Middlesex University is promising not to penalise performing arts students when it sells the £3million former Golders Green home of one of the world's greatest ballerinas.

Anna Pavlova's former home at Ivy House in North End Road has been the university's drama centre since the 1960s. The Russian ballerina lived there for nearly 20 years from 1911 until she died in her sleep, aged 50.

The university now plans to move its drama and performing arts department to the Trent Park campus in Cockfosters.

"We are selling the property as part of our redevelopment strategy," a university spokeswoman explained. "We're closing most of our smaller campuses and Ivy House is one of them.

"We are also moving out of another campus in Wood Green and we will now centralise our dance and arts courses at our Trent Park centre. We certainly have no intention of closing down any of our courses which are currently based at Ivy House."

It is thought that the house, which has a statue of the ballerina from the Dying Swan dance in Swan Lake in its grounds, could fetch up to £3million.

David Powell, of chartered surveyors Drivers Jonas in west London, said: "So far we've had predominately education users looking round and only around five per cent who are private buyers. We're looking forward to the buy."

Interested parties must send in sealed bids to the surveyors at 6 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 4DJ by no later than March 15.

The sale should be completed by July.