IT was a toe-tapping and tantalising experience as Cumbrian dancers performed for a prestigious dance training scheme.

Young dancers from across the county were invited to take part in a day of contemporary technique classes and creative workshops run by The North West Centre for Advance Training, based at The Lowry in Manchester, which is celebrating its 10th year in 2019.

They were also given the opportunity to see work performed by Cumbria Youth Dance Company.

The popular event, which took place at the University of Cumbria's Brampton Road Campus, gave ambitious dancers, aged 12-18, the chance to find a path in the industry and sample life as a professional dancer.

By offering this opportunity it gives the youngsters a chance to prepare for further professional training.

Lynn Barnes, coordinator of the CAT outreach programme in Cumbria, said: “In Cumbria, we get the highest number of attendees and I think it’s because it’s quite special.

“We don’t have this opportunity on our doorstep, we don’t have a great metropolis of theatres on every street corner.

“I think when something like this gets organised people do access it. It’s not an everyday occurrence.

“It’s highly valued and people turn out and that is our experience over the last 10 years.”

“We’re so geographically sparse but it is so well attended and valued.”

Kelly McClelland, who runs Eden Dance School in Penrith, explained the value of the event. She said: “It’s incredibly important, it offers children from a rural county the opportunity to seek professional training which is only really offered to children in the cities.

“Sometimes being out in rural areas they don’t have that. They can access high-quality training on their doorstep and realise that they can take this opportunity to take the next step into the profession if they want to.”