City of York Council's annual Dance York festival kicks off on Friday 19 June and the programme promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

Highlights of this year's festival, which runs until 30 June, include 'Dansopolis', which has been produced by Yorkshire Dance and will be performed at York Theatre Royal on Tuesday 26 June.

Dansopolis showcases vibrant and diverse dance groups from around the region in a celebration of the best community dancing in Yorkshire. Audiences can expect a rich mix of dance styles, including Urban, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Latin and Bollywood. The performance premieres a fabulous new piece by Wayne McGregor, director of Random Dance and associate director of the Royal Ballet.

Other exciting events from the programme include a series of master classes at the dance studios at York St John University, which will give advanced level and professional dancers the opportunity to work with some of the most eminent dance artists at the forefront of national and international dance.

There is a 'Jus' have a go' day on 24 June for those who are new to dance or have just a little bit of experience. This is a day of fun and friendly workshops with professional dance artists Leila Mistry. The 45-minute taster sessions will take place at Temple Hall at York St John University and are suitable for anyone aged 16 years and above who wants to have a go at something new.

Other events include a 'Celebrate Midsummer' circle dancing event in the Museum Gardens on Monday 25 June between 6.30pm and 8pm;  and a day of traditional Egyptian dance on Saturday 30 June at Fishergate School, offering workshops for both beginners and experienced dancers.

One of the most popular events from last year's programme also returns in the form of the 'Jus' dance showcase' in St Sampson's Square on Saturday 30 June. This high-energy day always attracts an enthusiastic audience and features colourful performances by dance groups from across the region.

Gill Cooper, the council's head of arts and culture, said: "It is fantastic to see such a rich and diverse programme of dance activity happening across our city. It's a real boost to our ongoing commitment to providing quality dance opportunities to people and to celebrating dance in all its forms, and is an integral part of the year-long City Of Festivals programme."

Full details of the Dance York 2007 programme can be obtained from City of York Council's libraries, schools and Tourist Information Centres. Information can also be found on the York City of Festival website at www.yorkfestival.com or by calling 01904 554660 for a brochure.