ANNUAL REVIEW 2010/2011www.ydance.org

ANNUAL REVIEW 2010 - 11Since the company was established in 1988, originally as Scottish Youth Dance Festival, YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) has grown into a National Youth Performing Arts Company, providing high quality participatory and performance based dance for young people all over Scotland. YDance is respected in Scotland and elsewhere as a provider of high quality work, both participatory and performance based, and is recognised as a key organisation having Foundation status with Creative Scotland. The company’s innovative work in the field of improving physical activity levels amongst young people is recognised by the Scottish Government Health Department, which has commissioned two three year programmes of work from YDance.

YDance works across five main areas, which form the basis for the strategic development of the company:

Dance Participation• – through the Free to Dance project for teenage girls, work with young refugees and asylum seekers, boys dance programmes, work related to the new Curriculum for Excellence in schools,

provision of Higher Dance courses, partnership projects and response workshops

Developing Talent• – Project Y Summer productions, collaborations with Scottish Youth Arts Companies and UK Youth Dance organisations, showcases, international work

Multimedia Resources /CPD• – through sales of existing CD-Roms and related training, new issue and style based training packages and the development of the Choreographic interactive resource

Performance for young people• – with the establishment of a strong repertoire of productions and the development of new work to tour schools and theatre venues, both as YDance productions and in collaboration

with other companies

Professional Development/Advocacy• – providing ongoing CPD opportunities for YDance staff and freelance dance workers, and through involvement in the wider lobbying process on behalf of the dance sector

in Scotland

ANNUAL REVIEW 2010 - 11Since the company was established in 1988, originally as Scottish Youth Dance Festival, YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) has grown into a National Youth Performing Arts Company, providing high quality participatory and performance based dance for young people all over Scotland. YDance is respected in Scotland and elsewhere as a provider of high quality work, both participatory and performance based, and is recognised as a key organisation having Foundation status with Creative Scotland. The company’s innovative work in the field of improving physical activity levels amongst young people is recognised by the Scottish Government Health Department, which has commissioned two three year programmes of work from YDance.

YDance works across five main areas, which form the basis for the strategic development of the company:

Dance Participation• – through the Free to Dance project for teenage girls, work with young refugees and asylum seekers, boys dance programmes, work related to the new Curriculum for Excellence in schools,

provision of Higher Dance courses, partnership projects and response workshops

Developing Talent• – Project Y Summer productions, collaborations with Scottish Youth Arts Companies and UK Youth Dance organisations, showcases, international work

Multimedia Resources /CPD• – through sales of existing CD-Roms and related training, new issue and style based training packages and the development of the Choreographic interactive resource

Performance for young people• – with the establishment of a strong repertoire of productions and the development of new work to tour schools and theatre venues, both as YDance productions and in collaboration

with other companies

Professional Development/Advocacy• – providing ongoing CPD opportunities for YDance staff and freelance dance workers, and through involvement in the wider lobbying process on behalf of the dance sector

in Scotland

The Free to Dance project ran for a third year in 2010-11, targeting inactive teenage girls in three areas of Scotland – Ayrshire, Glasgow and Orkney. The overall aim of the project is to increase physical activity in teenage girls by providing them with opportunities to dance as an alternative to other PE and sport activities. Free to Dance offers girls from a range of backgrounds the chance to access and participate in a positive dance experience which is fun and appropriately challenging.

In 2010-11, the project achieved 23,877 participant attendances and ran 296 groups. 52 performances were held and 4 Award in Dance Leadership Courses involved 70 participants. 5 teacher training courses took place with 126 participants. In February 2011 showcase performances were held in Ayrshire at the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock, in Glasgow at Platform and in Orkney at the Pickaquoy Centre. In addition to the live performances, some of the special needs groups working in Free to Dance made short films which were shown in the theatres. An AGM was held in each of the three areas in the January - March term to update partners and consult on future delivery of the project.

The Scottish Government Health Department has extended funding for Free to Dance for the financial year 2011-12. This will enable the team to continue to deliver the project in the same format for an additional year, while YDance works on planning the future of the programme with NHS Health Scotland and working alongside Youth Scotland and Fit for Girls.

FREE TO DANCE

KEY FACTS & FIGURESApprox • 900 girls attend a Free To Dance session every week

Well over • 100 project partners have been involved in the project

There are an average of • 80 different dance sessions every week

‘Thanks to the [Free To Dance Teacher] training I now know you don’t have to be a prima ballerina to lead a dance class.’ FTD PROJECT PARTNER

‘Working with YDance is amazing - I really want to be a dance tutor like Anna.’ FTD MENTEE

The Free to Dance project ran for a third year in 2010-11, targeting inactive teenage girls in three areas of Scotland – Ayrshire, Glasgow and Orkney. The overall aim of the project is to increase physical activity in teenage girls by providing them with opportunities to dance as an alternative to other PE and sport activities. Free to Dance offers girls from a range of backgrounds the chance to access and participate in a positive dance experience which is fun and appropriately challenging.

