Northern Ballet holds pop-up performances at Leeds school

A prestigious ballet group has put on two performances of Pinocchio in a primary school as an "end-of-year treat".

Performers from Northern Ballet spent 20 hours setting up a complete set at Parklands Primary School in Leeds before the shows on Saturday afternoon.

Guests were also given a three-course lunch ahead of the retelling of the classic children's story.

The event at the school, in Seacroft, was free of charge.

The Leeds-based company's annual community performances aim to engage with families who wouldn't usually see ballet in the traditional theatre setting, either for cultural or economic reasons.

The production, created specifically for children, was seen by approximately 120 people, with 150 pupils from the school also taking part in introductory ballet workshops.

Leanne Kirkham, Northern Ballet's director of learning, said: "For children to sit in the school hall and watch a professional ballet company up close is really exciting and a wonderful example of how the arts can inspire young people.

"The arts in particular can play an important role in community development and social cohesion, and as dance is a universal language that everybody can come together to enjoy."

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