Introducing... Dance Week 2005, leaping to attention in York from June 16 until June 25.

Organised by the City of York Council arts and culture department, Dance Week is in its sixth year of shining the spotlight on dance in all its forms. The eight-day event will provide opportunities for anyone to have a go, as well as showcasing regional terpsichorean talent. "York Dance Week has grown year after year and the programme for 2005 is very diverse and exciting," says the council's dance consultant, Michelle Silby. "So let's get York dancing." Yes, let's do exactly that, with CHARLES HUTCHINSON as your guide.

What will be the opening event?

Almeida Girl and Descarga. It's free and spicy and will fill Parliament Street with the sounds of an eight-piece salsa dance band from 4pm to 6pm tomorrow. Enjoy this Streets Alive event before the streets are alive with racegoers returning from Knavesmire.

Will there be a chance to try out different dance styles?

Yes, at the Day Of Dance tomorrow at the Dance Studios at York St John College, Lord Mayor's Walk. There will be taster sessions on street dance; ballroom; salsa; Arabic (women only); Lindy Hop; Capoeira; Stretch and Relax and Balkan Circle Dance.

Workshops run from 9.30am to 4.15pm and end with a relaxation class; places are restricted to 16-plus and can be booked on 01904 554666. Booking is advised. No previous experience is necessary.

What is a Mini Mela?

It's free for a start, in Parliament Street on Sunday, from 11am to 5pm, and it's a chance to watch the Bollywood Stars performing at various times through the afternoon, along with dancers highlighting other Indian styles.

Sunday has a couple more events: the Ebor & Acorn Morris go merry Morris dancing in King's Square from 11am to 1pm and City Screen, York, will screen the Bollywood movie Waqt (PG) at 4pm. From the director of Aankhen, Vipul Shah, this drama of family life in upper-class Mumbai is grandly emotional in Bollywood tradition. Look out for the hip-hop setpiece.

Dancing around an exhibition? What's that all about?

On Monday at 4.30pm at York Castle Museum, five dancers perform a short contemporary piece inspired by advertising for cleaning products and appliances in women's magazines in the 1950s.

Sam Lawrence, Becky Starkie, Ellen Snarr, Jess Scantlebury and Liz Belcher will dance in and around the museum's Spotless exhibition.

Rapper dancing is not Eminem and Chuck D, is it?

No, it's a traditional North East miners' sword dance, to be performed by Black Swan Rapper on Tuesday, starting at the Golden Fleece, Pavement, and continuing in other pubs with wooden floors, with a big finish at the Ackhorne, Trinity Lane. Ale consumption advised.

What catches the eye for the under eights?

Closer, Falling Cat Productions' interactive digital installation at Burnholme Community College, Bad Bargain Lane, York. In partnership with the council's early years' service, Amanda Drago and Bruno Martelli will be holding workshops throughout the week.

Stepping into different worlds, the installation will encourage children to work with colour, texture and form.

What's happening at the Coppergate Centre?

All Of Us Theatre Company presents Primary, a newly devised piece for Dance Week and Learning Disability Week, on Thursday at 11.30am, 12.15pm and 1pm. Ten dancers with learning disabilities and three artists from Action Space Mobile explore primary colours through movement, fabric, costume, make-up and music.

The Grand Opera House has a couple of shows...

Pulse 05, on Thursday at 7.30pm, brings together professional dancers and dancing stars of tomorrow from the youth and community ranks from York and Yorkshire.

Bollywood Fever, on Friday at 7.30pm, has been created by SAA-uk, a professional South Asian Arts company, and residents of York. Zoobin Surty stars in glitzy show of dance, colour and music. Box office: 0870 606 3595.

What happens on the last day, next Saturday?

Schools, community groups and dance schools perform from 11am to 6pm in a free open showcase at St Sampson's Square, climaxing with the Gravity Control Break-dance Crew from 4pm. Meanwhile, in St Helen's Square, from 2pm to 5pm, a contemporary dance performance will turn everyday actions into dance.

Anything else?

The Dancing In The Streets light sculpture in Davygate will be switched on nightly from dusk to midnight. At 10pm, tonight until Sunday, dancers will do a short show.

Updated: 15:58 Thursday, June 16, 2005