TWO light-footed friends from Selby are celebrating after taking major steps forward in their dancing careers.

Sarah Corbally, 18, of Selby, and Gemma Gent, 17, of Monk Fryston, both pupils at Selby Dance Centre, are both well on their way to forging careers in show business.

Sally, whose father owns Selby's famous Mr C's fish and chip emporium, started at the North London College of Performing Arts this September. She is receiving lessons from prestigious dance teachers, including the musical director of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and has already received praise for her ballet technique and singing.

Sally joined the Selby Dance Centre at the age of eight and has achieved high standards in ballet, tap and modern dancing.

Gemma started dancing at the age of three, under the tuition of her mother, Janice Hargreaves, the principal of the Selby Dance Centre.

She studied at the Royal Ballet Lower School for five years from the age of 11, and has recently joined a professional dance company. She is to perform in the show, Spirit Of The Dance, which tours not just in Britain but worldwide. Gemma is also about to audition for a part in Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical, Cats.

Janice Hargreaves said: "Their success is mainly through dedication and hard work. They have both been dancing most of their lives.

"A lot of the other children at the school have been encouraged by the news of the girls' doing well and it has made them work even harder."

Updated: 15:28 Tuesday, October 22, 2002