INFORMATION PACK 2016/17

YDA is a Centre for Advanced Training supported by the

Department for Educa�on ‘Music & Dance Scheme’

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YOUTH DANCE ACADEMY

Youth Dance Academy (YDA) is a Centre for Advanced Training offering a pre-voca�onal training

programme for young dancers demonstra�ng excep�onal poten�al and the commitment and pas-

sion for a career in dance.

YDA started in September 2005 with 25 students and at it’s peak has grown to 115. It currently runs

three programmes:

• Swindon Contemporary Programme based at Swindon Dance

• Swindon Urban Programme based at Swindon Dance

• Exeter Contemporary Programme based at Exeter University

YDA develops the technical, crea�ve and performance skills in dance as well as the knowledge and

understanding that will prepare young dancers for higher voca�onal training and ul�mately a career

in dance. Training is in styles appropriate to the professional dance world today and more im-

portantly, the future industry demands.

YDA is led and coached by na�onal, regional and local dance professional role models from the

dance and music industry.

YDA provides students with mentoring, guidance and informa�on on current training and career

choices and related training ma0ers like ‘The Healthier Dancer Programme’. Each dancer has an

Individual Training Plan (ITP) based upon their own goals, training needs and aspira�ons.

Frankie J, London Contemporary Dance

School. Dancer; Plague & Boy Blue

A WORD FROM OUR PATRON

“To be suppor�ng the YDA as its patron is really wonderful

as this is what started my training as a dancer—it is a real

honour”

Thomasin started dancing at Swindon Dance at 14 years in

the Swindon Youth Dance Company and Youth Talent Pro-

grame (the forerunner to the YDA). At 16 he started full-

�me training on the Swindon Dance founda�on course, pri-

or to training at Rambert School of Ballet and Contempo-

rary Dance. In 2001 he won the Cecche< Barbara Fewster

award for Most Promising Male Dancer. He joined Rambert

Dance Company in 2003 and in 2010 Thomasin received the

Cri�cs Circle Award for Outstanding Male Dancer (Modern)

for his role in Christopher Bruce’s Hush.

Thomasin Gülgeç ,YDA Patron

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CENTRES FOR ADVANCED TRAINING

The Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) are a consor�um of na�onal dance organisa�ons that

provide 11-17 year olds with excep�onal poten�al in dance, access to the best available teaching

at suitable facili�es alongside strong links with the dance profession.

The CAT scheme is funded through the Department for Educa�on (DfE) Music and Dance Scheme

(MDS) through means tested student bursaries. This is a small and highly specialised scheme that

represents the “top of the pyramid” for performing arts educa�on and training and is the Gov-

ernment’s main vehicle for funding the training needs of such children. Despite it’s size, the

scheme, its beneficiaries, its par�cipa�ng organisa�ons and its patrons have a huge impact on

the performing arts world.

The CATs have a united driving force to deliver a high standard of dance provision but is autono-

mous in the strands, organisa�on and dance style.

There are currently nine non-residen�al CATs specialising in dance:

♦ Dance City Academy, Newcastle upon Tyne (contemporary dance);

♦ Dance East Academy, Ipswich, Suffolk (contemporary dance);

♦ Dance4 CAT, No<ngham (contemporary dance);

♦ Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, London (contemporary dance);

♦ London Contemporary Dance School, The Place, London includes the CAT for the Na�onal

Centre for Circus Arts (contemporary dance & circus skills);

♦ The Lowry Dance CAT, Manchester (contemporary dance);

♦ DanceXchange CAT includes SAMPAD South Asian arts, Birming-

ham (contemporary & Asian dance);

♦ Youth Dance Academy, Swindon Dance, Swindon & Exeter

(contemporary & urban dance);

♦ Yorkshire Young Dancers in partnership with Northern Ballet and

Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds (contemporary &

classical dance).

