ADAM Tewkesbury has made the leap from martial arts to ballet in spectacular fashion, winning a place at a performing arts school just two years after taking up dance.

The 18-year-old from Stratton, who is hoping for a career in musical theatre, surprised his parents and school friends when he made the switch.

But he explained: “In my teens I went into a lot of competitions and realised that I really didn’t like fighting.”

He started doing martial arts at the age of four and carried on until he was 17. Ironically, his fellow fighters were not entirely surprised. “I was always jumping around and being flamboyant.”

He had been thinking of going to New College to do a performing arts course but a friend suggested he try for the Judith Hockaday School in Old Town. Without telling his mum and dad he arranged an audition and got in.

“I knew that when I started it that I wasn’t going to stop, just because I’m that type of person.”

It was only when he organised the audition that he told his parents Paul and Suzanne about his sudden change. It came as a surprise because although they and Adam’s sister Sophie were fans of ballroom dancing, he had never wanted to join them.

“I think they were quite relieved that I actually knew what I wanted to do. They were a little bit nervous because they know what a hard industry it is,” he said.

And after two years of hard work and passing exams in disciplines like tap, ballet, jazz and modern, he is off to the Performers College in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, which has had ex-students in many top West End shows.

“My favourite is ballet,” he said. “I find I like the discipline of it. Martial arts is the same. And it’s the precision alongside the performance and the passion behind it.”

He added: “Dance blows my mind. I go off into my own little world when I’m dancing.”

Founder Miss Hockaday said: “I am really thrilled at the news and I am so proud of Adam and all the hard work he has put in to get to where he is.

“It is quite amazing that he came from a martial arts background and has only been dancing for two years and he is where he is.

“What usually takes people five to six years he has done in two and it is absolutely wonderful to see.”

Adam and his fellow students are currently rehearsing for their school’s Let’s Make Noise show at the Wyvern on June 29 and 30. Tickets are available from the theatre box office.