YOUNG dancers have stepped up with a performance of classic and contemporary choreography as part of an annual event to get pulses racing.

Dance students from Haughton Academy, part of The Education Village Academy Trust, Darlington, welcomed hundreds of performers as they hosted the annual PULSE Tees Valley Sub Regional Platform Secondary Plus Performance.

Nine teams from Darlington and Teesside took part in the dance collaboration, part of a national partnership with U.Dance and Dance City, which supports and encourages dance performance opportunities for young people across the country.

Organiser Debbie Harbin, of The D Project, Darlington, said: “PULSE is a collaborative event for secondary schools and community groups across the region.

“It gives young dancers the opportunity to take part in dance workshops, to perform in front of a live audience, be inspired by other dance groups and to find out more about pathways into dance within their local area.

“This is the first time we have hosted the event at a Darlington venue and the facilities here at the Education Village are superb. They have a fantastic performance hall, purpose-built dance studios, excellent changing facilities and overall the academy has been extremely supportive of the entire event.”

Workshops in contemporary and commercial dance were led by Chloe Shutt, of The D Project, and internationally acclaimed Balletboyz dancer Blaine Richardson.

Dancers were then invited to perform for fun, or opt to take part in a competition element, with the first two placed groups chosen to take part in the PULSE regional finals at The Gala Theatre, Durham.

Darlington sports leader Aly Raw, said: “Our annual dance festival in Darlington proved so popular over the past 14 years that we have now split it into individual primary and secondary events.

“The secondary event evolved into the PULSE performance and it really engages pupils who may not feel as empowered to take part in more mainstream sports.

“The non-competitive element and the creative aspects and skills, including strength, body conditioning, control, choreography and costume, appeal which makes it an all encompassing, fun activity.”