About NYDC
National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) is England’s Flagship youth dance organisation.
We bring together talented young dancers from across the country to work with leading artists and create world- class performances. We support young artists to realise their potential and gain an insight into the dance profession.
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National Youth Dance Company is run by Sadler’s Wells. We create and perform innovative and influential dance, bringing together the brightest talent from across England to work intensively with the Sadler’s Wells renowned Associate Artists and visiting companies. NYDC has established a reputation for challenging, high quality work and produces dancers that are open-minded, curious and brave.
We are committed to ensuring that NYDC is accessible and that financial costs are not a barrier to membership. Workshops are free of charge and means tested scholarships and travel bursaries are available for company members. Further information on financial help can be found at the bottom of this page.
NYDC is a diverse company, dancers come from a range of backgrounds, dance styles and experiences. We welcome disabled and non disabled dancers, providing additional resources and support wherever possible. Under pinning all our work is the respect for and belief in the high skill level young people can achieve if inspired and supported. NYDC aims to challenge preconceptions and expectations on a national level, whilst putting diversity and inclusion at the forefront of everything we do.
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Over 80% of NYDC graduates go onto further dance training or careers in dance, whilst others go onto path ways outside of dance. We celebrate the range of careers that our young people go onto and the positive impact high level arts experiences can have on all young people. Please visit the alumni page for some of our graduates’ stories.
National Youth Dance Company is an Arts Award Supporter. Arts Award is a unique range of multi-level qualifications for children and young people aged up to 25 years to develop as artists and arts leaders. NYDC provides the opportunity for all company members to achieve a Gold Arts Awards during a successful completion of a year in the company.
NYDC jointly funded by the Arts Council England and the Department for Education. Barclays is the Associate Partner of NYDC.
Please go to the How to Join NYDC page to find out more about being a part of the company. The first step to joining is attending a free workshop. These happen across the country each summer.
NYDC Structure
Below is a brief outline of what can be expected within a typical year with NYDC. As part of this dancers will:
- Tour and perform in world class venues
- Learn, create and perform original work
- Develop skills in different dance styles
- Take a part in intensive residencies over the school holidays; living and working as a company
- Collaborate with professional choreographers
- Find out about career pathways and opportunities
- Take part in dancers toolbox sessions to enhance learning and to prepare for the future
Residencies
October – April
Company members will:
Work intensively over 4 residencies during school holidays: 3 days in October, 6 days in December, 1 week in February and 2 weeks in March/April.
Live and work together as a company, working closely with the Artistic Team, NYDC staff and fellow dancers.
Take part in a series of Dancers Toolbox sessions to enhance learning.
2022-23 Dates:
- 23- 26 October 2022
- 17-22 December 2022
- 11-19 February 2023
- 1-16 April 2023
Premiere
April
Company members will:
Premiere the new work in April.
Receive full support from Sadler’s Wells technical, press, marketing and development departments.
Perform at a high profile event, with funders, sponsors, industry professionals, press and friends and family in the audience.
2022-23 Dates
- Premiere: 15 April 2023
National Tour
June & July
Company members will:
Tour the performance in a range of venues across England, including Sadler’s Wells reaching a total audience of 6,000+ people.
Adapt performance to a range of stage sizes and venue capacities.
Take on touring roles, assisting production manager and technical team.
2022- 23 Dates:
- 3 June: Sadler’s Wells (rehearsals on 1st and 2nd June)
Plus, approximately 5 dates across the country. Schedule to be confirmed by November 2022.
Provisional dates are:
- 24/25 June
- 1/2 July
- 8/9 July
- 16-23 July
- 24-30 July
NYDC Membership
We welcome applications from talented young dancers of all backgrounds. The full fee is £620 per year (2022-23). For company dancers, 100% of fees and travel costs could be covered by means-tested scholarships and bursaries. For guidance notes on scholarships and bursaries, please see the Further Resources section below.
NYDC’s focus age group is 16 – 19 years and we welcome d/Deaf or disabled dancers aged 16-24. However, there may be some flexibility in exceptional circumstances.
We will accept applications from 15 year olds if:
You are hoping to enter full-time vocational training at 16 (please inform us of which school and when).
We will accept applications from dancers over 18 if:
You have started dance training within the last three years (please inform us of school and teacher).
Please contact nydc@sadlerswells.com for further information. Please note that support during the booking process is available to dancers with particular access needs. Do contact us if you wish to discuss this further.
Company members that are not going into higher education and are under the age of 19 can stay with NYDC for more than one year.
National Youth Dance Company dancers graduate with a wide range of skills that can be used for varied training routes and pathways. Company members have gone to vocational training schools, professional contracts, university courses both dance related and non-dance related.
NYDC TEAM
Joce Giles
Director, Learning & Engagement
Hannah Kirkpatrick
Head of National Youth Dance Company
Christopher Haddow
Projects Producer, Learning & Engagement
Becky Leslie
Company Manager
Brittany Roberts
National Youth Dance Company Coordinator
CONTACT US
NYDC is hosted at Sadler’s Wells
National Youth Dance Company Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Ave, London EC1R 4TN
Email us: NYDC@sadlerswells.com
Call us: 020 7863 8139
If you would like to support our work with young people, please call
020 7863 8134 or email development@sadlerswells.com
NYDC Partners and Host Venues
NYDC aims to engage with as many young people as possible from across the country. This could only be achievable through the network of partners host venues that have supported the company by raising awareness, hosting workshops and performances and acting as expert advisors in their regions. We are grateful to our partners and host venues for their continued support.
