YORK musical star Twinnie-Lee Moore has landed a year’s contract in the West End run of Flashdance this autumn.

She will open in the original London cast of the American show at the Shaftsbury Theatre on September 24. “I’ll be playing Jazmin, who’s Latino and is one of three friends who all dance in a club, and between us we sing practically the whole show,” she says.

“I just auditioned, like you do for all these ‘gigs’, and it’s exciting because everyone wants to be in an original London cast as you’ll be on the cast recording…and there could be an appearance at the Royal Variety Show.

“Arlene Phillips is doing the choreography, which is great, and Nikolai Foster is directing. He’s one of the reasons I wanted to do it as he’s really lovely – and he’s a Yorkshireman!”

She is looking forward to her new musical challenge. “It’s a really big stage, but with very small dressing rooms!” she says. “I’m pretty much stepping in at the deep end, as I’m the only one who hasn’t done a workshop, so it’ll be pretty hard work when I start rehearsals.

“In fact, I haven’t got the script yet as they’ve made a lot of changes so that it’s a brand new show for London. I’ve no idea yet what the choreography will be like or exactly what I’ll be singing, but we’ll have five weeks of rehearsals so there’s plenty of time to get it into shape.”

Looking tanned from a holiday in Ibiza, Twinnie-Lee is back home “chilling and relaxing” in York after a long touring run as Velma in Chicago, which ended in February, and a ten-day stint as Cassie in A Chorus Line at the Lowry in Manchester in early May.

Such was her impact as the icily jealous Velma in Kander and Ebb’s Chicago that she is now the poster face of the London production on the London Underground stations. “It felt crazy when they first went up in February. It’s like ‘I’m watching you’ everywhere!” says Twinnie-Lee. “When they first asked me if they could use my face, I said, ‘yes, of course you can…for a fee’! Then the posters went up without paying me, but now they’ve paid me, so I’ve had a good run with it. Mad!”

The former Joseph Rowntree School pupil first caught the eye as a pupil of York dance teacher Miss Isobel Dunn. Ever grateful for those first steps, she is to hold a West End workshop on Sunday afternoon at York Dance Works, the dance school set up by Sue Stead and Catherine Finta, who, like Twinnie-Lee, have a long association with Miss Dunn.

In their dance studios at 11 Redeness Street, Layerthorpe, she will run workshop sessions for six to 11 year olds from 12 noon to 1.15pm, 12 to 21 year olds, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, and 21 year olds and above, 3.30pm to 5pm.

Since making her West End debut at 19 in Autumn 2006 in the Queen musical We Will Rock You, Twinnie-Lee has appeared in the London premiere of Desperately Seeking Susan and played opposite Marti Pellow, Jimmy Osmond, Gary Wilmot and Destiny’s Child’s Michelle Williams.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with top choreographers such as Arlene Phillips, Karen Bruce and American choreographer Andy Blankenbuler,” she says. “For anyone who loves to dance or just wants to keep fit, Sunday’s workshops are an opportunity not to be missed. Just come along; there’s no need to book.

“And if anyone wants to talk to me be about going to college, getting an agent or what it’s like to do a West End show, please ask me.”

Further details, including workshop prices, are available via email, sent to yorkdanceworks@live.co.uk, or by phoning 07821 765422 or 07981 553465.