SCHOOL children put on a show for parents and teachers following a four-day workshop with African and Turkish dance artists.

The More alike than Different event was a project set up to see if dance can promote tolerance, respect and a sense of community.

Mrs Anne Dyer, assistant headteacher at Dowdales School in Dalton, is a specialist leader in cultural education with Curious Minds.

Curious Minds strives to improve the lives of children and young people by connecting them with the very best arts, culture and creative learning opportunities.

It aims to drive greater access, continuous improvement and innovation in the field of cultural and creative education and worked with the Lancashire dance company, Ludus, to complete this project.

Ludus has one simple mission which is to inspire and engage people through dance, providing a wide range of opportunities including bespoke creative projects in communities and schools.

The company went into four primary schools across the area, Ormsgill Primary School, Barrow Island Primary School, Parkside GGI and Roose.

Two schools worked with a Turkish dance artist and two with an African artist.

More than 130 pupils from these four schools, along with the pupils from Dowdales, came together in one big performance at Dowdales.

The idea behind this project was to bring additional opportunities to schools that wouldn't normally be able to fund this alone, as well as bringing schools together.

Mrs Dyer said: "It is clear the children enjoyed this as they are already asking when they will come back again."

Mrs Dyer added:"It was a lovely afternoon because parents came to watch, the children had four days to rehearse and the little ones were really excited.

"It was great to watch our golden arts students become leaders and take that role with the primary children, and it was nice to see them grow into that.

"The pupils were a credit to their schools and it was really quite powerful seeing that many children working and dancing together."