U.DANCE NATIONAL SHOWCASES

Each year the U.Dance National Festival hosts a selection of creative, dynamic youth dance groups from all over the UK as part of the U.Dance National Showcases. Hundreds of groups were involved in the U.Dance Regional Platform process nationwide, showcasing the talents of thousands of young dancers. This year, the groups were selected by the U.Dance National Panel, Dance Ambassadors and representatives from their host region.

We would like to thank all panel members for their expertise and feedback. We would also like to thank the organisers of the U.Dance Regional Platforms and partner organisations, group leaders, teachers, parents and carers, and of course the talented, dedicated participants.

Reasons

Shift Dance Company LONDON

Choreographed by: Akeim

Toussaint Buck

Shift Dance Company is one of The Place’s resident dance companies. Led by Rehearsal Director Lucy Evans, the group is for young dancers 14-19 (school years 10 to 13) who want to build on their creative and technical dance skills in a warm and supportive environment.

When the world is plagued with infected thoughts and behaviours, we lose where we can find solace to cover from the fires of the apocalypse. Immobilised by the pressure of our predicaments we fall apart from the inside, oozing out the fear we hold deep within. We beg, plead, seek, reasons to keep going, failing as we continue to find more reasons this house is just not a home...

In Order Of Rodillian Dance Academy YORKSHIRE

Choreographed by: Rodillian Dance Academy

Rodillian Dance Academy is open to any pupil who has a passion for dance. The group meet weekly and explore a range of dance techniques to develop physical and creative skills.

The piece is an exploration of how the traumatic experiences in Word War 1 formed the Shelby men’s character and mental health. A quote we used for inspiration was, “I just want to be able to walk in society like a normal man.”

We and Everybody Else Lothian Youth Dance Company SCOTLAND

Choreographed by: Molly Scott Danter

LYDC is Dance Base’s in-house youth company. They bring young dancers together to train, create and perform together, focusing on contemporary dance styles. Their dancers come from different backgrounds and experiences from across Edinburgh and the Lothians, who share a love for dance.

“All of us and you too: in a dance of time and worlds and memory and me and you and us.”

Am I Not What You Expected? 4D Dance EAST

Choreographed by: Sara Ford

4D Academy is a collective of 10 young creatives from 4D Dance, based in Cambridgeshire. Showcasing the dancers’ skills in various styles, the piece includes hip hop, waacking, acro, contemporary and experimental styles. Enjoy their fierce performance and watch their passion for dance shine through.

Am I Not What You Expected? explores the ignorance surrounding gender stereotypes. Created from the perspective of a young female in a world who underestimates her, we are taken on a journey through the multi-faceted world of discovering who we are, which often comes after discovering who we are not. We ultimately find comfort in the strength of our character.

Liberty Chhaya Youth Dance Company SOUTH WEST

Choreographed by: Kay Crook

Chhaya Youth provides high level contemporary dance training and professional development opportunities for young dancers across Devon.

Finding light within darkness; celebrating human connection and our collective power to overcome adversity. “Elite panic comes from powerful people who see all humanity in their own image. Dictators and despots, governors and generals – they all too often resort to brute force to prevent scenarios that exist only in their own heads, on the assumption that the average person is ruled by self-interest, just like them.”

- Rutger Bregman, Humankind: A Hopeful History

The Flood Momentum Boys YORKSHIRE

Choreographed by: CAPA College

Momentum Youth Boys is a new strand to Momentum Dance, one of the performance companies of CAPA College.

The Flood is based on the painting of the same name by Joseph-Désiré Court which illustrates the biblical flood that wiped out humanity on earth. In the biblical story, Noah and his family survive. The painting is seen as an allegory of a man clinging to his past, reaching out to save his father who represents the past, instead of saving his own son who represents the future or his wife who represents the current.

West Midlands

Choreographed by: Katy Sterran

Sterran Touring Company is a contemporary dance company housed within Flexus Dance Collective. Under the Artistic Direction and choreographic vision of Katy Sterran, the company holds an outstanding reputation for their professional standards of training and innovative annual outreach and touring programme.

Through storytelling, dance and song, The Pearl examines the depths and layers of human emotions, duality and identity. This is an excerpt of a full length work.

“Approach her with caution! Her mind swims at depths most would drown in.” - J.Iron.

Did Somebody Say Party? Ground Breakers NORTH EAST

Choreographed by: Conor ‘Doke’ O’ Kane

The group was formed in 2015 when Doke was invited to The Lawnmowers to deliver some tasters in Breaking. Now in 2023 the group battle, perform and participate in the hip hop culture as Ground Breakers Crew.

Ground Breakers Crew present their first new show since the pandemic, welcoming new members alongside their core squad. A normal Friday night in gets exciting when a group of friends are invited to a party.

Still I Rise Kalakunj SOUTH EAST

Choreographed by: Ananya Chatterjee

Kalakunj is a performing arts group from Reading, Berkshire, aiming to promote, preserve, and nurture South Asian arts, culture and heritage. Kalakunj has been awarded the Pride of Reading Award in 2022 for Cultural Contribution.

