DANCERS from a Cheshire dance company have stars in their eyes after an Easter holiday course in London.

The youngsters, from Homegrown Dance Theatre, bumped into presenter Declan Donnelly, one half of the TV duo Ant & Dec, at Pineapple Dance Studios.

During the course, the dancers, who hail from west and east Cheshire, took part in workshops at the internationally acclaimed London School of Contemporary Dance as well as the Pineapple Dance Studios in Covent Garden.

Sebastian Middleton, 11, of Mickle Trafford, said: “It was great seeing Dec. He was rehearsing for his Saturday night show and he was really friendly. We had a fab time in London.”

Homegrown’s director Julia Williams, added: “The workshop programmes at LSDC and Pineapple were just amazing – it was a great opportunity for our young people to work with world class artists and also with other young people from all over the country.”

The company has recently been successful in achieving its first ever grant from Arts Council England for a project at Chester Cathedral next month.

Julia said: “We’ve been awarded £9,500 from the lottery funded Grants for the Arts Scheme – we were absolutely thrilled when the confirmation came through the letter box!”

“This funding is earmarked for the forthcoming Mini Mysteries event, based on the Chester Mystery Plays, involving 300 young people from across Cheshire.”

The project will involve pupils from Dee Point, St Saviour’s RC and Dodleston primary schools, The King’s Junior School, Eaton Bank Academy, Delamere Academy, Homegrown Youth Dance Company and Homegrown’s Young Performers.

Music for Mini Mysteries has been composed by Matt Baker, who is also composing music for the main Chester Mystery Plays production in the summer.

Mini Mysteries is at Chester Cathedral on May 10 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £3 (£2 concessions) from julia.williams.homegrown@hotmail.co.uk. For tickets for the Chester Mystery Plays visit www.chestermysteryplays.com.

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