Alesha Dixon in Free Dance event at Lowry

Strictly Come Dancing Judge and popstar Alesha Dixon presents Alesha’s Street Dance Stars at the Lowry next month. The live dance event will be presented by Alesha, with Issac “Turbo” Baptiste and the winners of CBBC’s brand new show Alesha’s Street Dance Stars.

Dixon is swapping salsa and samba for locking and popping for the new series Alesha’s Street Dance Stars, which starts on CBBC this summer. She’s searching for Britain’s most original, entertaining and accomplished young street dancers. The dance crew who win the show will be introduced live by Alesha and perform at the Dance 2011 event at The Lowry in front of a huge audience. CBBC cameras will be there to capture the highlights of the show. Turbo (aka Issac Baptiste) one of the country’s top street dancers and judge on the show will also perform at the event.

As well as getting a chance to see the winners of Alesha’s Street Dance Stars in action, visitors to Dance 2011 can go to free dance workshops throughout the day, provided by some of the best dance teachers in the country. Dancers and education outreach staff from major companies such as Rambert Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Company Chameleon, Balletboyz and Candoco dance company will provide workshops for young people, children and families.

There’ll be a freestyle dance stage – and the best dance group/crew that turn up on the day to take part in this Openstage will be picked to perform live on The Lowry’s main stage in front of Alesha before the winners of Alesha’s Street Dance Stars give their headline performance. To register your interest in taking part in the Openstage, email northwestdance@thelowry.org

Saturday 3 September is a full day of FREE dance activity for all the family starts at 12pm and ends with Alesha’s Street Dance Stars in the Quays Theatre at 6.15pm (doors open at 6pm). Tickets for the shows and places in the workshops will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis with a limited number of tickets available on the day. For details of all workshops and drop in events, please visit www.The Lowry.com/dance2011. To pre book free tickets to be in the audience and to get a place in a dance workshop call the Box Office on 0843 208 6000.

Dance 2011 with Alesha’s Street Dance Stars is a collaboration between the BBC and The Lowry. It is the latest in a series of events held by BBC North since the BBC moved to its new home in Salford Quays in May, giving people a chance to get closer to some of their most-loved BBC programmes.