Dancers whose ages ranges between 7 and 45 are letting their hair down and sweating it out at YADA's studios, honing their act for the performance of Footloose, which will be staged at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta, between May 5 and 14.

The troupe of some 200 dancers will shortly start working with the singers, which include Chiara, Oliva Lewis, J Anvil, Claudia Faniello, Debbie Scerri, Glen Vella and Claudette Pace as the promoters focus on the set, make-up and hair styles.

"We are beginning to put the finishing touches. It's an incredible effort by all those involved but it's fun too," Felix Busuttil, one of YADA's founders, said.

"Footloose is about a dance celebration, so we made it a point to involve juniors from the College of Jazz as it gives them experience of a show. It's a different experience from the annual school show, which is also a very big thing for us," he said.

Footloose is the 13th production by the dance company which plans to hold six shows between May 5 and 14. Over the past four months dancers have been rehearsing the steps for a number of popular songs that were used in the film by the same name.

Apart from dancers and singers, this year there will also be a number of actors, led by veteran actress Marie Lou Coppini.

Costumes are being designed by Charles and Ron and the set design is by Harry Borg.

Mr Busuttil, Justin Roy Barker, Vivien Fielding Refalo, and Christna Schranz are in charge of choreography. The main dancing parts are entrusted to Mr Busuttil, Darron Galea, Ritienne Sacco and Catherine Strawbridge.