THE world of dance in many of its colourful forms is to be celebrated at a three-day festival at the end of this month.

Peculier Vision, the Mashamshire Arts Festival, gets under way next Friday and involves people of all ages.

World music band Elephant Talk are returning to Masham for the event after their successful appearance there last year.

The three musicians - Jon Maybey, Adrian Sykes and Josef Greenfield - are back on May 1, playing music that has been described as "simply the most vibrant and original dance fusion sound around."

Their instruments include the flute, tablo, kalimba, jaw harp, hammer dulcimer and the didgeridoo.

The dance festival gets under way with the children from Masham School giving their annual maypole dancing performance on the square.

On May 1, as well as Elephant Talk, there will be three dance workshops in the town hall.

The first is flamenco and open to all age groups. Next is a pom-pom dance workshop for children, aged four to eleven, which will be split into two groups.

The last workshop is breakdancing for teenagers, with two sessions running during the afternoon.

At St Mary's Church on Sunday morning, the theme of the family service will be the Lord of the Dance and in the afternoon, there will be a workshop for adults entitled free movement ballet.

For further information, bookings and tickets, contact Mashamshire Community Office on (01765) 680200.