TWO teenage dance groups are being created on Teesside.

The Tees Dance Initiative, based at the Arc in Stockton, has received £9,700 funding from the Stockton Youth Service to help with the development of the groups at Conyers School, in Yarm, and at Billingham Campus School.

The Initiative's professional dancers are helping to put the two groups, each made up of 20 youngsters, aged 13 to 16, through their paces with weekly after-school coaching sessions.

Heather Walker, education and dance development co-ordinator with the initiative, said: "This funding gives young people a wonderful opportunity to learn dance skills as well as to see some professional performances by renowned artists.''

Mark Mason, Stockton's manager of community education, said: "This is an exciting initiative for Stockton council's youth service and will help us provide a variety of new and stimulating activities for young people in the area.''