THREE years ago Deana Morgan celebrated a milestone birthday by staging a charity gala night at the Alhambra, with her former dance pupil, Kimberley Walsh, as guest of honour.

The show was such a success, Deana has decided to stage another gala event, featuring talented young performers from across the region.

Organisations taking part include Shipley's DM Academy, Halifax's Youth Dance Company and Huddersfield's Patricia Stoj School of Theatre Dance.

Joining the youngsters on stage at the Alhambra will be members of adult groups, including Rock Choir, Zumba Bradford Belles and Ballet North UK.

Also performing will be guest artists, including West End star Damien Poole, who has been in such shows as Shrek the Musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Gypsy; professional dancer, Joshua Barwick, currently with Rambert, who takes to the stage by permission of Mark Baldwin, Artistic Director of Rambert Dance in a specially commissioned piece.

The bill also includes Charlotte Ingleson and Andrus Lars, formerly of Estonia National Ballet and currently with Ballet North, performing a routine called Downton originally staged at the Alhambra last year to celebrate the life and work of local dance teacher Dorothy Stevens.

Proceeds from the production will go towards a bursary supporting young dancers seeking training in the arts.

"After we did 'One Night Only' I kept getting asked, over and over again, when I was going to stage another one," says Deana, the principal of DM Academy. "The original production gave local dance groups and some of my own students the opportunity to perform alongside professionals. It was a wonderful evening, showcasing talented young performers and a variety of quality acts. This latest production will give even more performers from Yorkshire the opportunity to showcase the wealth of talent we have in the region."

Former DM Academy pupils from as far as Australia returned to Bradford for Deana's original show, in 2103. They included Kimberley Walsh who, as a youngster, won the academy's first Dancer of the Year award. It was a poignant return to the Alhambra, where she made her first stage appearance aged eight. The singer, who shot to fame with Girls Aloud, told the T&A: "It's quite emotional for me to be back here where I did my first ever show. My mum remembers picking me up at the stage door.

"Deana taught me so much. She gave me my first pair of tap shoes - which I've still got!"

The show raised funds for The Haven, which provides therapies to help people with cancer. Deana was treated there after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and Kimberley became an ambassador for the charity.

Kimberley's sister, Amy Walsh, who plays Tracy Shankley in Emmerdale, presented the 2013 show, and returns to host this year's production.

In 2014, Deana produced and directed a production at the London Palladium, featuring a group of Bradford dancers. The show included a performance by musical theatre star Brian Conley.

"It was a wonderful evening," says Deana, a former professional dancer. "It gave everyone involved chance to share a stage in a nostalgic look back at 'Sunday Nights at the London Palladium'.

"We're all so excited about this year's show. I've compiled a cast of young dancers from Bradford, Halifax, Barnsley, Huddersfield and the Ribble Valley.

"I'm trying to raise enough money to create a foundation to help young, aspiring dancers financially as they head off to fulltime vocational training."

* One Night Only is at the Alhambra on Sunday, May 1. For tickets call (01274) 432000.