DANCE enthusiasts are in for a treat when the Western Association of Ballet Schools takes to the stage this weekend to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

The show, aptly-entitled Ruby, will be performed at Bournemouth's Pavilion Theatre on Sunday November 29 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

In pictures: see all our photos from the Ballet Schools dress rehearsals 

It will feature numbers from a variety of genres chosen to represent the Ruby theme including Moulin Rouge, Annie, Carmen, Little Red Riding Hood and The Wiz.

More than 240 dancers from eight affiliated dance schools in the area will perform and organisers hope it will be a sell-out.

Tap, ballet and contemporary dance will be represented and there are a variety of stunning costumes.

The Western Association of Ballet Schools is a self-funding registered charity, founded in 1975 by Christopher Shiner. Its President is world-famous ballet dance Wayne Sleep OBE.

The charity attempts to give young dancers as many opportunities to perform as possible and this year's events have also included a show at Canford School's Layard Theatre and a variety of workshops and holiday schools.

Chairman Charles Gunton said the association performed at the Winter Gardens until 1980 before moving the show to the Pavilion. It has been held every year for the last 40 years.

"The schools are each doing their own separate performances before coming together at the end of the show" he said. "We are all looking forward to it."

Schools taking part are Academy of Dance, Carrington Hollywood Dance Academy, First Position School of Dance, Jan Mizen Dancers, Jane Farrell Ballet School, Lawlor School of Dance, Spotlight School of Dancing and Wessex School of Dancing.