Arts Society joins human race in search for a tap dancer

I can't stand the word ethnic and I am glad to hear that efforts are being made to stamp it out.

According to my dictionary, it means heathen or pagan - nothing whatever to do with the colour of anybody's skin, which is what people think about when it is habitually used in its non-dictionary meaning of not white.

Another dictionary tells me that it means "of race" - so as long as we're talking about the human race and not the Derby, we're all ethnic, which doesn't really surprise me.

Be that as it may, Bob Vickrage, of Solihull Society of Arts, tells me he is pretty sure that ethnic was the word used by playwright Richard Harris in describing the casting requirements for one of the female roles in Stepping Out. Whether he did or not, what he meant was non-white.

And what is even more to the point, SOS is sending out an SOS - because it has so far been unable to cast the "ethnic" role for its September production of the funny-sad story of a weekly tap-dancing class.

The show is timed for September 19-25 as part of Solihull Festival and will be at The Edge, the arts centre that is being created - there's more to come - at Alderbrook School, Solihull, by a partnership of Solihull Society of Arts and the school.

Marion Taitt, ballet mistress for Birmingham Royal Ballet, will perform the official opening of The Edge at 6 pm on Wednesday, September 20. At present, it consists of a studio theatre for 112 people, a superb dance studio, a gallery and a bar, but there are plans to convert the school hall into a proscenium-arch theatre for 250 and create a second studio theatre for an audience of 40.

The Edge has cost £1 million so far and what is planned could cost another £ 0.5 million. Potential donors can expect an invitation to the gala opening and a suggestion that they might be incautious enough to take their cheque book.

And if there's to be a show to accompany the opening, somebody who isn't white had better contact Amanda Dodds (01564 775027) or Steve Carey (07838 224441) for the chance to air some acting and tap-dancing skills.