DOZENS of tiny tappers are rehearsing for a song and dance spectacular at a North-East theatre next week.

More than 100 performers aged from five to fifty are appearing with Spennymoor company the Joanne Banks Dancers in the show Don’t Stop the Rock at Darlington Civic Theatre from July 6 to 8.

The show features over 30 dance routines including tap, jazz, acrobatic sequences and musical theatre performances including hits from top West End shows Chicago and Mama Mia.

Ms Banks’ mother Chris Banks said: "All the dancers have worked so hard to prepare for the show with lots of intense rehearsal sessions over the last seven weeks.

"The little ones have been very professional from the word go. You can see them blossom and grow with confidence as they learn to dance and I’m sure their parents will be very proud when they see them run out onto the stage.

"Anyone coming along to see the performance will go away tapping their feet and humming the tunes with a happy heart."

Ms Banks, 38, who has been dancing since the age of three, is celebrating 19 years in the business having taught thousands of dancers from across the North East from her studios.

At the end of August she will also be hosting workshops at Durham’s Gala Theatre with her musical theatre company Dionysis and artistic director husband Simon Bridge.

The workshops end with a performance of the Wizard of Oz.

Tickets for Don’t Stop the Rock are available from Studio 10, Spennymoor, on 01388-420210 or from Darlington Civic Theatre box office on 01325-486555.