Dancing days at the Dowse

Feline farce: Dancer Shannon Dawson provided comic relief as Catalabutte in the Royal New Zealand Ballet production of Sleeping Beauty. Dawson willbe at the Dowse taking a workshop for children next month.

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The Dowse is putting its dancing shoes on, with a number of dance- related events over the next few weeks.

Dance stories, a look behind the scenes, and a special ballet workshop will help fans of all ages start the year off on the right foot.

This Thursday sees a repeat of Cinders, Scrooge and Peter Pan, a free storytelling session that shares classics and ballet stories with the team from Hutt City Libraries. No booking required, 11am start.

Take a free Behind The Scenes Tour of the Royal New Zealand Ballet on February 11 and 18. With the success of last year's television show The Secret Lives of Dancers and with a new series due to start soon it's a chance to get a first-hand look at where the dancers spend their days.

Meet in the foyer of the St James Theatre on Courtenay Place at 10am. Bookings essential - see details at end.

Those who saw last year's performance of The Sleeping Beauty will have delighted in the performance of Shannon Dawson, who played Catalabutte, the cat who also served as the king's private secretary.

As part of Bedazzled, the current exhibition showcasing the late designer Kristian Fredrikson's costumes created for the ballet company, Dawson will present Bedazzled Creative Dance Workshops on Sunday, February 12, from 1pm to 2pm and 3pm to 4pm at the Dowse.

It is suitable for those five and over.

- Bookings essential. Entry $10,Phone 570 6500, or email: dowsebookings@huttcity.govt.nz.

- Hutt News