A DANCE teacher who has taught ballet and tap for almost two decades in Newport is widening her repertoire to include musical theatre after TV talent searches led to a huge surge in demand.

Following the success of shows like the BBC's “How do you solve a problem like Maria?” and “Any Dream Will Do”, dance coach Sharon Fitzgerald saw a dramatic rise in the number of adults and children wanting to sing, dance and act and has even taken a new set of exams so she is qualified to teach the budding performers.

“They see the people getting through on the shows from nowhere and it encourages them to think they can get there as well.”

West End actors including Caroline Sheen - originally from Caerleon and the sister of Hollywood star Michael - has popped in to the Sharon Fitzgerald Dance School to help out with the children's classes, and Ms Fitzgerald plans to open a class for adult dancers in the next few months.