Performer kicks off festival on top of Grey’s Monument

May 11 2008 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

DANCER Bethany Ainsley caused a bit of a stir yesterday . . . at the top Earl Grey’s Monument.

And, while the idea of performing 41m (134ft) above the ground isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the 22-year-old certainly turned heads.

The famous landmark in Newcastle city centre was opened specially for the stunt to promote the Dancing The World ‘08 festival.

Bethany, a third-year degree student at Newcastle College who lives in Peterlee, County Durham, treated her audience to two performances yesterday lunchtime.

And, just in case shoppers couldn’t quite see all her artistic moves, binoculars were handed out among her audience at ground level.

Bethany, right, said: “I hope that my dancing acts as an entertaining ray of light experienced by people going about their daily routine.

“It was a wonderful way for people to get an idea of what contemporary dance is all about by presenting it outside a conventional theatre environment.”

Dancing The World ‘08 is a NewcastleGateshead event.