WHAT do young dancers do in their holidays? While school colleagues are having a summer break, Sandra Watson's students in the DreamBiz Youth Dance Company are dancing ballet, tap, stage, jazz and contemporary choreography in their long vacation.

Sandra's troupe of 27 dancers aged ten to 18 is training hard for Tuesday's 7.30pm performance of DanczaLoca at the Grand Opera House, York.

"Everyday they learn choreography in various styles," says Sandra, who has run the Red Shoes Dance Studio in York for ten years. "The young dancers auditioned in May to be a part of the DreamBiz Youth Dance Company and DanczaLoca, and they're finding out how it is to work as a professional dancer in a company.

"The initiative gives young people an opportunity to expand their knowledge, learn to work with different teachers, meet other young dancers and feel the thrill of live performance. They will be dancing old favourites such as The Nutcracker and new pieces that use their own creativity, such as A Piece Of Heaven by international choreographer Gull Oezger."

Sandra describes DanczaLoca as an energetically charged production. "In this show, professional teachers capture the enthusiasm and raw talent of York's young people, blended with exciting choreography, to give a truly entertaining and enjoyable evening for audience and cast alike," she says.

DanczaLoca is choreographed by Sandra, Gull Oezger, from Norway, and Melanie Moon. Melanie, who studied for a dance degree at Bretton Hall, Wakefield, has been involved in many of the City of York Council's youth dance projects and is to open her own dance classes with the Dance Factory next month.

Tickets for DanczaLoca cost £10, £8 for concessions, on 0870 606 3595.

Updated: 16:31 Thursday, August 05, 2004