MOST 11-year-old boys probably would not have heard of Rudolph Nureyev let alone name him as one of their heroes. David Beckham or Rio Ferdinand yes, a deceased Russian ballet dancer no.

But Jamie Harris is not most 11-year-old boys.

Dancing is his first, second and third love and has been from a very early age and the world, it seems, is very much at his feet.

"Ever since I could walk I've been jigging about whenever there's music on," explained the former Matching Green Primary School pupil at his home in Park Lane, Harlow.

And although he's too young to have seen Nureyev on stage, Jamie has watched numerous recordings of the legendary Russian in action and sees parallels between Nureyev's early years and his own.

"He was a bit like me, he didn't want to be a dancer until he saw his first performance by the Moscow Ballet."

Indeed it was a trip to the theatre at the age of five that made Jamie realise he wanted to be a professional dancer.

He said: "I saw Riverdance and thought to myself 'I think I'd be quite good at that'".

However Riverdance creator Michael Flatley, who inspired him, does not rank alongside Nureyev in Jamie's eyes who describes him as "a bit of a big head."

Soon after the show Jamie began attending the Bishop's Stortford School of Performing Arts at the Northgate Centre and ever since he has been regularly picking up awards, winning competitions and appearing in prestigious concerts with amongst others The National Youth Ballet.

Principal Jacqui Ison, who has taught Jamie since he was five, said: "His enthusiasm and his talent does make him quite outstanding. With the right guidance he'll go a long way."

Proud dad John does not know where the talent comes from. "There's me, his mum Barbara, brother Mark, 22, and sister, 19, and none of us can dance," he says.

"He amazes me. He works so hard he deserves to get somewhere because he puts in so much effort. If you watch him dance its just wonderful"

Jamie has performed at Sadlers Wells, and the Royal Albert Hall, and is a twice winner of the solo Grandison Clarke national dancing competition in which entrants perform traditional folk dances from around the world.

He has featured in the national press and local television news and has twice appeared on the BBC children's programme Blue Peter.

Bright and articulate, he is very clear about his ambitions saying: "I want to have my own performing arts school and I also want to be a choreographer.

But that is all for the future and for the moment Jamie, who also plays the flute and is a gifted actor, is a student at the Arts Education School in West Chiswick, London.

Going to school so far away from home ensures that everyday is a long day but Jamie does not mind.

"You have to work very hard at dancing or you deteriorate very quickly."

He gets up at 5.15am leaves the house at 6.10am with his dad who works in west London and drives Jamie to and from school. He does not finish until 5.30pm and does not arrive home until about 7pm.

There is no rest at the weekend either.

On Saturdays he still goes to the Bishop's Stortford school with teacher Jacqui Ison and Sundays are spent with the National Youth Ballet.

But Mr Harris insists "We never push him. He dances seven days a week and takes the long school day in his stride. I've never seen anybody so dedicated. You have to see it to believe it."

And it seems Jamie is already making a name himself at his new school.

He is the first Year 7 pupil in the school's history to be in group four for ballet. Group two and occasionally three are the best most children of his age can hope for.

However with annual fees of £7,000, Mr and Mrs Harris fear they will struggle to meet the costs of keeping him there for five years, so they are seeking sponsorship.

"We desperately need it to help Jamie achieve what we know he's capable of," said Mr Harris.

Anyone who is interested in helping can ring John Harris on 07771 796505.

November 29, 2001 8:55