AS a co-producing group in the inaugural Now Northwich event, Cheshire Dance will be showcasing a range of talents in Witton Street on Saturday.

From well-established groups to schoolchildren, the nine acts – spread out over two sessions – will go out in the hope of inspiring others as well as boosting their own acts.

Adam Holloway, director at Cheshire Dance, said: “We are taking a lead on ensuring the festival really means something for the folk of Northwich.

“Rather than it just being about coming along and watching, we wanted to make sure we are getting out into the community and encouraging people to get dancing.

“Some of these groups are quite unconventional. We don’t just want to appeal to any particular age group who are always known to love dance. There are groups in all areas of society who love dance.”

Jane McLean, Cheshire Dance’s creative director, said: “One group is making its return visit to the town. Some of those lads performed five or six years ago when the Memorial Hall was knocked down and there was a lot of work done.

These youngsters got that opportunity to perform and show off and they were hooked. They’re still going and are stronger than ever.

“A lot of them who are now training and working professionally in dance, and one of their first performances was in the underpass.

“There are still a lot of boundaries and barriers in dance, and we want to enable those people to come out and perform.

“Hopefully with the success of this year, we will see next year more diversity.”

From 1.30pm: DOPE Male Performance Company; Whitegate Primary; Carli duet; MM Dance; Hartford High.

From 3.30pm: Lalita's Bollywood Dance; Break it Down; Victoria Road Primary School; County High School; DOPE.

See a full list of Now Northwich events here.