Georges Hann, Rambert School

of Ballet & Contemporary

Dance. Dancer; James Cousins

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PHILOSOPHY AND EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME

The YDA works to develop three principal ‘interlinking’ dance skills:

AIMS

• To develop tomorrow’s outstanding professional dancers and unique dance ar�sts;

• To seek out, nurture and develop excep�onal talent for dance;

• To provide access, suppor�ng par�cipants both geographically and financially through the

DfE bursary scheme.

OUTCOMES

• The development of autonomous learners;

• The development of ar�s�cally and physically dynamic dancers

UNDERPINNING PRINCIPLES AND ETHOS

Guiding principles for the programme include:

• A holis�c approach to the training and development of young dancers;

• Fostering of ar�stry and crea�vity in the developmental process;

• Crea�ng a safe environment where learners can grow and take risks;

• Programmes of study tailored to individual needs;

• Working on learners coopera�ng rather than compe�ng with peers;

• Encouraging learners to appreciate each other’s work and to recog-

nise the benefit of working with peers who are also talented and

dedicated;

• Staff who will be mentors ac�vely involved in the whole develop-

ment of the dancer, rather than simply teaching a dance discipline;

• Staff who will be professional role models for the learners, se<ng

an example to which they can aspire;

• Poten�al will be fully developed and not limited by preconceived

goals or targets that are externally imposed;

• Learners will be aware of the opportuni�es available to enable

them to achieve excellence.

TECHNICAL CREATIVE PERFORMANCE

Robbie Culley, Millennium

Performing Arts

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MANAGEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS

In order to ensure that individual needs are met the following strategies will be adopted:

• The programme will include workshops and taught sessions where a variety of generic skills

will be developed which are important to every developing ar�st. These include crea�vity,

imagina�ve and interpre�ve skills, apprecia�on and evalua�ve thinking

• While there will be a programme of dance training essen�al to the safe development of

technical skills required for all dance performers, individual specialisms will be fostered

where a dancer exhibits a very par�cular giJ in a specific genre

• Each learner will have an Individual Training Plan (ITP), which will be drawn up and agreed by

the student, parents/carers and the YDA team. The ITP will set out the programme of

training, study, work and related ac�vi�es that each par�cipant will undertake. These will be

reviewed and evaluated in order to help the par�cipants achieve their best. The ITP will

provide a detailed record of achievement

• Each learner will be supported and guided through the applica�on and audi�oning process of

entry into a voca�onal college/dance conservatoire/full �me training, if they so choose to

follow this career path. Audi�ons for these establishments occur each year from September

to April/May. Due to the �mescale required to FULLY prepare a dancer for these audi�ons

any new students joining the YDA will be required to complete at least 1 year of training be-

fore audi�oning i.e. a dancer joining the YDA in September 2016 will not be able to audi�on

for a dance conservatoire / voca�onal college un�l autumn 2017.

• Each learner will be assessed on their class work and development throughout the year.

These assessments form the learners ‘benchmarks of progression’ with which to measure

their skills based progression throughout the year

• Each learner is expected to a0end other classes outside of the YDA to further enhance the

work of the weekend training programme. The YDA will support

them in these classes

• Each learner is encouraged to a0end performances by profes-

sional companies and take part in workshops as recommended

by the YDA. The YDA will support them in these endeavours

• All dancers will have a physiotherapy screening with one of the

YDA physiotherapists, who have extensive knowledge of the

dance world and the pressures and demands of a professional

dance career on the body

WEEKEND TRAINING

Swindon Contemporary Programme (SCP)

The YDA Swindon Contemporary Programme is based at Swindon Dance Kit King, Northern School of

Contemporary Dance

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and runs on Saturday aJernoons between 12:00 to 5:30pm and follows a 6 term format each of 5

weeks, with intensive courses during the academic breaks. Students study; ballet, contemporary

and jazz dance techniques, improvisa�on, choreography and performance skills, healthier dancer

and dance contextual studies. This programme has 45-55 grant places.

