Young people in the district will be dancing their way to a healthier lifestyle thanks to a £40,000 windfall for a Bradford-based organisation.

The Stance Dance Company is part of the Council's Dance for Life project, aimed at getting people moving and encouraging them to stay healthy.

The project is one of 21 in the Yorkshire and Humber region to receive funding in the latest round of the Regional Arts Lottery Programme from Yorkshire Arts.

The region's arts development and funding agency hands out more than £2 million a year to arts groups from the lottery cash pot.

The Stance Dance project involves professional dancers going into schools and youth clubs to encourage youngsters to increase their physical activity and to avoid dangers such as drugs.

Dance styles range from break dancing to bhangra and contemporary movement. Dance development officer Cathy Middleton, who was previously a freelance dancer and teacher, has worked on the Dance for Life project since it began in 1992.

She said: "This funding is for the next two years and will help us to develop the Stance Dance Company for young people.

"We aim to bring various schools from different parts of Bradford together in joint projects.

"We are also hoping to put 15 and 16-year-olds together on projects with primary school children to help the younger ones gain confidence."

Bradford Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley) said: "Dancing is a great way of getting fit and having fun at the same time.

"The lottery award will enable the project to develop much closer links with schools and youth projects and, hopefully, inspire young people from all communities to enjoy dance and to address issues important to their health."

Subjects covered by Stance Dance have so far included bullying and exclusion, and individual sense of identity.

The group now hopes to recruit two new dancers to replace those who have moved jobs, and work on new subject matter, encouraging youngsters to consider their future.

Dance for Life also works on a GP referral scheme, where people with health problems such as arthritis and obesity are encouraged by their doctor to get involved in sport and leisure.