A teenager from Watford has made history in the dance world as one third of a group of British students studying at a world famous school.

It is the first time three dancers from the UK have all trained together at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia.

Natalie Carter, 18, from Belgrave Avenue, has been a pupil since she completed her GCSEs in 2009 and is now taking ballet classes with Hayley Stobo and Daniel Dolan.

When she enrolled as a 16-year-old, Natalie became only the second British girl to attend the Bolshoi.

The former Watford Grammar School for Girls student studied ballet with the Gypsy Booth College and School of Theatre Arts in South Oxhey.

She was spotted by Svetlana Adyrkhaeva , a former Bolshoi principal dancer, during her visit to the UK in September 2008 and encouraged her to apply.

And after completing her first year, she was accepted onto the three year diploma course after finishing in the top five of 16 dancers invited back.

She is now half way through the first year of her diploma, under the watchful eye of a new teacher, Natalia Igorevna Revich.

All her lessons are taught in Russian, which means she and the other British students take part in intensive language lessons every day.

And although homesick when she first moved to Moscow, Natalie said she has now settled into a new culture and way of life.

“I cannot express to you how differently I feel this year,” she said. “Of course, there are times of homesickness but nowadays it's because I am at an age where I feel the need to tell and discuss everything with my mum and it hits me hard when she isn't there for me to rant to, though I'm sure she loves this.

“I am, however, feeling a lot more comfortable where I am living. After you cross the initial shock of being abroad you just forget where you are and get on with the daily routine. I enjoy the freedom of living away from home, and I have learnt a lot about myself and learnt a lot about responsibility having moved away.

“The language is coming along slowly but surely, I can translate near enough anything that I'm told in and out of class, the struggle is remembering the correct grammar and vocabulary in order to respond.”

Natalie said making friends with Russian students has helped to improve her vocabulary, while she has made firm friends with Daniel and Hayley.

“My most enjoyable moments at Bolshoi are the looks I get from my teachers after I have completed a clean exercise; the smiles stay in your mind for the rest of the day,” she said.

“Similarly the worst moments are when you have had a bad day, when classes haven't gone so well and you just wish you could run home, only to find you have to return to a dorm without any family there to give you a shoulder to cry on.

“Saying this, the two other Brits here make things easier. Hayley is like a sister to me, always there to share problems and have a laugh with. Daniel is my rock, he makes me feel better about everything, I lumber him with all my problems.”

Next month, Natalie has the chance to perform in the academy's annual repertoire concert but said she will only be allowed on stage if her routine is perfect.

“I have been given a solo and duet to rehearse for it but I will only get the chance to perform though if it's perfect,” she said.

“I'm battling for a spot against the Russians who have been training for much longer - if not there is always next time.”

And in the future, Natalie has set her sights on staying at the Bolshoi until her graduation, after which she hopes to travel across Europe and America to audition for different ballet companies.

She added: “I have not set my sights on any particular company because in a profession like ballet, nothing is for certain and I would rather not get my hopes up and see them crushed.

“This way I will be over the moon with any future job offer.”