WHAT could sound to some as a version of the Bash Street Kids set to music is being staged in Germany by two professional dancers based in the region.

Tees Valley Dance's piece, called Space Invaders, concentrates on children's relationship to the classroom as a place of excitement and boredom, curiosity and discovery, success and failure.

The dancers throw themselves across tables, fight each other, pick their noses and celebrate their heroes.

Based at Arc in Stockton, Tees Valley Dance will present 14 performances in two weeks in schools around Cologne and Bottrop.

In the new year, the company will work with five secondary schools and five primary schools on Teesside to create a home-grown version of Space Invaders, which will then tour the region before a second visit to Germany, in March.

Kristine Sommerlade, artistic director, said: "It will be interesting to see if Tees Valley children will have similar or different ideas to German pupils about their classrooms."

Published: 20/11/2004