In 2010-11, the project achieved 23,877 participant attendances and ran 296 groups. 52 performances were held and 4 Award in Dance Leadership Courses involved 70 participants. 5 teacher training courses took place with 126 participants. In February 2011 showcase performances were held in Ayrshire at the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock, in Glasgow at Platform and in Orkney at the Pickaquoy Centre. In addition to the live performances, some of the special needs groups working in Free to Dance made short films which were shown in the theatres. An AGM was held in each of the three areas in the January - March term to update partners and consult on future delivery of the project.

The Scottish Government Health Department has extended funding for Free to Dance for the financial year 2011-12. This will enable the team to continue to deliver the project in the same format for an additional year, while YDance works on planning the future of the programme with NHS Health Scotland and working alongside Youth Scotland and Fit for Girls.

FREE TO DANCE

KEY FACTS & FIGURESApprox • 900 girls attend a Free To Dance session every week

Well over • 100 project partners have been involved in the project

There are an average of • 80 different dance sessions every week

‘Thanks to the [Free To Dance Teacher] training I now know you don’t have to be a prima ballerina to lead a dance class.’ FTD PROJECT PARTNER

‘Working with YDance is amazing - I really want to be a dance tutor like Anna.’ FTD MENTEE

In 2010-11 YDance completed delivery of the Ignite boys dance project in collaboration with Smallpetitklein Dance Company. The project was funded through the Scottish Arts Council Inspiring Communities Fund. The Ignite project aimed to raise awareness of dance amongst boys and young men. Over the course of the

year the project was successful in reaching over 1400 boys in different parts of Scotland, giving them direct experience of dance taught by male tutors, and the opportunity to see a high quality production with an all-male cast.

The project worked mainly with boys aged 11 – 16 in taster workshops in schools time and a programme of regular weekly classes out of school hours. The programme was delivered in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Perth & Kinross, Fife, Angus and Glasgow. Boys from all parts came together in June 2010 for a

2-day event at The Space, to work together and to share their performance work.

A new touring production choreographed by Andy Howitt of YDance and Tommy Small of Smallpetitklein was produced in Autumn 2010, and toured to schools and public venues. In the majority of schools the free workshop sessions which accompanied the performance were

mainly taken up by all boys classes, and the performance was open to all

The project also demonstrated a positive impact on the perceptions of dance for boys in schools:

A Gala celebration to complete the project was due to take place at Tramway, Glasgow on 30th November, but had to be cancelled due to heavy snow. The planned programme included professional male performances by Scottish Dance Theatre, Scottish Ballet, Dynion and the Ignite Touring Company, alongside the

boys groups own showcase performances.

The Ignite project provided wider engagement with dance for boys in Scotland. Boys who otherwise had no experience of dance have participated in tasters and schools workshops, seen professional male dancers perform and taken part in workshops and performances themselves. The project leaves a legacy of continuing work

in Glasgow and Fife, and there are plans to develop work in other areas in the future.

‘Just to say what a fantastic performance we enjoyed last night. Amazing dancing, wonderful music and great set. We had an audience of almost 60 which, in Mull on a wild and wet November evening, was a huge success. I have had enthusiastic feedback from members

of the audience, and I think we can safely say we have an audience for dance performances on Mull. The workshops were great fun and the boys really enjoyed it. We had every P6 and P7 boy on Mull there (the Iona boys couldn’t make it because of the weather). I didn’t expect

too many to come along to the show because many live a fair distance away (Bunessan school brought 5 boys which meant a round trip of 3 1/2 hours), but 5 boys from nearby Tobermory – who had never been to an evening performance of any kind before

- persuaded a parent to bring them along, and they had a great time.’ SHEENA MILLER, MARKETING OFFICER, MULL THEATRE

‘I am writing from Dunfermline High School to say a final thank you which I would like you to pass on to all the members of your company who were in school today. They held 2 workshops with large numbers which allowed me to get all S1 boys down and involved this morning

and on both occasions I was delighted with the workshops and the experiences the pupils received. I arranged for all S1 pupils (boys and girls - plus some other classes who were in PE ) to watch the performance in the afternoon and again this was a very positive experience. The dancers were impressive and having just introduced Dance as part of our S1 curriculum - which started last week - it gave the boys

the chance to see male dancers and to hopefully inspire some of them when they are back in class next week. As I said to begin with I would hope you can pass on my thanks on behalf of my department to everyone who was here today - I hope we get

the chance to work with you again at some point in the future.’ DAVE BARCLAY, PT CURRICULUM, PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEP, DUNFERMLINE HIGH SCHOOL

In 2010-11 YDance completed delivery of the Ignite boys dance project in collaboration with Smallpetitklein Dance Company. The project was funded through the Scottish Arts Council Inspiring Communities Fund. The Ignite project aimed to raise awareness of dance amongst boys and young men. Over the course of the

year the project was successful in reaching over 1400 boys in different parts of Scotland, giving them direct experience of dance taught by male tutors, and the opportunity to see a high quality production with an all-male cast.

