Published: Thursday, 14th January, 2010 7:40am

Strictly stars to perform at Dunfermline's Carnegie Hall

by Matt Meade

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WEST FIFERS will step to it when two stars from Strictly Come Dancing visit the Carnegie Hall later this year.

Professional dancers Brian Fortuna and Kristina Rihanoff from the popular BBC show are just a couple of the big names to feature in the theatre's new January-May programme.

Renowned British singer Elkie Brooks, kooky comedienne Lucy Porter and top spirit medium Derek Acorah will also perform at the theatre.

Siberian siren Rihanoff made tabloid headlines after being photographed hand-in-hand with celebrity dancing partner Joe Calzaghe, the former undefeated world boxing champion.

Fortuna meanwhile teamed up with Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian to be crowned the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas champion.

Verdi Clark, Carnegie Hall's theatre manager, told the Press the 13th May event would enable West Fifers to learn from the best to improve their dance steps.

"There will be dancing, demonstrations and a question and answer session," she said.

"This is a real chance for people to learn from the professionals as there will be a chance for the audience to get involved."

Carnegie Hall continues its impressive folk programme featuring a series of one-off collaborations as part of the 'Tune Up' tour.

This includes Del Amitri's Justin Currie playing with a jazz 'big band' (13th March) while top Canadian act Le Vent du Nord, from Quebec, perform alongside Scottish quartet Breabach (2nd February).

Le Vent du Nord play traditional 'quebecois' music that saw their first and second albums crowned album of the year in both 2004 and 2005 at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Claire Watson, from the theatre, said, "It's a real feast for folk fans and we're bringing this music to a broader audience.

"A lot of 'Tune Up' is about bringing quite different artists together for a collaboration - for example, you wouldn't normally hear music from Quebec and Scotland on the same stage or Justin Currie playing with a big jazz band."

Other music highlights include an intimate set in the Tiffany Lounge from former Love and Money frontman James Grant (6th March) and smoky-voiced Salford songstress Elkie Brooks, of 'Pearl's A Singer' fame, in her 50th anniversary tour (18th March).

Melodramatic spirit medium Derek Acorah will demonstrate his psychic abilities to West Fifers in what organisers say will be a "sell-out show" (16th April), while 32-year-old medium Nikki Mackay will also help members of the audience receive messages from the other side (4th February).

The Gilded Balloon Comedy Club returns to present a series of shows featuring the best of up-and-coming comic talent, while Mock the Week panellist Lucy Porter presents a solo show dedicated to gold, which will include live alchemy, Mr T gags and other observations on the expensive, shiny stuff (20th April).

For kids and adults, the Puppet Animation Festival (3rd-16th April) presents traditional entertainment for children of all ages via six performances.

Kelty and Rosyth musical associations bring their latest productions to the theatre, with West Side story and The King and I, respectively.

Ms Clark finished, "There's a history of encouraging and enabling these companies to perform at the Carnegie Hall.

"These popular shows are only amateur in name - they are always really professional shows by people who are so committed to their productions - they live and breathe it."

For more information on forthcoming events visit www.attfife.org.uk

To book tickets call the box office on 602302.