The first Kent Dancing festival twirls into Canterbury this weekend.

It is a joint project by charity South East Dance and the city’s Gulbenkian theatre aimed at offering an accessible yet innovative programme of dance shows, workshops and cinema.

And there is something for everyone, from ballroom dance training to a screening of rare dance films and the opportunity to try Dad Dancing.

Louise Costelloe, public programme manager at South East Dance, said: “We work with a number of ground-breaking dance companies, dancers and choreographers and were very excited to have the opportunity to platform their work to audiences in Canterbury.

“Our programme celebrates the whole spectrum of dance, from social dancing to high impact dance theatre, and includes a participatory element that connects with the local community.

“We hope to bring innovative dance works to a new audience in Kent.”

Kent Dancing will take place from Friday, September 6, to Sunday, September 8, at five venues around Canterbury: the Gulbenkian theatre; the Colyer-Fergusson Hall; the Beaney; St Gregory’s Centre for Music and Longmarket Square in the city centre.

It will feature new work by choreographers including the award-winning Freddie Opoku-Addaie and the innovative Zoie Golding, who has an all-male dance company, ZoieLogic.

Gulbenkian director Liz Moran added: “We are very excited to be working with South East Dance on this amazing festival that really does offer something for all ages in a range of extraordinary venues.

“The festival supports the Gulbenkian’s ambition to offer an engaging and inspiring dance programme of work for audiences and those who want to dance themselves – including dads! We hope to develop Kent Dancing as a major international dance festival.”

For full programme details and ticket prices visit www.kent.ac.uk/gulbenkian