YOUNG performers from Bootham School brushed up on their dancing skills for a show at Joseph Rowntree Theatre in York.

The Year Seven dancers from the York school took to the stage in a night of dance, starring alongside pupils from Archbishop Holgate's School, Burnholme Community College and Oaklands School.

All four schools worked with Phoenix Dance Education as part of a link-up with City of York Council Arts Service.

Over the past few months they have used the repertoire of Phoenix, a national professional dance company, as inspiration for the creation of new dance pieces, working under Phoenix education manager Dawn Holgate in a series of workshops.

Lis Hooley, head of PE at Bootham School, said: "Bootham is unusual in that the PE curriculum includes dance, for all pupils along with an extensive range of individual and team sports.

"The opportunity to incorporate this exciting dance collaboration lead by a company of national renown has proved a real inspiration for the pupils."

Headmaster, Ian Small, said: "This is a fantastic chance for our pupils to train with the professionals"

Updated: 09:06 Wednesday, March 26, 2003