Exeter Contemporary Programme (ECP)

The YDA Exeter Contemporary Programme runs fortnightly on Sundays 11:30 to 5:00pm in Exeter

and will be supplemented with intensive courses during the academic breaks. Students study; bal-

let, contemporary and jazz dance techniques, improvisa�on, choreography and performance skills,

healthier dancer and dance contextual studies. This programme has 25-30 grant places.

Swindon Urban Programme (SUP)

The Swindon Urban programme is based at Swindon Dance and runs on Sundays between 11:00am

to 4:30pm and follows a 6 term format each of 5 weeks, with intensive courses during the academic

breaks. Students study; popping, breaking, house, hip hop, freestyle, choreography, performance

skills and contextual studies. This programme has 25-30 grant places.

INTENSIVES

In addi�on to the regular programme delivery, there will be intensives during the October, January

(audi�oning students only), February, Easter and May/June academic breaks. Specific �mes and

dates for each intensive are confirmed throughout the year. These intensive sessions aim to:

• Promote the further development of skills required for the professional dance world

• Give the opportunity to work with professional prac��oners working at the highest levels of

the dance profession

• Offer further opportuni�es to be involved in performance related projects

• Increase understanding, through prac�cal experience, of the requirements of a career in the

professional dance world

SPECIAL EVENTS

As opportuni�es arise during the year students will be invited to par�ci-

pate as appropriate. For example; workshops and curtain raiser perfor-

mances with visi�ng professional dance companies.

COMMITMENT

The YDA is a na�onal coaching programme supported by Na�onal Gov-

ernment and requires 90% a;endance. Term dates for entry in Septem-

ber 2016 tbc.

Charley Logan, London

Contemporary Dance School.

Dancer; Black Box Dance

Company

7

Summer Term

Aims

• Prac�cal use of acquired skills in a perfor-

mance project

• Develop performance related skills

• Gain experience of areas which relate to

the produc�on of a dance performance

including sound, ligh�ng and other tech-

nologies

• Encourage autonomy and responsibility

for own contribu�on during the process of

crea�ng and performing

Content

• Further technical, crea�ve and perfor-

mance training

• Choreographic/performance and individu-

al projects

• Prepara�on and rehearsal

• At the end of the summer sessions there

will be a summer showcase performance

Autumn Term

Aims

• Promote coopera�on and team building

• Awaken ar�s�c intelligence and under-

standing;

• Begin the process of performance profiling

and goal se<ng

• Develop basic dance skills

• Set standards of behaviour and e�que0e

• Develop awareness of safe dance prac�ce

Content

• Basic technical skills in various dance gen-

res appropriate to each YDA programme

• Basic choreographic and crea�ve skills

• Mentoring and tutorials in prepara�on for

assessment

• Input from the Healthier Dancer pro-

gramme

• At the end of the Autumn sessions there

will be an open day

TERMLY AIMS FOR ALL YDA PROGRAMMES

Spring Term

Aims

• Con�nue to develop basic technical skills

• Build on previous crea�ve work to encour-

age effec�ve group interac�ons

• Begin to facilitate a process of analy�cal

and evalua�ve thinking

• Create an environment which enables

freedom of expression of ideas and ar�s�c

risk taking

Content

• Further technical training

• Further choreographic and crea�ve dance

skills training

• Taster sessions with guest professional

dancers/teachers in a variety of genres

• Mentoring and tutorials; in prepara�on for

assessment

• At the end of the Spring sessions there will

be an open day

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FEES & DfE CRITERIA for GRANT AID 2016

The current cost per year per student for the YDA (all programmes) is £3,649 and grants are availa-

ble for students who do not have the financial means to access the best available training. This fee

will be either a combined DfE grant and parental contribu�on, full DfE grant with no parental contri-

bu�on OR full parental contribu�on with no DfE grant.

ELIGIBILITY FOR A NATIONAL GRANT:

In order to qualify for a DfE grant, students should:

• Be normally resident in the Bri�sh Isles

• Have been a resident in the Bri�sh Isles for a minimum of three years

• Be at least 11 years of age and not more than 16 years of age as of 1st September during the

year of entry onto the YDA.

