Life's a University cabaret for Wayne Sleep

Wayne Sleep OBE, one of the UK’s most famous dancers returned to Tees Valley to meet students on the new Dance degree.

Brought up in Hartlepool, Wayne gained a Leverhulme Scholarship to the Royal Ballet School aged 12 and went on to achieve national success as a dancer, choreographer and actor.

Wayne has appeared in scores of productions and is currently starring at Darlington’s Civic Theatre as Emcee in a touring version of Cabaret.

He watched some of the University’s students complete an assessment at Middlesbrough College.

State-of-the-art theatre and dance studios The students performed at the College’s state-of-the-art theatre and dance studios, where they complete some of their studies. The design of the theatre reflects that of RADA. Wayne already has a connection with the University, as he was awarded an Honorary Master of Arts from Teesside in 1999.

Ronan Patterson, Head of Performing Arts at the University, said: 'It is marvellous that Wayne Sleep has been able to take time out from such a busy schedule to come and talk to students at the University. Dance is a new programme here, and of course Wayne has been an inspiration to dancers from the Tees Valley for a number of years.

'Wayne is performing in Cabaret at Darlington Civic Theatre this week, and so was able to pop across to the University and visit and encourage the young dancers, some of whom might hope to follow in his footsteps.'

Factfile

• Wayne Sleep moved with his family to Hartlepool in 1951 and spent ten years there. He was educated at Hyde Park Junior School, and began dancing lessons in Hartlepool in 1955 with Muriel Carr, before gaining a Leverhulme Scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in 1961 and joining the Royal Ballet in 1966.
• In 1973, Sleep established a world record by doing an entrechat-douze - a jump with twelve beats of the feet. This record still stands to this day.
• In 1982, Andrew Lloyd Webber adapted his Variations album as the second half of stage show Song and Dance for Wayne.
• Wayne created the role of Mr Mistoffelees in Lloyd Webber's musical Cats in London's West End and is also fondly remembered for dancing with Princess Diana at the Royal Gala Performance, at Covent Garden in 1985.
• As well as dancing and choreography, Wayne is also an actor and has worked with the British Shakespeare Company on three successful occasions. Wayne runs workshops all over the country that children of over the age of six can attend and has recently appeared as Uncle Willy in a performance of High Society.

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