U.DANCE 2019

U.Dance 2019, the national youth dance festival, was held at Southbank Centre, London, on 20 and 21 July 2019 with activities also taking place at Rambert, National Theatre and BFI Southbank.

U.Dance festival brings together groups from across the UK to share their dance in performance, and experience different dance styles and approaches in classes, workshops, careers talks and seminars. U.Dance celebrates and promotes excellence through diversity, best practice, the voice of young people, and dance with and by young people.

There were 304 applications for the national event (290 in the previous year), including 31 Inclusive Groups applying and 2 inclusive groups being selected to perform. African, South, East and South East Asian diaspora participants were 34% of the total cohort (21% in the previous year) and those identifying as having a disability at 6%.

65% of the participants wanted to perform and dance more often (64% in previous year) and 56% are considering a career in dance, gaining a qualification or auditioning for their local CAT group or NYDC (31% in previous year).

U.Dance 2019 was managed by One Dance UK working in partnership with Southbank Centre and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. U.Dance 2019 was brought together by Akademi, English Folk Dance and Song Society, National Theatre, Rambert, Royal Opera House and BFI Southbank. It was supported by Arts Council England, Harlequin Floors and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

U.Dance Regional 2019 had a total of 15 English regional events including 9 regional performances and 6 county platforms in the East Midlands, involving an estimated total of 4,140 young dancers. The Scottish platform involved 200 young dancers, from which 2 groups were selected. The island of Ireland platform involved 150 young dancers (although for logistical reasons none of the groups were able to attend the national festival). 2 groups from Wales were selected for the national festival.