Youth Dance England - National Youth Dance Festival 2007

Youth Dance England is the national agency to support and promote opportunities for young people in dance. YDE is inviting youth dance groups from across England to participate in this exciting festival which consists of a workshop programme, networking opportunities social events and sharing of work. A public performance presented by the groups will take place at The Lowry in Salford.

The National Youth Dance Festival will be a six-day residential event from 6th - 11th July 2007 organised by YDE. The NYDF 2007 will be based at Manchester Metropolitan University's campus at Alsager, Cheshire.

Campus Facilities include:

Specialist dance and performance spaces
Accommodation
Catering
Social and recreational facilities

Youth Dance Group Criteria

Applications from groups practicing any dance form are welcome
School based youth dance groups are only eligible to apply if they are open to young people from other schools
Age range 13 -19 years
In 2007 priority will be given to groups that consist of a maximum of 15 young people in order to include more groups in the festival (this does not mean that larger groups cannot apply but this additional criteria will be used, if necessary, at the final selection stage).

Youth Dance Group - Selection Criteria

YDE is committed to finding groups who would be able to benefit from being a part of an intensive workshop programme and also contribute to a well-balanced performance of high quality dance pieces. The performance will be seen as an opportunity to profile some of the best youth dance created in the country and therefore standards are expected to be high. The main criteria for selection will be:

Excellence in both choreographic and performance standards
Ability and openness to practice new dance techniques and choreographic approaches
Capacity to sustain active participation in an intensive dance programme
To reflect the diversity of the sector

It is essential that these values are demonstrated initially through the application form and the submitted video/DVD footage. The video may either be of the proposed completed work or work in progress. If the footage is of work in progress, a written explanation of how the work is to be developed must be enclosed. (See application form & information sheet)

Selection Process & Timetable

Send in your completed application form accompanied by 2 copies of DVD/Video of your work
Short-listed youth dance groups will be invited to perform the selected work at a Regional Event. Regional event dates to be announced in October 2006.
YDE will select the final youth dance groups based on participation at the Regional Events

Selection Timetable
5th September 2006	Applications Open
30th November 2006	Applications Close
8th January 2007	Short listed youth dance groups announced
27th January 2007 - 31st March 2007	Regional events take place
April 2007	Final Selection announced
6th July - 11th July 2007	National Youth Dance Festival

Click here to download a NYDF 2007 Application Form

Click here to download a NYDF 2007 Information Sheet

Please read the information sheet before completing the application form

Please return completed application forms, any additional sheets and 2 copies of your work on DVD/Video by 4pm on Thursday 30th November 2006 to:

National Youth Dance Festival 2007
Youth Dance England
36 Battersea Square
London SW11 3RA

If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact Julia Mirkin at YDE.
Telephone 0207 924 7167 or E-mail: info@yde.org.uk (no fax available)

Please note we will only accept applications that come in via post. E-mailed applications will not be accepted. Applications received after 30th November 2006 will not be accepted.

YDE reserves the right to change any information or conditions stated above.