A dancer and model who has performed alongside Rihanna, Ronan Keating and Tom Jones is to strut her stuff on the catwalk at a fashion show in Keighley.
Dani McLaren, who has also performed with former Spice Girls Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton plus American actor and talent show judge David Hasselhoff, will join other high-profile models and dancers to showcase new season trends available at stores at the town’s Airedale Shopping Centre.
Straight Off the Catwalk takes place on Good Friday March 25 and Easter Saturday March 26, when shoppers can see latest spring and summer styles from big name and smaller stores including Marks and Spencer, Dorothy Perkins, Bon Marche and Peacocks.
The free family event will also have beauty advice and makeovers on offer, plus competitions and Easter craft workshops to keep younger children occupied.
Airedale Shopping Centre manager Steve Seymour is looking forward to once again hosting the popular event.
“Our fashion show provides a great opportunity for the people of Keighley, and beyond, to see the new styles that are coming into our stores for the summer season.
“When we’ve held these events before they have always proved very popular, and it brings a real buzz to the centre. There will be something for everyone and it’s a great way for families to kick off the Easter holidays.”
Dancer Dani McLaren
Dani is looking forward to taking part in the fashion show, with fellow models including Laura Jones, and can’t wait to get a look at the outfits she’ll be wearing. “These fashion shows are always great fun because they are well choreographed and combine modelling with dance,” she said.
Dani, who grew up in Bury, Greater Manchester, but now lives in Lytham St Annes, began dancing at the age of two, following in the footsteps of her mum Debra McLaren, a professional dancer who appeared in A Chorus Line and West Side Story in London’s West End.
“Mum taught dance so it was a natural thing for me to do and I loved it – street dance, ballet, American jazz, everything really,” said Dani.
When Dani left school she attended the Phil Winston’s Theatreworks dance school in Blackpool before spending a year as an entertainer on the former QE2 cruise liner. After a stint as a dancer at the famous cabaret club Moulin Rouge in Paris, she moved to London to concentrate on her dancing and modelling career.
She has since worked with celebrities including singers Rod Stewart and Michael Buble and regularly performs with former model and singer Samantha Fox, most recently at a gig in Denmark.
“It is a fantastic career and I love it, though its hard work,” said Dani, who beat 400 hopefuls to dance with Rhianna at the Brit Awards in 2012.
“That gig was definitely the highlight of my career, I loved every minute of it,” she said. “Dancers from all over the world auditioned for it and I was one of 20 girls and 20 boys chosen.”
As well as dancing and modelling, Dani runs the McLaren School of Dance in Rossendale, Lancashire, with her mum Debra.
*Straight off the Catwalk kicks off at Airedale Shopping Centre at 11am on Good Friday, March 25 and Easter Saturday, March 26. More details at airedaleshoppingcentre.co.uk
Dancer Dani McLaren performing with Rihanna
