So You Think You Can Dance 2010 is launched

THE date on everyone's lips is Saturday, March 20.

The venue, The Lodge Hotel in Coleraine.

So You Think You Can Dance is back for another year and hoping to top last year's fantastic charity fundraising.

Last year, the couples danced their way to the phenomenal sum of 11,000.

"This year we would like to better it and with the show promising to be even bigger who knows what we can raise for the Changaro Trust," said spokeswoman Joann Marsh.

"Once again local business victims have courageously put themselves forward and stepped up to the mark, dance shoes at the ready all to raise those very precious funds for the children's charity The Changaro Trust.

"This very important cause is an African Street Children's Charity and every penny raised here in Northern Ireland goes straight into the fund with no monies being used for administration.

"The money raised last year was used to put a roof onto the refuge that had been built and on Monday 11th January this year, the school at the refuge opened its doors to 51 children for the very first time.

"There is also provision for a medical centre and with the money raised this year going towards the orphanage on site every penny really will save a vulnerable child's life."

Launch night for So You Think You Can Dance was last Monday when the volunteer "learner" dancers were introduced to their dance teachers and the dance that they would be performing was revealed to them.

"It was all good fun but it has to be said that there was a nervous energy in the room as some of the competitors this year were in attendance at last year's show and witnessed for themselves what would be expected of them," said Joann.

"While for others it really was a case of ignorance being bliss!"

The event organisers are thrilled at the response already and are working hard to produce a show that will rival the inaugural event.

Watch this space over the next eight weeks as the Coleraine Times will be following all the gossip EXCLUSIVELY from the practice sessions right up to the performances of the night.

There are lots of surprises in store, keep an eye for the local competitors as we will be doing a blog on each dance couple and group over the coming weeks.

Remember - keep reading and they'll keep dancing!