• Not be more than 20 years old as of 1st September in the final year on the YDA

• Be a full-�me registered pupil at a mainstream or independent school in the UK or be

• educated at home by parents/carers

• Be successful at audi�on

• Have an appropriate and agreed Individual Training Plan

Subject to means tes�ng, individual grants range from £365 to £3,649 per year.

Parents will not have to make a contribu�on if the total family income before tax is £29,927 or less

(aJer deduc�ng £2,030 for any dependant children including the grant holder) in the tax year end-

ing 5th

April 2016.

Total family income Amount of DfE grant Amount of parental

contribu�on

Up to £29,927 £3,649 nil

£29,928 to £33,917 £3,284 £365

£33,918 to £37,908 £2,918 £731

£37,909 to £41,899 £2,554 £1,095

£41,900 to £45,889 £2,189 £1,460

£45,890 to £49,879 £1,824 £1,825

£49,880 to £53,871 £1,460 £2,189

£53,872 to £57,861 £1,095 £2,554

£57,862 to £61,851 £730 £2,919

£61,852 to £65,839 £366 £3,283

over £65,840 or more nil £3,649

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TOTAL FAMILY INCOME

Declara�ons of income refer to the preceding financial year e.g. for entry onto the YDA in Septem-

ber 2016 the relevant financial year is 6th

April 2015 to 5th

April 2016.

As a general rule, defini�ons of income follow as closely as possible those used by HM Inspector of

Taxes for income tax purposes and parents must declare gross income before tax from ALL sources.

Social Security benefits on which tax is not payable do not form part of the income.

MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS AND CHILD SUPPORT MAINTENANCE

These will only be taken into account where parents are making or receiving maintenance pay-

ments in compliance with a Court Order, a separa�on agreement or under arrangements made by

the Child Support Agency.

Where a parent makes or receives voluntary payments, these will not be taken into account.

Documentary evidence will be required for all income received.

RELEVANT INCOME

The total relevant income is arrived at by adding the amounts for the income of both parents and

dependant children, with any other adjustments required and by making the following deduc�ons:

• An allowance of £2,030 for school year 2016/17 in respect of each child or other rela-

�ve living in the household, including the academy par�cipant and who is wholly or

mainly financially dependant upon the parents

• The amount of any covenant taken out prior to 15th

March 1988, paid by a parent to a

dependant child

• The gross amount of any maintenance payment

N.B.

• Foster children do not count as dependants

• A spouse does not count as a dependant

• Children in higher or further educa�on may normally

be regarded as dependants in this context

Please keep in mind that these notes are a summary and intended for guidance

purposes only. Final assessment will follow once a student has been accepted

onto the YDA. Full guidance notes are available on the website:

ww.swindondance-youthdanceacademy.yolasite.com/course-fees-and-

busaries.php

Tomislav English, London Contemporary

Dance School. Dancer; Punchdrunk & Wim

Vandekeybus/Ul�ma Vez

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JOINING THE YDA

Each year the YDA embarks on a selec�on process to seek out talented dancers to join one of the 3

programmes in September. Follow the steps below to become a part of the academy:

1.) A0end an Open Day

• Find out more about the YDA training

• See a demonstra�on by current students

• Meet the YDA team

• Get an applica�on form

• Parents/guardians are welcome to a0end

2.) Apply & Audi�on

• Complete an applica�on form (available online March/April 2016)

• A0end a 2.5 hour audi�on in which applicants will:

• Take part in a prac�cal session in contemporary and /or jazz plus a crea�ve

task (Contemporary Programmes) OR breaking and/or house plus a throw-

down (Urban Programme)

• Perform a solo in the style of your own choice

• Have an informal interview

3.) Join the YDA

If successful at audi�on, you will be invited to join the YDA. You will now have access to all the ex-

per�se the YDA has to offer and this will be available to you for subsequent years. You will not need

to re-audi�on once you have joined.

