The ballet scholar who inspired generations of dancers

Sissie Smith became a respected name in the world of ballet in England and she went on to teach generations of dancers

There are not many dancers in Nottingham who will not have heard of the name Sissie Smith.

The ballet teacher, born in 1914, became a successful dancer by the time she was a young teenager, before opening her own school in the city.

She was one of the first five pupils selected for a scholarship scheme by the ballet examining board and charity the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), launched 100 years ago, and went on to perform for royalty.

Helen Leonard-Taylor - who founded her own ballet school in the city and was taught by Ms Smith - said she had created a lasting "legacy".

Sissie Smith was already excelling in ballet at the age of 15

"It's like a dancer's heritage," she said. "Sissie passed on her knowledge to me, and I taught Michelle, who runs the school [Leonard School of Dance] now."

Aged 18, Ms Smith was one of five students chosen to dance in front of the King and Queen of Denmark. She opened her school in 1929.

Ms Leonard-Taylor began training under Ms Smith aged 11 - when she said she began to ballet "more seriously".

Helen was 11 when she started training under Ms Smith

"She was taught by some of the founding members of the RAD," she added. "She was amazing.

"She was tough - there was no giving up with her, you just had to keep going until you got it right, but she was lovely.

"And if she said it was good, you knew it was."

Of her fondest memories of Ms Smith, the 65-year-old said on drives to another performing arts school, the pair would have "some lovely chats".

Ms Smith (middle) pictured with her daughter, Karen Robertson and granddaughter Claire, marking her retirement - all three were ballet scholars

Ms Smith, who died in 1989, was "completely dedicated to teaching", she added.

"She must have taught thousands of children over the years."

Throughout the year, Ms Leonard-Taylor said the scholar would only take a few days off from teaching.

"And then she would go to Spain, and she used to tell me she'd just sleep for about three days," she said.

Ms Smith's daughter and granddaughter also became RAD scholars.

Sissie Smith is one of many dancers being celebrated by the RAD as part of its centenary since the children's dance scholarship, which ran for about 60 years.