National Youth Dance Company » How to Join NYDC

How to Join NYDC

NYDC would love to dance with you!

National Youth Dance Company holds free workshops every year to meet hundreds of young dancers and give a taste of what life is like as part of the company. We also use them to recruit our new company members. The workshops are a great opportunity to try new dance styles, learn about dance training and career pathways, and meet other people who are passionate about dance.

NYDC celebrates diversity. Our workshops welcome disabled and non-disabled dancers from all backgrounds, dance styles and levels of experience and are designed to ensure that each individual can take away something new from their time in the studio with us.

Usually our workshops take place across the country, but due to the Coronavirus Pandemic our 2020 workshops are happening online.

To join in with the NYDC experience and be considered for a place in the company, please follow these steps:

Step 1: Choose how you want to apply for NYDC

This year we are giving dancers two different routes to apply for the company:

Join in one of our live online workshops or request a pre-recorded workshop and send in a short video submission.

Step 2: Register Online

All dancers interested in applying for NYDC must register online in advance. Please see our Workshop Registration page for more info and the online registration form.

Step 3: Attend a live zoom NYDC workshop OR Make a Video Submission

NYDC will use the live Zoom workshops or Video submissions as the first stage of selection for the 2020-21 company and a number of dancers from each session will be contacted to come through to the next stage of the NYDC audition process. Both options will be treated equally so choose whichever one works for you.

NYDC is committed to making our workshops accessible for everyone. If there is a way that we can best support you in advance of the workshop or on the day, please contact us.

We are aware this is a very new process for applying for NYDC so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Step 4: Selected dancers will be invited to attend a final online audition for NYDC which will take place on Saturday 28th November.

Approximately 60 dancers from across the country will be invited to join this and meet the upcoming NYDC Guest Artistic Director, Alesandra Seutin, for a day of online workshops.

After the audition, 20 dancers from the group will be invited to join NYDC. For details about the structure and dates of the full NYDC year, please visit About Us

Please note the criteria for joining a workshop:

Dancers must be aged between 16-19 or up to the age of 24 if d/Deaf or disabled*

Dancers must not be currently enrolled on a full time vocational dance course**

* Age guidelines: NYDC gives priority to dancers who are in the correct age range, but if we have space, we would love to meet you. If you are above or below the age range, please contact us directly (do not register online) to place your name on a waiting list. We will be in touch with you closer to the time should there be availability in the selected workshop.

**Vocational dance course: Students studying A-level or BTEC Dance at school or college are eligible to book. Students studying at a dance conservatoire or university are not eligible to book. Please contact us if you require further clarification.