Ravi Cannonier-Watson is getting ready to dance where few have dared to tread — the Royal Ballet School in London.

After a challenging audition process, the 11-year-old, left, has become the first Bermudian to be accepted into the prestigious school, which is considered one of the greatest classical ballet schools in the world.

Entry at the school is by audition only, and this year more than 2,000 applicants competed for about two dozen places. Speaking to The Royal Gazette, Ravi said he travelled to London for his audition on March 3 after his mother, Sophia Cannonier, submitted video and photographs of his past performances.

“It was nerve-racking, scary and exciting all at the same time,” he said.

“When you have eight judges staring at you, you feel like you want to run out of the room.”

The homeschooled student first became interested in ballet at the age of 5, after watching his sister taking a class.

“I was just sitting on the stage watching and thought maybe it was something I should try,” he said. “When I went home I told my mom I wanted to try ballet and she just jumped with joy.

“A few weeks later I started taking ballet classes.”

Since then he has continued his training at the Bermuda School of Russian Ballet and Jackson’s School of the Performing Arts.

Asked what attracted him to ballet, he said: “I love that there’s no talking, just expressing with your body. I love everything about it.”

Ravi said his parents were happy about his acceptance and his grandmother was thrilled, adding: “When I told my grandmother the phone just exploded.”

Ms Cannonier said: “We are very proud of our son, who has worked extremely hard over the past six years with his ballet as well as other disciplines in the arts. He has earned every bit of this, and we know he will go far.”

The Royal Ballet School programme begins with a five-year stint at White Lodge before students audition for the Royal Ballet Upper School in Covent Garden, where they train for another three years before graduating as professional dancers.

While in London, Ravi is hoping to be able to audition for a spot in The Nutcracker — a show in which he has always wanted to perform.

As for longer term goals, Ravi said he was keeping his options open, adding: “I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I just want to be the best I can be. If that doesn’t go well, I’ll try something else.”

Asked what advice he would give other young people who wanted to follow in his footsteps, he said to persevere.

“If you don’t do well on your first day, keep doing it,” he said.

“If you keep doing it over and over and over, you are going to get better.”