A BRAVE Highland dancer who recovered from major spinal injury against all the odds is now inspiring a new generation.
Twenty-one-year old Isla Robertson was warned by doctors in her teens that she might never dance again.
But only 12 months later the Greenock star was not only back on the floor but was crowned a champion.
Now Isla is helping pass on her love of Highland Dancing through teaching and has a dream of running her own school one day.
We joined Isla at the Euro 2024 festivities in St John's Primary in Port Glasgow as she introduced some younger pupils to the traditional dance as part of their Scotland-themed party for the football finals.
Isla, who is studying to work with nursery children, was leading all the children in some Highland dance taster sessions as well as performing with her fellow dancers from the Deeney School of Dance.
She said: "I am doing great and I have made a full recovery.
"I am continuing to be involved in dancing. I love doing teaching and I just recently stopped competing.
Isla joined fellow dancers including Georgia Grant at St John's Primary in Port Glasgow and others from Deeney School of Dance for the school's Scotland Day special.
They gave a display for all the children and then the chance for them to try it themselves in smaller groups.
Isla added: "I love teaching and my dream would be to one day run my own dancing school."
The champion winning dancer was only 13 years old when she suffered terrible back pain which was so unbearable she had to be helped to sit up in bed.
It turned out she was suffering from a rare form of Scheuermann's disease and scoliosis.
Isla underwent a seven-hour operation at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
The major corrective surgery meant that two titanium rods were inserted in her back using 15 bolts.
There was no guarantee that she would be able to dance again or she would regain full mobility.
But courageous Isla bounced back and within months was training and within a year won the Renfrewshire Annual Competition.
She has since went from strength to strength and is now part of Jackie Deeney's Highland dancing team.
At St John's Primary the whole school took part in a Scotland party to celebrate the Euro 2024.
The youngsters enjoyed a whole day of activities indoors and outdoors with the Highland dancers.
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