Talented child ballet star, 14, dubbed 'the next Billy Elliot' found dead at family home

Talented child ballet star, 14, dubbed 'the next Billy Elliot' found dead at family home

2019-12-28 17:55:50

Jack Burns, an accomplished dancer, was found dead at home in Greenock, Inverclyde, on December 1.

Jack Burns, an accomplished dancer, was found dead at home in Greenock, Inverclyde, on December 1 (SWNS)

Jack Burns, an accomplished dancer, was found dead at home in Greenock, Inverclyde, on December 1 (SWNS)

A child ballet star dubbed ‘the new Billy Elliot’ was found dead at his home aged 14.

Jack Burns was tipped to be a rising star within Scottish Ballet and had appeared in hit TV show Outlander in 2014.

The dancer, was found hanging at the family home in Greenock, Inverclyde, and rushed to hospital where he was later pronounced dead on December 1.

His death is not being treated as suspicious by police.

Glasgow, UK - August 31, 2011: Pedestrians exit and pass in front of the main entrance to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Renfrew Street, Glasgow. Previously known as the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (or RSAMD) it provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in music, drama and dance.

Glasgow, UK - August 31, 2011: Pedestrians exit and pass in front of the main entrance to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Renfrew Street, Glasgow. Previously known as the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (or RSAMD) it provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in music, drama and dance.

He was described as an “inspiration” by his teachers, after taking up dancing seven years ago.

A post on Facebook by the Elite Academy of Dance said: “It is with a very heavy heart that we write this post.

“Tragically as you know we lost our much loved student Jack Burns on Sunday 1st of December.

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“Jack was an inspiration to everyone at Elite and touched the hearts of everyone who had the pleasure of working and dancing with him since 2012.

“We and all of Jack’s family and friends are naturally completely devastated and at a loss for words and answers.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “At around 3.30pm on December 1, police were called following the death of a 14-year-old boy within a house in Greenock.

Jack trained at the Elite Academy of Dance in Greenock and the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow and drew comparisons with Billy Elliot, a role he auditioned for in 2015 (SWNS)

Jack trained at the Elite Academy of Dance in Greenock and the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow and drew comparisons with Billy Elliot, a role he auditioned for in 2015 (SWNS)

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the exact cause of his death which police are not treating as suspicious.”

The talented youngster also appeared in ITV thriller In Plain Sight alongside actor Martin Compston, who hails from the same hometown.

Jack trained at the Elite Academy of Dance in Greenock and also at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow and drew comparisons with Billy Elliot, a role he auditioned for in 2015.