The statue outside the Gaiety Theatre has now been officially unveiled.

It depicts two dancers and features artistic paving depicting the Manx National Anthem O Land of Our Birth and the poem When Childher Plays from Betsy Lee by the Manx National Poet T.E. Brown and was commissioned by the Isle of Man Arts Council.

The bronze sculpture cost £47,023.60, which was funded by the lottery.

It was created by island resident, internationally-renowned and award winning sculptor John Mulvey.

Chair of the Isle of Man Arts Council Marlene Maska MLC said: ’Having viewed the outstanding quality of John Mulvey’s work, Isle of Man Arts Council was unanimous in their decision to commission a unique sculpture to capture the spirit of the new cultural area [on Harris Promenade].

’We have been delighted to see the emerging work and feel sure this positive view will resonate with our island community.’

Arts development manager Jane Corkill said: ’The sculpture represents all dancing, in particular all the thousands of people who have danced at the Gaiety Theatre and the Villa Marina in the last 120 years- as performers, as competitors, as audiences at concerts.

’We have couples who contact us telling us they met at a tea dance at the Villa 60 years ago, and we will keep on dancing here so it is a timeless representation of dancing, past, present and future.’

It didn’t take long before pranksters placed traffic cones on the dancers’ heads - as happened quickly after the Bee Gees statue was unveiled on Loch Promenade recently, and as happens most weekends to the TE Brown statue on Buck’s Road.

The cultural area of the Douglas promenade refurbishment encompasses the Gaiety Theatre, Villa Marina Arcade and Villa Marina.

The Isle of Man Arts Council is a sponsored body of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and funding comes from the sales of lottery tickets.

John Mulvey a self-taught sculptor.

On leaving school he served an apprenticeship and worked for several years as a sheet metal worker.

Mr Mulvey believes his geometric training during these years has influenced his work. It has helped him to achieve the essence of his subject with a simplicity of form and an economy of line. Hence, the works have no human features - they represent, in this case, all dancers. In his work, John strives always to achieve joy and movement.

Mr Mulvey has exhibited extensively in the UK in municipal and private galleries and also in Europe and America. His work is included in private collections all over the world and commissions have included work for Rolls Royce, The Paratroop Regiment, RHS Rosemoor, the UK Lottery and Dolwen Gardens.

Mr Mulvey, who lived in the island in the 1960s, has now returned to the island with his wife, Mary. His works can also be viewed in the Milntown Gardens on the outskirts of Ramsey.