AN INTERNATIONALLY renowned dancer who has performed for the Queen, JFK and Indira Ghandi put on a special show this week - in a Wharfedale family’s front room.

Pratap Pawar, known as India’s 'Divine Dancer', is accustomed to dancing before world leaders and royalty in high profile events.

This week, his audience spread themselves out on a sofa, chairs and cushions at a farmhouse in Pool- in- Wharfedale.

Over thirty people turned up to witness Guru Pawar’s dazzling performance of Kathak – a traditional north Indian form of dance.

Guru Pawar - dubbed the Paul McCartney of dance - was asked to perform at the launch of a diverse new project entitled Dance Across the North, which will see over 10,000 people across the north of England exposed to world class dance and music within their own communities.

Host Gail Ferrin said: "Guru Pawar’s visit was a very magical start to our project. We felt very honoured to have him dance in our living room."

The project, led by Yorkshire-based Community Arts Organisation, Blaize, received just over £118,000 investment from public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Programme earlier this year.

It is being coordinated by Leeds-based Balbir Singh Dance Company, which featured in the 2012 Cultural Olympiad celebrations.

Guru Pawar said: "I am honoured to be asked to launch this project and it is lovely to be in a rural setting. I have really enjoyed performing with such a warm and welcoming audience."

Dance Across the North is a year-long programme of dance which will include 23 shows choreographed by Balbir Singh Dance Company.

There will also be workshops, and flashmobs planned in a variety of venues throughout Northumberland and Cumbria, Durham, Cheshire, Lancashire, Hull and East Yorkshire, York and North Lincolnshire.

In order to deliver the programme Blaize and BSDC have teamed up with a number of rural touring schemes in the north including, ArtERY Live in East Riding, LiveLincs in North Lincolnshire, (both managed by Blaize) Cheshire Rural Touring Arts, Highlights Rural Touring in Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland, Spot On in Lancashire ,Arts Out West, West Cumbria, Roots and Wings in Hull as well as Get Moving, Yorkshire .