A Cumbrian dance school has said that it is 'really proud' as it celebrates its fifth anniversary. 

Cumbria Ballet School, which is based in the Atlas Works on Nelson Street in Carlisle, was first opened in September 2019 by ballet teacher Rachel Gordon. 

The school was the continuation of a long-running family business that was originally started by Rachel's mum Barbara Renel in London before moving to Carlisle, and where Rachel taught before launching the current school.

At Cumbria Ballet School, Rachel teaches children aged three and upwards and adults of all ages, and after reaching the half-a-decade milestone, she was on hand to express her delight. 

(Image: Supplied) She said: "It's brilliant, especially after starting this business in September 2019 and then Covid hit in March 2020, it was a really difficult for many different businesses but especially face-to-face classes like ours.

"To get to this stage now where numbers have built back up to where they were pre-Covid as well as all the new students is amazing.

"Reaching this milestone is also a time to celebrate our past students and all of their achievements and I am just really proud."

(Image: Supplied) From a young age Rachel knew she wanted to be a teacher and spent 15 years in primary school teaching. However, thanks to her mum's school and now Cumbria Ballet School she has been able to realise her dancing dreams. 

She said: "I set up Cumbria Ballet School in September 2019 and I had been running Cumbria Dance before that.

"When I started the current school up on my own I wanted to focus on my specialty, which is ballet... it was my dream to have my own ballet school in Carlisle.

(Image: Supplied) "It's a family business, my mum had her own ballet school in London before moving to Carlisle and I have taken over from her. 

"I have danced since I was three and I have always loved dance. I also knew from when I was a child that I wanted to be a teacher. 

"Being able to make a living out of something that I am so passionate about is something I feel very privileged about."