STARRY-EYED children hankering after exposure on stage and screen will soon have a new forum in which to nurture their ambitions as the curtain rises on a theatre school in Kendal.

Dancer and choreographer Denise Hutton is opening a Saturday school for performance skills at Kendal Leisure Centre from May.

On the curriculum will be drama, singing and all kinds of dance including ballet, tap and Ms Hutton's speciality street dance'.

"It's sort of funky, pop dance what they see on pop videos," explained the professional dancer, who has choreographed and performed on cruise ships and on many stages from the London Palladium to regular gigs with holiday giants Butlins and Oasis.

The Kendal performance school, catering for five to 18-year-olds, will be the third founded by Carlisle-based Ms Hutton, who already runs classes at Carlisle and Dumfries.

Three 12-week courses are on offer for infants, juniors and seniors culminating in one Pop Idol style event judged by theatre school teachers and representatives of Lakeside Castings in Carlisle and Blackpool agents Screen Management. "With Pop Idol and Fame Academy and shows like that, kids want to sing and dance and people are realising to just dance' or just sing' is not enough. You have got to be able to do a bit of everything," said Ms Hutton. "But whether they do go on to sing or whatever, it just gives them so much confidence they really come out of themselves."

Anyone interested in attending the school can contact Ms Hutton on 01228-550129.

April 24, 2003 13:30