National Youth Dance Company (NYDC), the country’s flagship organisation for young dancers, performs a new creation by the company’s Guest Artistic Director Michael Keegan-Dolan, an Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells Theatre.The work entitled In – Nocentes will be performed at Mac, Birmingham, on Saturday 23 July. Now in its fourth year, NYDC has established a reputation for innovative, challenging and influential work, and producing open-minded, curious and brave dancers.

The company brings together the brightest talent from across England, immersing the members fully in the process of creating, performing and touring new work, giving them a unique insight into the dance profession. NYDC has a track record of putting young people on paths to successful dance careers, with over 80% of all former NYDC dancers now either in further dance studies, in vocational training or working professionally.

This year’s diverse cohort of 40 young dancers comprises 29 new members, selected through NYDC Experience Workshops held in towns and cities all over the country, and 11 dancers returning from last year’s NYDC cohort. The dancers are mentored during three intensive residencies through the year in order to create, rehearse and develop the new piece.

In addition to the work coming to Lakeside, two of the performers, Christian Griffin and Iona McGuire arecurrent training in the area. Christian studies at DanceXchange (CAT) Man Made Youth Dance, ACE Dance. Centre for Advanced Training (CAT), which West Midlands centre is based at Birmingham’s DanceXchange. The national CAT network delivers accessible, non-residential, professional training programmes for young people who demonstrate exceptional potential in dance. The National Dance CATs are supported through the Department for Education’s Music and Dance Scheme. Each CAT operates from a host organisation that is recognised for their excellence and commitment to the arts.

Iona trains with The Sweetshop Tigers an apprenticeship scheme with The Sweetshop Revolution that allows dancers to  participate in dance theatre projects..