A free festival of classes and workshops to encourage young people to take part in arts and theatre is being held in Beckenham this summer.

Beckenham-based charity Create Projects Studio, which was founded by Lauren Rice in 2013, will host a series of events led by top professionals in the dance and theatre industry between June 21 and July 19, called Summerfest.



The charity’s patron, Matt Flint, who was a winner of talent show So You Think You Can Dance and is the X Factor’s new creative director, will launch the festival with a musical theatre jazz masterclass on June 21.

Other workshops from experienced West End stars and teachers include acting, Cats, Dirty Dancing and rollerskating, as in Starlight Express.

The events are free and open to young dancers, college students and school pupils in Beckenham and the south east.

A series of fundraising projects has made the festival possible.

Register for events at dancecompanystudios.co.uk/