DOZENS of aspiring young dancers were put through their paces by a team of hip-hop performers during a special workshop at a Redbridge school.

Cast members from street dance company Boy Blue Entertainment paid a visit to Wanstead High School to uncover talented youngsters to perform in its Christmas production of the Pied Piper.

The workshop was one of a number being held by the group in schools across London and Essex - with 60 places up for grabs for children to perform as one of the 'children of Hamelin' in the show.

Dancers from each school will then get the chance to attend one of three auditions during the coming weeks - which will include a practice performance on stage at the Barbican Theatre, where the show is based.

The Pied Piper - which started off at Stratford's Theatre Royal in 2006 - will run from Thursday December 10 to Sunday January 3.

Wanstead High sixthformer, Emma Morgan, said the show will be spectacular.

She said: "Myself and two other sixth form students, Leonie Grant Richardson and Billi-Rose Savage, from Wanstead high school were lucky enough to be invited to go and watch a rehearsal of the ‘Boy Blue Entertainment’ production of ‘The Pied Piper’.

"We saw six fantastic dancers doing their rehearsal at the Barbican and it was a brilliant experience.

"Hopefully they will encourage some of the students to go along to the auditions being held or maybe inspire them to join a dance group.

"This is definitely a production worth seeing, if the rehearsals are anything to go by, and I think it will be a memorable, modern take on the classic production."

For more information visit: barbican.org.uk