Young people keen to try their skills at street dance are being invited to a free taster session in Sunderland this weekend.
The event is in celebration of a new expansion into the city by Newcastle's Dance City.
The venue is launching its first Centre for Advanced Training at The Fire Station in the cultural heart of Sunderland - where it already runs classes - and it will means that talented young people in Wearside can have access to professional street dance training without the need to travel to Newcastle.
CATs are part of a Government-funded drive to find young talents and - whatever their circumstances - help them realise their potential with the help of world-class dance specialists.
Dance City is now on the lookout for aspiring dancers aged 10-16 and it will be offering free taster sessions to boys this Saturday, May 29 and then to all young people on Sunday, May 30.
They will be put through their paces by internationally-renowned street dancers Rob Anderson of Bad Taste Cru, which has a long association with Dance City, and Robby Graham, an award-winning choreographer from Newcastle-based Southpaw Dance Company.
Beginners will be just as welcome as those with some dancing experience.
Dance City, the North East’s leading dance development organisation, already has studios in Sunderland and these cater for both MA dance students as well as the local community.
But the new CAT will open up the potential for world-class specialist training in street dance.
Anand Bhatt, artistic director and chief executive officer of Dance City, said: "We are all really excited to give young people in Sunderland and the surrounding area this incredible opportunity to realise their creative potential."
While it already has CAT programmes in Newcastle - where more than 100 young people have received training in contemporary dance - and in Darlington, Sunderland's focus on street dance makes this one different.
And due to its Department for Education support, local hopefuls could have access to means-tested grants.
Anand added: “With the success of our existing Centre for Advanced Training, we now want to bring that world-class training and expertise to Sunderland and launch a whole new street dance programme here.”
Amongst its CAT success stories, one student, Connor Scott from Blyth, won the BBC Young Dancer in 2015 and is now a professional dancer and Alex Thirkle, from Sunderland, has performed regularly at Sadler’s Wells and is currently studying at Rambert.
Saturday's free boys’ workshop will run from 10am until 1.30pm with b-boy Rob Anderson and will cover various elements of breakdance: top rock, footwork, power and freezes as well as a creative session.
The Taster Day on Sunday, with Robby Graham, will run the same hours and will feature two dance classes including breaking, a short presentation and a question-and-answer session for both parents and students.
Places are free but must be booked as Covid-safety measures will be in place. To book see here or call 0191 261 0505.
