THERE was real dancing for joy when development of Teesside's Fame school took a milestone step forward.

The first piece of turf was cut on a site earmarked for a £200,000 arts extension to Hall Garth School, Middlesbrough.

Construction work on site will start in earnest next week with completion scheduled for the summer.

Hall Garth won specialist school status in the performing arts last year.

It was also one of the first in the country to gain the gold Artsmark from the Arts Council for its range of arts provision for pupils and commitment to the arts.

The new building work will include drama, rehearsal, dance and changing rooms for the purpose built theatre Hall Garth shares with neighbours Kings Manor school.

Deputy mayor of Middlesbrough, Councillor Ken Hall cut the first turf and an all boy group put on a dancing display, yesterday.

Special performing arts status for the 1,100 pupil school will see every child given the opportunity to achieve a GCSE in the creative arts, while dance, music and drama will be used to raise pupils' self-esteem.

Hall Garth's designation saw it provided with £100,000 from the Department for Education, matched with £75,000 sponsorship money which the school raised from donations from firms, groups and individuals.