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 around England every year to meet hundreds of young dancers and give a taste of what life is like as part of the company. These workshops are a great opportunity to meet members of NYDC, try new dance styles and learn about dance training and career pathways.

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.

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

Step 1: Register Online

All dancers interested in joining in with a workshop must register online in advance. Please note, due to the current coronavirus pandemic our Spring/Summer 2020 workshops have been cancelled and will now take place in October 2020. Please note that some of the locations have changed. You can pre-register your interest in the workshops by clicking on the grey button below. New dates and a registration form will be live soon.

Step 2: Attend an NYDC workshop near you

Workshops will take place across the country in person. There will also be one option for dancers to participate in an online workshop if this is more suitable to their circumstances. Workshops are free to attend and there are also a number of bursaries available to support travel costs for anyone who may benefit from financial assistance when making their way to their nearest workshop. To apply for this, please contact us directly and we would be happy to help.

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 in the studio, please contact us.

Step 3: Attend the NYDC Audition at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London

Following each workshop, NYDC offers a select number of dancers the additional opportunity to attend an audition at Sadler’s Wells. This will take place on Saturday 14 November, 2020. Eighty dancers from every region of the country are a part of this day and bursaries are available so all young people invited have access to the experience.

During this day, all dancers meet the upcoming NYDC Guest Artistic Director, Alesandra Seutin, and have a chance to learn more about her unique movement language.

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 15-19 or up to the age of 24 if d/Deaf or disabled*

Dancers are NOT 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.