The piece celebrates femininity in all its glory through a dance interpretation of Maya Angelou’s poetic interlude, Still I Rise. It culminates with the vibrant Thillana from the Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance) repertoire, aiming to empower girls and women to embody self-love and self-acceptance.

Fix You Danscentre SCOTLAND

Choreographed by: Michelle Whyte

Danscentre’s group have been dancing together for around two years and study ballet, modern and contemporary styles. From a variety of areas across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, all are passionate about dance and delighted to be taking part in this prestigious national dance event.

Throughout this piece the dancers explore the themes of loss, suffering and feeling stuck in reverse. A central character embodies these feelings and at times when dancers appear to be falling, friends come in and lend support and comfort.

Golygfa

National Youth Dance Wales WALES

Choreographed by: Isaac Lewis and Layla Johnson-Sanchez

National Youth Dance Wales (NYDW) provides some of Wales’ most-talented young dancers with first-class training and performance opportunities. It draws on the energy and excitement of young peoples’ enthusiasm for dance and dancing, and channels it into a creative, contemporary force that celebrates the very best youth dance in Wales today.

Golygfa is a duet created by NYDW’23 members Isaac and Layla, which explores the dancer’s different prospectives of living in rural Wales, the piece takes influences from the landscapes of Wales and its rich culture.

Self-Depreciation Northampton School for Boys EAST MIDLANDS

Choreographed by: Alison Clinton and dancers

The group is made up of students who attend Northampton School for Boys. They meet weekly to create dance as part of the extracurricular programme.

Self-Depreciation is an exploration of behaviour that we all experience at some point; that voice which tells us we are no good, and how this stops us from being the best we can be. It explores how we become fearful of criticism and getting things wrong, and the way we deflect help and support to protect ourselves.

Follow your dreams as a creative practitioner with a degree in dance from Edge Hill University.

Be immersed in practical performance projects. Study contemporary dance techniques. Collaborate with professionals.

Our culture of performance will prepare you for work as an independent dance professional.

Our next Open Day is Saturday 17 August

The Gathering

TIN Arts Young People’s Creative Group

NORTH EAST

Choreographed by: Tess Chaytor, Tertia Brigham and dancers

The group brings together talented and committed young dancers to train, create and perform new dance work. Made up of dancers with and without a disability, the group reflects the broader vision of TIN Arts that everyone should have access to high quality art.

The Gathering is about what happens when The Addams Family ancestors come together. The piece was inspired by the quote, “Once a year when the last leaf of autumn falls, we gather to honour the great cycle of life and death.”

To speak or to die?

Nic Lee and Aoibh Ryan

North West

Choreographed by: Nic Lee and Aoibh Ryan

Aoibh Ryan began contemporary/ballet training at the North West Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) and Nic Lee began his training at Company Chameleon after being self-taught. They are both members of The Lowry CAT and members of NYDC England.

This piece asks the ultimate question: is it better to speak or to die? Do you tell someone you love them and risk rejection, or do you stay silent and drive yourself into a painful spiral where you feel your only way of living is through that one person’s existence?

T.R.I.B.E

Belfast Boys

Northern Ireland

Choreographed by: Sean O’Neill

Belfast Boys is a youth engagement project created by DU Dance NI to spark interest and curiosity in dance for young males. The project positively discriminates towards them and all sessions are led by male dance artists. The group create three performances a year ranging from theatre to site specific venues.

T.R.I.B.E: Together. Real. Individuals. Brotherhood. Equals. is the exploration of what it is to be a tribe, and who Belfast Boys want to surround themselves with. Community and friends are key to every young adult and help them strive for greatness and elevate them to their highest potential.

The Art of Falling National Youth Dance Company of Scotland SCOTLAND

Choreographed by: Choreographed by Anna Kenrick and directed by Philippa Clark

Formed by YDance in 2011, the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland is the flagship contemporary dance company for Scotland’s exceptional young dancers aged 16 – 21.

“…instead of being nervous about keeping our balance in a world in which so many aspects of our lives are in danger of falling apart, we need to accept our falls with grace and learn how to land with intention.” - Ann Cooper Albright, How to Land: Finding Ground in an Unstable World (2019)

D0-P3

Dope Male Performance Company NORTH WEST

Choreographed by: Jack Robinson

Dope Male Performance Company is an allmale company founded in 2011. Since then, the boys have performed annually around the UK, with the older professional company members creating their first piece of touring work in 2022. These boys meet once a week to train to create their work.

D0–P3 explores the themes of a dystopian future. They looked into ideas from Black Mirror, Mad Max and Cyberpunk to create a futuristic landscape, where robotics and A.I. have taken over leaving the few to rebel against the new regime.

Ganesh Vandana

Shiamak Davar International EAST MIDLANDS

Choreographed by: Ganesh Vandana

Shiamak Davar International is the world’s largest Bollywood dance academy, enriching the lives of over a million dance enthusiasts across India, Canada, USA and UK.

The group couldn’t think of a more auspicious way of putting their combined energies into the universe than through the mythological roots of their belief in Lord Ganesha (universally known as the elephant head god), who was blessed by his father to be the most intelligent. The Lord was given a boon to be worshipped first on all occasions, and this piece builds that positive, natural energy amidst the performers upon which they bond. “Ganpati Bappa Morya”