AFTER closing a year ago, former Coleg Gwent campus The Hill has reopened as Wales first residential ballet school.

Primo Balletto opened its doors on Monday to 30 students for a two week summer school run by school principal Angela Evington.

Dr Olinga Taeed Chairman of Primo Balletto said, The lease on the building began on August 2 but we hope to complete the purchase before the end of the year.

In two weeks we have completely refurbished the building with a lot of hard work carried out with the help from community groups.

As it is too late to take residential students for this academic year, the school is working with the Royal Academy of Dance to use it as a facility for teacher training until residential tuition begins in September 2011.

Dr Taeed also revealed he is working with community groups to bring back adult education courses to The Hill while Mulberry House and another community group will look after the propertys Victorian gardens.