Dancers from eight schools across North Somerset took to the stage as part of the Find Your Talent project.

The £25 million programme is aimed at giving children the chance to encounter creative experiences for five hours a week.

Find Your Talent agreed to support almost 3,000 pupils from 30 different North Somerset schools taking part in new activities.

Dance Their Socks Off was the first project to take shape, attracting 340 dancers aged five to 11 from schools in the Churchill area – Wrington C of E Primary, Burrington Primary, Churchill C of E Primary, Hutton Primary, Banwell Primary, St Andrews C of E Primary, Blagdon Primary and Winscombe Primary.

Each worked on routines under the artistic direction of Carolyn Savidge to put on a show at the Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mare.

Carolyn is a freelance artist and Specialist Schools and Academies Dance Lead Practitioner with an extensive background in the world of Dance.

She has worked as a dancer for the Barbados Dance Theatre Company and performed and taught in America, Sri Lanka and Zambia.

Recent work brought Carolyn home to North Somerset, where she has been teaching and directing dance and drama at Churchill Community and Foundation School and Sixth Form Centre and Ravenswood School, Nailsea.

"Dance Their Socks off had to be postponed because of the snow but it took to the stage on Monday night. It was a showstopper and was sold out," she said.

"A documentary is also being made about the project with a view to rolling similar projects out."

Dance Their Socks Off worked with Youth Dance England as part of the national organisation's U-Dance celebrations and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

Other Find Your Talent schemes will see pupils learn about new media and digital art and get experience of filmmaking, radio and TV.

Mendip Green First School children will create characters using Plasticine or Lego and produce animated films.

Nailsea schools are working with Goblin Combe Environment Centre on Climate Change Barometer, a one-year programme to explore the impact of climate and seasonal change on the natural history of the 130-acre site.

North Somerset Council's executive member for children, Councillor Jeremy Blatchford said: "Cultural experience is now placed at the very heart of the learning experience for our children.

"We expect to see great benefits to them not only academically but also getting even more from life's rich tapestry."

All schools and youth groups in North Somerset are invited to apply for funding at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/fyt, emailing fyt@n-somerset.gov.uk or calling 01934 884220.