Northampton School for Boys selected for prestigious National Youth Dance Festival in Newcastle
Local young dancers from Northampton School for Boys selected from thousands to take centre stage at prestigious National Youth Dance Festival in Newcastle this summer.
Northampton School for Boys from Northampton will join young dancers from across the UK to represent their home region this summer, as they perform at One Dance UK’s prestigious National Youth Dance Festival - U.Dance.
Now in its 15th year, for 2023 the U.Dance National Festival will take place in Newcastle from 21-23 July, with supprt from some of the leading arts organisations in the region including Northern Stage, Dance City, Newcastle College and TIN Arts. Over 30 groups involving around 500 dancers and their teachers will take part in the event.
The group is made up of students who attend Northampton School for Boys. They meet weekly to create dance as part of the extra-curricular programme.
As part of the U.Dance National Festival, they will perform with other selected youth dance groups from around the country, take part in workshops with some of the UK’s best dance companies and shows, learn about a range of dance careers and much more.
Their piece “Self-Depreciation” was choreographed by Alison Clinton and dancers and is described as an exploration of behaviour that we all experience at some point. That voice that tells us we are no good, and how this stops us from being the best we can be. How we become fearful of criticism and getting things wrong, and the way we deflect help and support to protect ourselves.
Speaking about being selected for the festival, group leader Alison Clinton says:
“We are excited to be representing East Midlands! We are all boys who encountered dance for the first time on attending our secondary school. Without having dance in the curriculum, we would never have known we enjoy dancing. To be selected to dance at U.Dance is just brilliant. It has given us something to work towards and a brilliant challenge. “
Head of Children of Young People’s Dance at One Dance UK, Laura Nicholson says:
“We’re incredibly excited to be visiting Newcastle with the U.Dance National Festival this year, and we can’t wait to welcome Northampton School for Boys to the stage. The talent, commitment, hard work and creativity of the young people who are participating in the festival is truly inspiring - we can’t wait to see them take to the stage and shine!”
Special guest performers at the event include the National Youth Dance Companies of England and Scotland. NYDC England, another event partner, are celebrating their 10th anniversary and will present an exclusive extract of Novacene, Wayne McGregor’s new commission for the company.
