SPRIGHTLY shoppers are needed to take part in a North-East trolley dash with a difference.

A renowned artist is hoping to form a 30-strong dance troupe, made up of people over 50, to perform a "trolley ballet"

in a marketplace.

Video artist Anton Hecht has linked up with Growing Older Living in Darlington (Gold), Darlington Borough Council and Darlington Partnership for the unusual arts project.

Trolley dash dancers will step, pirouette and glide in and out of shot to Dvorak's New World Symphony, performed by the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra.

A high-set camera angle will also capture the ballet in synchronised fashion, and it will be edited into a three-anda- half minute video.

Rehearsals will be staged in the Market Place on February 2 with the filming taking place the following day.

Several people have already registered an interest in the project which is being staged with funding from Northern Film and Media.

Anyone who turns up on the day could also find themselves on camera with a trolley provided by Sainsbury's Darlington store.

The final cut will be previewed at Darlington Arts Centre, downloaded onto the internet and shown at various venues around the country.

London-born Hecht, who lives in Newcastle, is renowned for working in the community with ordinary members of the public.

His previous works include One Note Band, a virtual performance in which a composition is created by editing a series of untrained musicians playing a single note, and Blinking Ballet, using shoppers in Newcastle.

He said: "It should be really good fun and a great way to showcase Darlington, its residents and the regeneration of the town centre.

"I met members of Gold last year. They had some great ideas and wanted to do something around dance. They feel that the over-50s are often invisible so they wanted to something which was highly visible."

Gold community development worker Lesley Compson said: "Our members are very enthusiastic and see it as an excellent way to promote Gold and the positive image of over-50s."

Darlington Partnership chief executive Steve Rose said: "It is a fabulous project that works so well on so many levels. It is fun, it shows the over-50s have a lot to offer in terms of creativity and it is physically active so it promotes good health."

Anyone interested in taking part can call Gold on 01325- 380719.