Marie dances to the Millennium Dome

University of Teesside student Marie Foster will be heading to the Millennium Dome on 10 October, with a group of 72 Middlesbrough children and adults, who will perform in a production ‘River of Discovery.’ The play has been devised by Middlesbrough Council’s Arts Development team and sponsored by McDonalds, and charts the history of Middlesbrough through a combination of music, animation and dance.

Marie, 20, from Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, is a final year BA (Hons) Leisure Management student, and has helped special needs children from Priory Wood School, Middlesbrough, to prepare for their performance, by partnering them and assisting with different dance steps. There is an opportunity to photograph Marie with some of the children at a production rehearsal on Wednesday 4 October, at 5pm, in the Gymnasium, Teesside Tertiary College, Marton Road, Middlesbrough.

The performers include 60 Middlesbrough school children aged 7-16 from the following schools: Berwick Hills primary, Beechwood Junior, The Avenue, Keldholme Secondary, Priory Wood and Teesside Tertiary College.

Marie completed her performance placement with Middlesbrough Borough Council as part of her second year studies. She said: “It’s been very rewarding. I’m interested in training as a PE teacher when I graduate, and the placement has helped towards this, as I’ve now got lots of confidence in working with people in different situations.”

Abby Barker, Assistant Arts Development Officer with Middlesbrough Council said: “Marie’s been brilliant with the children, and a great support during the project.”

The performance will also take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 17 October at Teesside Tertiary College. Call 01642 315244 for more details.

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