A FORMER West End musical star has expanded her dancewear business as television exposure has created an explosion in dancing’s popularity.

TuTu Dancewear, set up by former Starlight Express cast member Sara Durkin, has moved into premises in Middlesbrough’s Linthorpe Road.

It comes only two years after it first opened, in Parliament Road.

Ms Durkin, who employs three staff, said: “I wanted to be in a more prominent spot and we are now are one of the main bus routes, with more passing trade.”

Ms Durkin is now planning to supply more ballroom dancing shoes, after programmes such as BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing have led to a rise in its popularity.

Ms Durkin said: “I have sold a small range of ballroom shoes but I intend to expand that. That is the plan for the new year.

“Ballroom dancing has grown in popularity. It tended to always be older couples, but I think all ages are getting involved now.”

The 38-year-old also choreographs, teaches and lectures in dance, and is a curriculum leader for visual and performing arts at Stockton Riverside College.

She holds week-long dancing summer schools, which in the first year had 12 students and will have 50 this year.

She said: “I do a summer school every year and I have at least 15 male students. That has grown over the past few years. It is good for self-esteem and fantastic for fitness.

“I hope all of these new dance TV programmes make it even more popular.

“It is a big passion of mine to bring strong performing arts training to the North-East.

“I still have friends who work in the West End and on Broadway and I get them to come and do masterclasses and workshops. Last March, we had a girl over from New York for a week.”

Ms Durkin, who is originally from Teesside, went straight into the line-up of Starlight Express in London’s West End when she graduated from the London Studio Centre, having completed a three-year musical theatre diploma.

She has been supported since first setting up her business by advisory service Business Link, which helped her with sourcing original funding and developing a website, as well as issues such as reduced tax rates for small businesses.

Her advisor, Chris Simpson, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Sara from her first idea to the shop now running very successfully. As soon as I met Sara, I could see how focused and passionate she was about her business.”

For further information about Business Link, visit businesslink.gov.uk/northeast or call 0845 600 9 006.