WORD spread around the Sunderland nightclub that a 91-year-old woman with a walking stick had arrived to audition. If these were showbiz trials for Opportunity Knocks or a Michael Barrymore talent show, the news wouldn't have caused a stir. Those kind of programmes are used to embracing a wide range of performers in both age and ability. But the appearance of an infirm pensioner does raise eyebrows in Privilege - as auditions are to find members of a new dance group. Somehow the idea of a granny in a modern North-East version of Pan's People doesn't add up.

The woman duly arrives at the top of the stairs and is helped to a seat. She has actually come to watch someone audition. It turns out that presenter Sam Ross was winding us up, a little joke to pass the time as 50 or so dancing wannabes registered and warmed up for the competition.

This is the first audition for a new Tyne Tees Television series Red Hot Dance, which it's tempting to call the North-East's all-dancing answer to Popstars. The formula - public auditions and eliminations with every move, right or wrong, captured by TV cameras - certainly seems the same.

Producer Derek Proud says: "The idea came about at one of our regular meetings in current affairs. It seemed singers had had their day and a chance to shine nationally, now was the time to give dance a chance."

The trouble is the four-strong judging panel seems, for the most part, blissfully unaware of the Popstars phenomenon and I have to explain about Hear'Say. You wonder where they've been locked up for the past few months.

American choreographer JP is looking for dynamism and a sense of rhythm in the performers. Fellow judge Lynne Griffiths, a dancer and agent, wants to see energy. "Don't forget passion," adds JP. "And charisma," chips in Tora, a dancer and musician from Peru now based in Newcastle.

The Popstars victors won a recording contract while the prize for the five Red Hot Dance winners is the opportunity to be coached by a professional choreographer and perform on the opening night at El Divino, one of the world's hottest dance spots on the island of Ibiza.

That could be as big a break as a record deal, says the fourth judge, dance agent Dawn Love. "You don't know what will evolve out of this. Anything could happen. It could be reach for the stars," she says.

"The group itself could become a celebrity dance show around the North-East and be asked to perform in clubs. With all the hard work it would be nice to see they carry on, find a manager and put on a British tour."

All this is a long way away on this Saturday afternoon in Sunderland where loud music is thumping out over the sound systems as dancers warm up and camera crews scurry about interviewing contestants.

Three open auditions are being held in the region - others follow in Teesside and Tyneside - followed by elimination rounds until ten compete for the five final places in the group. By the time the doors are open at the first audition there are more than 50 hopefuls in the queue outside Privilege, allaying fears that this could turn out to be flopstars rather than a dancing Popstars.

"That's about five times as many as turned up for Popstars auditions in Newcastle," says presenter Sam Ross, who introduced new bands to North-East viewers in the music series showreel uk!. Red Hot Dance is a great opportunity because so many dance agents and people in the industry will be in the audience on that first night in Ibiza."

Most of the wannabes were female although there were a few brave lads willing to put their best foot forward on the dance floor. Dean Stockley, 23, was actually first in the queue - more by accident than desire to ensure he got into the auditions.

Originally from London, he now lives in Prudhoe, working as a DJ and MC. "I've been dancing since I was nine. I've done everything else so now I'm looking for something a bit new. I'm just going to enjoy it," he explains.

By now, Sam is standing in front of the door to the ladies' toilets with a microphone in her hand, facing a camera crew. After a brief talk to camera, she turns and enters the loo, followed by the camera and sound men. The lavatories are being used as changing rooms by contestants and Sam wanted an intimate chat with some of them.

The figures that emerge from the toilets are wearing more glitter and less clothes in most cases. Bare midriffs are in the majority which is a disadvantage as wannabes need somewhere to pin their contestant's number.

"I can do it, I'm just not as flexible as I used to be," says one young dancer as she tries to touch her toes. There are people doing the splits, swinging their arms from side to side and swaying their hips.

There are several whose glittery, feather-trimmed bodysuits, with flesh-coloured material covering their modesty, look like they've strayed out of Come Dancing. Some girls are wearing heels they can hardly walk in, let alone strut their stuff on the dance floor.

A cowgirl wears red PVC chaps over a miniscule black PVC top and shorts. Another outfit is adorned with horseshoes on her boots, her shorts and her top. The outfits - or rather, lack of them - are clearly winning friends and influencing people among the onlookers. "This is better than the match," suggests one man as another skimpily-attired youngsters kicks her legs and shakes her body suggestively.

Many look as though they're dressed for a workout in the gym, something reflected in their dance routines. Sometimes the activity resembles heats in a Olympic gymnastic competition rather than a dance competition.

Dancers are called on to the floor five at a time and, after a short group session, are given a one-minute solo spot to impress the judges. Some display more energy rather than expertise, more enthusiasm than flare (although as someone with two left feet, I should keep quiet).

All the while one camera crew focuses on the dancers while another catches every comment and look of the judges. And a vital requirement of reality TV programmes is to record contestants' post-performance feelings, whether it's The Weakest Link or Blind Date, so a third Tyne Tees crew talks to breathless contestants after they've danced.

Those selected to go through to the next round spend the rest of the afternoon being taught a dance routine which they perform in front of the Saturday night crowd at Privilege.

"I wasn't surprised at the turn-out because I think people in the North-East are fantastic dancers. People see that every weekend in clubs," says Derek Proud, a self-confessed non-dancer.

He hopes the final line-up will feature three women and two men, which means they could do with more male contestants at future auditions, the last of which is held in Tyneside on April 16. Further details from the information line on 0191 230 2230.

l Red Hot Dance begins on Tyne Tees on June 4 at 10.50pm.