he’ll be immersed in classical and contemporary dance.

Louis first learnt tap and jazz with Bridport’s Niki Northover before taking up ballet two years ago and studying under Jill Chase at the Lyme School of Ballet.

It was after one of her classes that pupils were given the number of the London ballet school and encouraged to apply.

Louis.’ mother thought it would be good experience if nothing else.

He was called for an audition and asked back for a week-long try out.

Soon after he was offered the full scholarship and started his new life this week.

He said: “I am very excited. I think it will change my life greatly for the better.

“I will miss my friends but their support pushes me on.”

He didn’t get teased when he took up ballet he said.

“People are more accepting of it and more boys are getting into it, which is good. And hopefully I can be a role model and influence some people.”

Although he didn’t start his dancing with ballet it’s taken over now, he said and he’s drawn to it because it shows his talent and there is a direct payback - the harder he works the better he gets.

He said: “I am collaborating my strength and you need to have a good mind set and it’s very disciplined and I like that.

His mother Esther said: “He did a class and was then asked to come back for a week. That was about eight weeks ago. I am a bit shell-shocked but he is very happy about it and only slighted daunted.

“It hasn’t been his whole world, he’s out skateboarding and playing basketball and has loads of mates at Woodroffe. But he said it’s a no brainer - he’ll get a good education, get really super fit and be able to dance.”

Esther has also volunteered to help the school’s out reach programme.

She said: “In Russia anyone can go to the ballet however poor you are and they want to bring that here. And the Bolshoi come in August and they try and take 500 of the children from Lambert to see the Bolshoi I said I might help fundraise for that.”

Hannah Crabb his head of year at Woodroffe school said Louis would be much missed.

She said: “He’s kind of kept it under wraps for most of his school career.

“It is a shame to lose him because he’s a lovely lad really popular among his peers and with his teachers. We wish him all of our best and are looking forward to maybe going to see him on the stage.”

Mrs Chase and his fellow pupils also wished him the best of luck.