A POPULAR dance group is gearing up for its annual production.

Bridport Youth Dance will present A Sky Full Of Stars next weekend - a collaborative production by Nikki Northover, with additional choreography from Aimee Symes, Matt Flint, Rebecca Whaley, Carrie Willis and Luke Robson.

For many years Nikki danced and worked with tap dancer and choreographer Derek Hartley at Pineapple Dance Studios in London, performing in his tap company Hartley's Jamm and at The Bloomsbury Theatre in Derek's Tap 2000 and A Complete Tap Odyssey.

Nikki has more than 20 years experience as a dance teacher, choreographer and creative producer. She has earned a glowing reputation promoting dance in Dorset, in particular tap, and is passionate about dance and encouraging creative learning in children and young people. Nikki aims to inspire in her students a love of learning and of dance that will last a lifetime.

A Sky Full Of Stars will feature music by Andrew Dickson, Matt Benjamin, Jack Harrison and Robert Lee.

The production will include performances by students of Bridport Youth Dance and Bridport Boys Dance - and will feature special guest appearances by Tapistory dancers and former Bridport Youth Dance students Emily Meech and Harry Poole.

Bridport Youth Dance runs dance classes for those aged five to 21 years old and workshops with leading teachers and choreographers from across the UK. The group consists of Bridport Boys Dance group, Summer Dance Scene, tap dance company 'Tapistory' and an annual production in Bridport.

This year's production is supported by Bridport Arts Centre, Arts Council England, West Dorset District Council, Bridport Town Council, Bridport Round Table, Bridport Lions and The Rex Travett Appeal Fund.

The performances will take place at Bridport Arts Centre on Friday February 27 and Saturday February 28 at 7.30pm - with a 3pm show on the Saturday.

For more information, call the Bridport Arts Centre on 01308 424204.