DARWEN’S dance festival is to return this year and organisers promise it will be bigger and better than ever.

Darwen Dance Live returns this year, having been expanded to cover three days, with some of the industry’s top names .

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Tim Noble, who has worked with Kylie Minogue, Beyonce Knowles and Rihanna to name just three, will host workshops while teachers from one of the North West’s top schools will also be on hand to provide tuition.

Organiser Vicky Rothwell, a town councillor and owner of the Rothwell Arts dance schools, said: “Last year was great and this year will be even bigger and better.

“The festival gives people a chance to receive training from some of the top names and this is an opportunity not many people in Darwen would otherwise get.

“And to top it all off, all the events are free.”

The three-day event, funded by Darwen Town Council, will get under way on July 3, with a “dance spectacular” at Darwen Vale High School featuring performances from a variety of schools and dance troupes.

A special guest will be on hand to present a £200 bursary to one of the evening’s top performers.

On the Saturday, Tim Noble will put on an MTV choreography workshop and commercial dance workshop and The Hammond School’s head of contemporary dance Anthea Garrett will also put on workshops, all at Darwen Vale.

There will also be a Harry Potter and wizardry experience offering a variety of creative arts to younger children throughout Saturday at St James’s Primary School.

On Sunday, former Royal Ballet dancer Martin Dutton will put on workshops at Darwen Vale and pianist David Plumpton, who has produced accompaniments for Andrew Lloyd Webber, will be on hand to provide backing music.

There will also be lots more events going on throughout the town.

Visit www.rothwellarts.com.