SHE started her career at the Dance School of Scotland ...

and now ballerina Kara McLoughlin will mark her retirement back where she began.

Kara will perform at the dance school this weekend as it celebrates 30 years in Knightswood Secondary.

But the show, in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, is a double occasion for the dancer.

The 35-year-old is retiring from the stage after a career with Scottish Ballet.

Although she gave her final performance last week during the company's production of Romeo and Juliet, Kara is dancing for the last time on Sunday.

She said: "I'm sure there will be a few tears - particularly from my mum.

"My parents will both be there to see me, which is lovely as they've been with me every step of the way and given me great support.

"To come back full circle like this seemed meant to be and I'm pleased to be finishing off back where I began."

Kara, from Irvine, is now going to be a dance teacher.

She added: "I have had the privilege of watching the assessments of young dancers applying to join the Dance School and the standard is very, very high.

"When I was at the school there was always a combination of fun and discipline, which created individual characters rather than a group of dancers who were all the same.

"I see that same ethos in the school now. We all loved being here and that grew in us and was something we took away with us when we went on to our careers."

The Dance School was set up at Knightswood Secondary in 1984.

Originally a ballet school, the centre now has a musical theatre course and students go on to perform with some of the world's top dance and theatre companies.

Some 75 young people will be taking part in Sunday's end of year show.

And they will be joined by two special guests -graduates Greig Matthews, of the Vienna State Ballet, and Scottish Ballet's Daniel Davidson.

Tickets for the Dance Students’ summer show ’30th Anniversary Showcase 2014′ are now on sale.

It is on at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall  - Saturday 14th June – 7:30pm, Sunday 15th June – 7:30pm.

Tickets available from the Royal Concert Hall box office on 0141 353 8000 or by visiting here

catriona.sterwart@ eveningtimes.co.uk