WORK on a £7.5m dance centre for the North-East will begin today.

Dance City, the national dance agency for the North, will begin construction of its new headquarters on Tuesday.

The centre will be in the Grainger Town area of Newcastle. It has been designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects and will be built by Shepherds Construction.

Newcastle City Council leader Councillor Tony Flynn will launch the work at 1pm, before builders move in.

This centre will house five dance studios, a 250-seat theatre, a library, offices, and a cafe and bar. There will also be an alternative health clinic, education centre and pilates studio.