PUPILS at Palatine High School certainly got the pointe of dance after a visit from The Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT).

Workshop leaders from the Leeds-based company led a two-hour session at the St Annes Road school for GCSE dance students.

The dancers worked with the students on a modern interpretation of Tennessee Williams' play, A Streetcar Named Desire.

In the evening the Palatine pupils travelled to the Lowry Centre, Salford, to watch the NBT's performance of Streetcar. Assistant head teacher Frank Shipway said the aim of the workshop and theatre trip was to help dance students gain knowledge of modern dance ready for their GCSE practical exam. He said: "Palatine is acquiring a growing reputation for the quality of its work in the performing arts. NBT have visited Palatine in the past and were so impressed with the new facilities for dance that they were more than willing to return this year."