A PERFORMING arts teacher is teaching a music and dance programme that is helping deliver a positive message.

Sarah Milne, of Caerleon, emigrated to Cyprus five years ago. She created The Kitty Katz Club when she was teaching 100 children between the ages of two and six in a nursery and found herself without any music because her things were in storage.

The 38-year-old said: “In 2012 I was teaching and had no music so I thought I would write my own.”

The club is a dance and drama syllabus for early years filled with songs, dance and make-believe and is supported by books and interactive CD. The main character is Kitty Kat and her best friend Custard.

The two fly on the magic fun bus and land at different destinations making new friends, experiencing challenges, solving problems, working together and having fun.

Ms Milne’s debut book, The Lost Hat, was published by Austin-Macauley.

A spokesperson for the publisher said: “We’re hoping the release of Sarah’s book will add a new twist to the children’s book market, it’s not just a reading book, but rather an interactive book to get children up and dancing along with the story.”

During a recent visit home, Ms Milne visited schools to introduce them to the imaginative world of Kitty and Custard.

“I want it to come from Newport,” she said. “I don’t want people to forget that I am from Newport and I want children there to realise what they are capable of.”

Ms Milne teaches the programme to more than 600 children a week including Cypriot, English and international students at local primary and nursery schools.

“The beauty of The Kitty Katz Club is that it has a structure but it is also free,” she says, “so the children can be free and that’s the whole idea of the syllabus.”

The teacher has now completed her eighth book and composed over 100 songs to accompany them.

Ms Milne said: “It doesn’t matter what background you come from, everyone is welcome at the Kitty Katz Club.”

For more information visit kittykatzclub.com.

l The Argus is launching its very own book club and we would love for your clubs to be involved.

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