February 4, 2019

Over 200 young people from secondary schools across Cumbria will be wowing audiences at Theatre by the Lake next week as part of U.Dance Cumbria – the county’s annual dance festival for children & young people.

U.Dance Cumbria is organised with the support of Active Cumbria and brings together pupils of all ages from primary, secondary and special schools in Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland and Eden to perform and celebrate their achievements in dance.

The first performance of 2019 gets underway on Tuesday 12^th February when pupils get the amazing opportunity to perform on a professional stage to a live audience. Schools taking part in Keswick this year are Kirkby Stephen Grammar, Newman, St Joseph’s RC High, Appleby Grammar, The Lakes, William Howard, Queen Katherine, Keswick, Workington Academy & Kirkbie Kendal.

They are joined on stage by Cumbrian students from the North West Centre for Advanced Training (based at The Lowry in Manchester), Eden Youth Dance Company and also Cumbria Youth Dance Company who will be premiering the first of their three dances created in collaboration with Wired Aerial Theatre, a project supported by Arts Council England.

The evening promises to inspire the audience and highlight just what amazing dance talent we have here in Cumbria.

U.Dance Co-ordinator Lynn Barnes says, “The U.Dance Cumbria event at Theatre by the Lake always takes my breath away.  The young people involved give 110% and there’s an amazingly supportive atmosphere throughout the theatre.  Even if you don’t have a child performing it’s a real treat to watch.” 

The festival continues on 11^th & 12^th March at The Carnegie Theatre, Workington with primary schools from Copeland and Allerdale and on 21^st & 22^nd March at The Sands Centre, Carlisle with primary schools from Carlisle and Eden.