Fifty years of introducing children to the joys of dance and performance will be celebrated by a city institution this weekend.

Norwich's Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts started in 1973 and has helped performers go on to productions across the world.

Their anniversary show, 50, is being performed at the Alston Centre at Langley School on Saturday and Sunday, taking the audience down memory lane.

Fern, 35, and Adam Carpenter, 39, have been joint principals for the last seven years and grew up in Norwich.

Norwich Evening News: Norwich Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts dancers pictured in 2011 Norwich Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts dancers pictured in 2011 (Image: Sonya Duncan / Newsquest)

READ MORE: New TV show will use skills of Norwich man in 'dying art'

They met as children at the Central School with Fern starting aged seven, when Adam was nine, with both performing in panto at Norwich Theatre Royal - as so many of the school's pupils have through the years.

It was established at its St Georges Street home by Margaret Wilkins in 1973 and was taken on by Charlotte Corbett in 1988, who passed on the reins to Fern and Adam in 2016.

With a range of classes from jazz, singing and even a circus school, they aim to encourage and provide kids with an environment to further their performing arts careers.

Norwich Evening News: Charlotte Corbett handed the reins to Fern and Adam Carpenter in 2016 after 28 years as principal of Norwich Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts Charlotte Corbett handed the reins to Fern and Adam Carpenter in 2016 after 28 years as principal of Norwich Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts (Image: Charlotte Corbett)

READ MORE: Couple complete 'epic' journey of ultra marathons across 35 days

Aaron Sillis, 39, is a choreographer and dancer from Drayton who attended the school and has successfully gone on to work with many celebrities, including Kylie Minogue, George Michael and Robbie Williams.

In 2016, Aaron received an MTV Video Music Awards nomination for his work on FKA Twigs' video for M3LL155X.

Norwich Evening News: Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts performed in Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal in 2018 Students from Central School of Dancing and Performing Arts performed in Grand Central Circus at Norwich Theatre Royal in 2018 (Image: Fern Carpenter / Central School)

READ MORE: Here come the bubbles! More than 2,400 to take part in fun race

Fern says that she “doesn’t know a life without Central”, adding that many of the students felt it was their “second home”.

She is “very excited” about 50 with more than 150 students involved in the three shows, with the opportunity to watch circus acts and take part in workshops in between.

From a Margaret Thatcher commercial to the Queen’s Jubilee Ballet and Spice Girls Megamix, the performances will be accompanied by food vans and a festival feel.

Tickets for the three 50 shows are available from ticketsource.co.uk.