What is the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland?
Formed by YDance in 2011, the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland is the flagship contemporary dance company for Scotland’s young dancers aged 16 – 21.
Each year, beginning in September, a company of 12 works with YDance Artistic Director Anna Kenrick and Director Philippa Clark in a series of intensive weekends once a month to explore and create a new piece of contemporary dance for performance and touring to theatres, festivals and events. NYDCS has tours across Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally. To date, the company has travelled to Australia, France, Belgium, Ireland, Estonia and throughout the UK, performing in theatres including Sadler’s Wells and at prominent events like U.Dance and the Australian Youth Dance Festival.
In 2023/2024, the company will create a new work for stage performances to tour the UK. The piece will premiere at The Beacon Theatre in Greenock as part of Destinations 2024, followed by a tour to the Tramway in Glasgow, U.Dance UK Youth Dance Festival, and Belfast’s Unanimous Festival in 2024.
The work of the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland aims to change the perceptions of what youth dance is and can be. The pieces showcase the dancers’ movement language, individuality, and thought processes to create a unique new work.
If you are thinking of pursuing dance as a career, there is no other experience like NYDCS!
“It’s an amazing opportunity to learn so much about yourself as a person and as a dancer. You get to meet so many people and have life-long experiences as one company whilst watching your hard work come to reality on stage” Aoife Henderson, NYDCS 22/23
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The National Youth Dance Company of Scotland enables its members to:
Tour and perform nationally and internationally at a range of events and festivals
Develop personal technical and creative dance skills
Develop an understanding of who they are as a performer
Develop as individuals on a personal and professional level
Gain industry experience
Make connections with likeminded, motivated, talented young dancers
Meet and work with guest international, UK and Scottish artists and teachers
Take part in exchanges with international and UK youth dance companies
Be an ambassador for dance, YDance and Scotland
Develop fundraising and leadership skills
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To become a member of the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland you must:
Be aged between 16 and 21
Be from, or living in Scotland from September 2023 to August 2024
Be driven and dedicated with a desire to develop as a dancer and creator
Be able to commit to all rehearsal and performance dates detailed in the guidance document
You DO NOT need to be Scottish or living in Scotland, and you DO NOT need to be in full-time training to take part in NYDCS.
Please note that professional dancers who have graduated are NOT eligible to take part. If you are unsure whether you qualify, contact YDance on 0141 552 7712 or email info@ydance.org.
YDance aims to be a welcoming organisation, inclusive of young people from a diverse range of backgrounds, life experiences and dance styles. We welcome applications from young dancers with and without disabilities and can provide additional support wherever possible.
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There is no membership fee for being part of the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland.
Rehearsals: You MUST attend all rehearsals - YDance will pay company members who travel more than 15 miles to rehearsals a maximum daily travel allowance of £15. Rehearsals are held in Paisley. Please note that company members who live in Paisley or within a 15-mile radius of Paisley will not be eligible for the travel allowance payment for attending rehearsals.
Performances: For performances which take place more than 15 miles from the Company’s Glasgow base, YDance will arrange transport and accommodation or reimburse dancer’s travel expenses (second class rail fares or equivalent).
International Opportunities: For international opportunities, company members will be required to fundraise and/or contribute towards the costs. Company members must be able to attend all performances.
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7 & 8 October 2023
18 & 19 November 2023
9 & 10 December 2023
4/5/6 January 2024
3 & 4 February 2024
2 & 3 March 2024
8 & 9 June 2024
Performances
16th March 2024 Premiere at Destinations, The Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock
6th April 2024 Unanimous festival, Belfast. DU Dance
13th July 2024 Project Y Evolution, Tramway, Glasgow
July 2024 U.Dance, England
Other performances tbc
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**Applications are now closed**
To apply for the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland click Apply Now and complete the application form before Sunday 3rd September 2023. Auditions will take place on Saturday 16th September 2023. For more information on the audition click here.
We welcome applications from disabled and non-disabled dancers. Applicants can submit answers to the questions on the application form by audio or video if completing the online form is not suitable. If you wish to apply in this way, please email your submission to lauren@ydance.org
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If you would like the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland to perform at your next event, please email Lauren@ydance.org or call 0141 552 7712.
