Kent’s finest young dancers will take centre stage alongside professional dancers for a return of the highly popular show, GAIA, taking place this Sunday 31 August at Canterbury’s Gulbenkian Theatre at The University of Kent.

After a hugely successful pilot run at the Garlinge Theatre in Chartham in 2024, this show is returning to East Kent once more. Created by Whistable-born choreographer and director, Amy Petts, it tackles the climate crisis through the lens of a young girl starting out at a new school, facing all the challenges it entails in this exciting dance theatre piece.

GAIA has given young dancers across Kent a chance to train and be on stage alongside world-class performers. This local cast of 21  young performers, aged 12-18 hails from Canterbury, Chatham, Thanet, New Romney, Ramsgate, Westgate, Hythe, Ashford and more will be joining the cast of professional London dancers. Additionally, local Herne Bay dance troop, AscenDance community Company joining the stage for a pre-show performance.

Former pupil of St Anselm’s and Simon Langton Boys school, Petts trained at Phoenix Performing Arts in Canterbury, performing on the stages of The Marlowe Theatre, The Gulbenkian and more before training professionally in London and founding her own dance company, Moments in Dance in 2022.

Petts initially showcased the production of GAIA when asked by London’s infamous dance school Bird College, in Sidcup, to choreograph a show for their final year students in 2022. The show was such a success that the company founder plans to take the show across the UK – the show will continue to offer the opportunity for budding dancers to perform with the pros where the production tours.

Catch it at The Gulbenkian Theatre this Sunday 31 August at 3.30pm – 5.15pm or 7.30pm – 9.15pm. Tickets available here: thegulbenkian.co.uk/events/moments-in-dance-presents-gaia