AN arts venue built to educate and entertain miners and their families is preparing to host its first ballet.

When in 1939 the Spennymoor Settlement’s Everyman Theatre was officially opened, it was envisaged that the Settlement’s drama group would perform there regularly and, occasionally, the resident music, choral and dance groups too.

In 2008 the Box Office began to bring in guest acts including amateur and professional musical performers, children’s entertainers, brass bands and it has hosted plays and shown films.

But never in its history, has the stage played host to ballet.

Yet the JSNL Dance Company will give two performances at the theatre, on O'Hanlon Street, during its 2016 UK tour.

They will be on Sunday, June 26, at 2pm and 7pm.

Under dance director Soren Niewelt the company has played around the world and its cast includes Jessica Larby, of Germany; Attila Kiss, of Hungary; Estelle Botella, of France; and Yamile Navarano, of Mexico.

The programme entitled Variations of Pointe includes Petrouchka, Transitions of Identity and a comedy piece based on the TV show 'Allo 'Allo.

Tickets are £12 for adults and £8 for 16s and over 65s, some wheelchair spaces are available and should be booked early.

They are available at Hybrid MultiMedia, 30 High Street, Spennymoor, from the Theatre during the Saturday coffee mornings from 10am to 11.30am, on 01388-816430 or online at spennymoorsettlement.co.uk.