N.B. Audi�ons for entry into a Dance Conservatoire/Voca�onal College occur each year from September to April/

May. Due to the �mescale required to FULLY prepare a dancer for these audi�ons any new students joining the YDA will

be required to complete at least 1 year of training before audi�oning i.e. a dancer joining the YDA in September 2016 will

not be able to audi�on for a Dance Conservatoire/Voca�onal College un�l Autumn 2017.

SELECTION CRITERIA

At the audi�on there will be a panel made up of local and na�onal dance ar�stes, plus staff of Swin-

don Dance and the YDA. The panel will assess applicants on the following criteria:

Musicality

Physical response to

music both rhythmi-

cally and emo�onally

Expressiveness

Depth and quality of

expression

Crea�vity

Ability to apply imag-

ina�on and crea�ve

ideas to movement

material

Physicality

Suitability of body

type and physical

commitment to

movement material

ADtude

Commitment to and

focus on the dance

work

Presence

The ‘je ne sais quoi’

of the performer, the

‘wow’ factor

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REGISTER NOW!

Register on an Open Day/download an applica�on form:

www.swindondance-youthdanceacademy.yolasite.com

E-MAIL: yda@swindondance.org.uk

TEL: 01793 601702 op�on 3

WEB: www.swindondance.org.uk

POST: YDA, Swindon Dance, Regent Circus, Swindon, SN1 1QF

OPEN DAYS

Swindon Contemporary Programme

Date: Saturday 19th March 2016, 1:00-3:30 p.m.

Venue: Swindon Dance, Regent Circus, Swindon. SN1 1QF

Swindon Urban Programme

Date: Sunday 20th March 2016, 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Venue: Swindon Dance, Regent Circus, Swindon. SN1 1QF

Exeter Contemporary Programme

Date: Sunday 13th March 2016, 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Venue: Exeter University, Alexander Building, Thornlea, New North Road, Exeter. EX4 4LA

AUDITIONS

Exeter Contemporary Programme

Dates: Sunday 5th June 2016, 11:00-1:30 p.m.

Sunday 19th June 2016, 11:00-1:30 p.m.

Venue: Exeter University, Alexander Building, Thornlea, New North Road, Exeter. EX4 4LA

Swindon Contemporary Programme

Dates: Saturday 28th May 2016, 12:00-2:30 p.m. OR 3:30-6:00 p.m.

Wednesday 22nd June 2016, 5:00-7:45 p.m.

Venue: Swindon Dance, Regent Circus, Swindon. SN1 1QF

Swindon Urban Programme

Dates: Sunday 29th May 2016, 11:00-1:30 p.m.

Wednesday 29th June 2016, 5:00-7:45 p.m.

Venue: Swindon Dance, Regent Circus, Swindon. SN1 1QF

The YDA will endeavour to see all dancers wishing to join the programme. If you are unable to a0end an audi�on date

please contact the YDA Administrator .

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• ArtsEd

• Bird College

• Bri0 School

• Central School of Ballet

• Ins�tute of Arts, Barcelona

• Laines Theatre Arts

• London Contemporary Dance School

• London Studio Centre

• Millennium Performing Arts

• Na�onal Centre for Circus Arts

• Northern Ballet

• Northern School of Contemporary Dance

• Performance Prepara�on Academy

• Rambert School of Ballet and Contempo-

rary Dance

• Roehampton University

• Royal Ballet (upper school)

• Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance

• SPL (performing arts college)

• Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and

Dance

• Urdang Academy

STUDENT SUCCESSES

Past students have gone on to further full-�me training at the country’s top voca�onal colleges and

dance conservatoires, including:

