Dance shows went ahead in Musselburgh this week after the late cancellation of three performances on Sunday left organisers “absolutely heartbroken”.

Young dancers were due to take to the stage at the Loretto School Theatre in Millhill last weekend as part of Alpha Dance Academy’s annual show ‘Dance Across America.’

But the academy, which hosts classes in Musselburgh and Tranent, was left “devastated” after being told, the night before the first show, that there was no entertainment licence in place at the venue.

Taking to social media to inform parents of the cancellation, the academy stated: “We are absolutely heartbroken and can’t believe we have to inform you of such bad news at 10.30pm on a Saturday night, hours before our first show.

“However, we have just been informed by the Brunton Theatre that there is no entertainment licence in place at Loretto School Theatre, therefore they have cancelled tomorrow’s [Sunday’s] shows.”

The show was originally due to be staged at The Brunton in Ladywell Way but was switched to the Loretto School Theatre. This was was because of the temporary closure of parts of The Brunton after a survey detected “structural issues” in the theatre’s roof.

The Brunton Theatre Trust is working in partnership with Loretto School and other venues to present their programme of events during the temporary closure of parts on the building.

By Monday morning the licence was approved, with shows on Monday and Tuesday going ahead as planned at Loretto School Theatre.

The cancelled shows were rescheduled to tomorrow (May 21), at Loretto School Theatre at 11am, 2.30pm and 6pm. Tickets are available from The Brunton website.

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “The council’s licensing team worked to process an application for a temporary public entertainment licence for specific performance dates as quickly as possible, including carrying out the necessary statutory consultations, and issued the licence on Monday morning.”