Starlets hot foot it on to big stage

LITTLE starlets at Roundthorn primary school will be swapping their modest school hall for the bright lights of the theatre when they present an energetic dance show at the Lowry this weekend.

Thirty hot steppers from year six (10-11 year-olds) will be treating the audience to a show of Eastern dancing as part of a festival involving schools and youth groups from across Greater Manchester.

The festival, known as Danceworks, is organised by Dance Initiative Greater Manchester (DiGM) and the Roundthorn students will beflying the flag for Oldham as the only local organisation involved.

Selection for the show is a culmination of all the hard work the pupils have put in to hone their dance skills, after the school scooped a £5,000 National Lottery grant last year to improve dance on the curriculum.

Andrew Hughes said: “The pupils get a lot out of dancing. It builds their self esteem and they have always really enjoyed it. We have been holding special dance sessions in school since last October and have been in training for this show for the last month.

“We had to apply to DiGM to tell them how our involvement would benefit the school and the community and they accepted us.

“We will be celebrating the diversity of the school and all the students will be performing in Asian dress.

“They’re very excited but also quite nervous. They’ve never performed anywhere bigger than the school hall before.”

The show, which will also feature dances based on jazz, Irish traditions and break dancing, will take place at the Quays theatre in the Lowry on Sunday at 7pm.

Tickets cost £6.50 and are available from the Lowry Box Office on 0870 787 5780 or online at www.thelowry.com