• Amelia Cotes, dancer; Tavaziva

• Bryn Thomas, dancer; Verve Dance Com-

pany

• Carys Staton, dancer; Russell Maliphant

Company and Neon Dance

• Charley Logan, dancer; Black Box Dance

Company

• Chris Thomas, Cyr Wheel specialist work-

ing in Abu Dhabi

• Felicity Kerr, Director; FlickerrDance

• Frankie-J, dancer; Plague and Boy Blue

• Georges Hann, dancer; James Cousins

Company

• Jahrel Thomas, dancer; The Lion King

(West End)

• Jonah Cook, soloist; Bavarian State Ballet

• Sarah Fletcher, dancer; Transitions Dance

Company

• Tom English, dancer; Punchdrunk and Wim

Vandekeybus/Ultima Vez

YDA ALUMNI

Many YDA alumni are performing and working professionally in the dance world, here are a few ex-

amples:

Tanya Dimbelolo, Rambert School of

Ballet & Contemporary Dance

Carys Staton, Rambert School of Ballet & Con-

temporary Dance. Dancer; Russell Maliphant

Company

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YDA FOR DANCERS

“The YDA has changed my life in so many ways. It gave me the funding to go to a professional studio

and get trained by professional teachers from all around the UK. It has given me presence, under-

standing, mo�va�on, star quality, confidence, technique, passion and more. Any dancer I know who

wants to get into the professional dance industry I would recommend YDA as it gives you the tools

to follow your dream. I know this because YDA helped me follow mine”

Jahrel Thomas

YDA 2007-9, dancer in The Lion King, West End

“The YDA opened my eyes to new levels of performance and technique. This raised my aspira�ons,

mo�va�ng me to higher levels of discipline and performance technique. I have been privileged

enough to work with inspira�onal teachers such as Kenneth Tharp OBE, Jo Turnbull and Leesa Phil-

lips. Their passion for dance had fuelled my own passion and my desire is now greater than ever. I

always dreamed of a0ending the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance but I never

thought this was possible—the YDA helped me to realise that dream and since gradua�ng from the

degree course I have toured with the Rambert Company, danced with Beyonce and toured with

Russell Maliphant Company”

Carys Staton

YDA 2005-8, dancer in Russell Maliphant Company

“I joined the YDA in 2005 but had to withdraw for personal reasons. The YDA team kept in touch

with me and invited me back to join the newly formed Urban Programme in 2008. I was determined

to follow my dream this �me, and have since been spo0ed by the professional dance world for my

talent in popping, hip hop and crea�ve dance. I’ve worked with Steady from Flawless (a crew in the

final of Britain’s Got Talent) and Brooke (lead dancer in Street Dance 3D and two �mes world cham-

pion at Hip Hop Interna�onal). I graduated from the London Contemporary Dance School in 2013”

Frankie Johnson

YDA 2005-6 & 2008-10, dancer in Plague and Boy Blue

Edd Arnold, Rambert School of

Ballet & Contemporary Dance Photo credits: Mark Pepperall & Jim Rowbotham

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YDA FOR PARENTS

For parents, their child’s choice to become a professional dancer can be a daun�ng one. The team at

the YDA value the opportunity to involve parents fully in their child’s development as a dancer,

which will enable the right choices to be made for each students individual pathway

“...as a lone parent I could never have afforded the level of training that my daughter receives at

Swindon. It has been wonderful to see her dancing talent blossom. Not only have the staff looked

aJer her dance training but have also given great considera�on to her whole well-being; devising an

Individual Training Plan, arranging an appointment with a physiotherapist and teaching her about

health”

“I would like to say how important the Music and Dance Scheme grant has been for our son, who

would probably have been unable to enrol at the Centre for Advanced Training without it. He is fi-

nally beginning to see himself as a professional dancer as a result of the high quality training he is

receiving”

ENQUIRIES

Lucy Coogan, YDA Administrator

Swindon Dance, Regent Circus, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 1QF

yda@swindondance.org.uk

01793 601702 op�on 3

swindondance.org.uk

YDASwindonCAT

@YDASwindonCAT

youthdanceacademy

Jonah Cook, Royal Ballet School. Soloist;

Bavarian State Ballet