The project worked mainly with boys aged 11 – 16 in taster workshops in schools time and a programme of regular weekly classes out of school hours. The programme was delivered in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Perth & Kinross, Fife, Angus and Glasgow. Boys from all parts came together in June 2010 for a

2-day event at The Space, to work together and to share their performance work.

A new touring production choreographed by Andy Howitt of YDance and Tommy Small of Smallpetitklein was produced in Autumn 2010, and toured to schools and public venues. In the majority of schools the free workshop sessions which accompanied the performance were

mainly taken up by all boys classes, and the performance was open to all

The project also demonstrated a positive impact on the perceptions of dance for boys in schools:

A Gala celebration to complete the project was due to take place at Tramway, Glasgow on 30th November, but had to be cancelled due to heavy snow. The planned programme included professional male performances by Scottish Dance Theatre, Scottish Ballet, Dynion and the Ignite Touring Company, alongside the

boys groups own showcase performances.

The Ignite project provided wider engagement with dance for boys in Scotland. Boys who otherwise had no experience of dance have participated in tasters and schools workshops, seen professional male dancers perform and taken part in workshops and performances themselves. The project leaves a legacy of continuing work

in Glasgow and Fife, and there are plans to develop work in other areas in the future.

‘Just to say what a fantastic performance we enjoyed last night. Amazing dancing, wonderful music and great set. We had an audience of almost 60 which, in Mull on a wild and wet November evening, was a huge success. I have had enthusiastic feedback from members

of the audience, and I think we can safely say we have an audience for dance performances on Mull. The workshops were great fun and the boys really enjoyed it. We had every P6 and P7 boy on Mull there (the Iona boys couldn’t make it because of the weather). I didn’t expect

too many to come along to the show because many live a fair distance away (Bunessan school brought 5 boys which meant a round trip of 3 1/2 hours), but 5 boys from nearby Tobermory – who had never been to an evening performance of any kind before

- persuaded a parent to bring them along, and they had a great time.’ SHEENA MILLER, MARKETING OFFICER, MULL THEATRE

‘I am writing from Dunfermline High School to say a final thank you which I would like you to pass on to all the members of your company who were in school today. They held 2 workshops with large numbers which allowed me to get all S1 boys down and involved this morning

and on both occasions I was delighted with the workshops and the experiences the pupils received. I arranged for all S1 pupils (boys and girls - plus some other classes who were in PE ) to watch the performance in the afternoon and again this was a very positive experience. The dancers were impressive and having just introduced Dance as part of our S1 curriculum - which started last week - it gave the boys

the chance to see male dancers and to hopefully inspire some of them when they are back in class next week. As I said to begin with I would hope you can pass on my thanks on behalf of my department to everyone who was here today - I hope we get

the chance to work with you again at some point in the future.’ DAVE BARCLAY, PT CURRICULUM, PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEP, DUNFERMLINE HIGH SCHOOL

YDance established Project Y in 2006, as an aspirational company for young dancers in Scotland, an aspect of work which had long been in place in the other National Youth Companies, but had previously been lacking in dance. Project Y allows talented young dancers in Scotland to develop their technique, knowledge and craft over an intensive period of creation and performance, and to tour under professional conditions. Project Y has commissioned 20 new works from a range of choreographers including Filip van Huffel, Errol White and Duncan MacFarland. Throughout the year the dancers within this production company have opportunities to be involved with other projects, home and abroad. Project Y participants have taken part in international exchanges with Sweden, France and Germany, have performed at high profile events such as the launch of Homecoming 2009 and as part of the Delhi Handover cast for the Commonwealth Games, and formed part of the first combined National Youth Arts company with Scottish Youth Theatre and the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland for an innovative production of Tam O’Shanter in 2009.

In 2010, YDance commissioned Bryan Beattie of Creative Services Scotland to undertake a review of the first five years of operation of Project Y. The review was very positive, demonstrating the impact the project has had on past participants, dance education centres, the wider dance sector and the arts sector in Scotland.

In 2010, Project Y took place in Glasgow based at RSAMD. 39 young dancers took part, 25 in the Production company and 14 on the Elements foundation course. The Elements students performed to an invited audience and the production company toured to RSAMD, Eden Court Theatre in Inverness and the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen (part of Aberdeen International Youth Festival). Four new works were created, choreographed by Andy Howitt, Anna Kenrick, Errol White and Yolanda van Welig. Following a review of the impact of taster sessions designed to attract applicants in previous years, tasters were held in January / February 2011 in schools and other agencies providing Higher Dance and in colleges offering dance training throughout Scotland. Two Open Door taster days were held in Glasgow and Edinburgh to attract applicants for the 2011 courses, which will be based at the new Speirs Lock Studios at RSAMD.

Three Project Y participants were chosen to take part in the cast for the Glasgow Handover Ceremony at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October 2010 and participants also took part in an exchange programme in Sweden in March 2011.

‘It is a great project and a unique opportunity. It is a great dance boot camp for budding young performers. It’s also a great way for them to become aware of thepossibilities in dance, the professionals already in place and allows them to experience a life away from home – all great benefits!’PROFESSIONAL DANCER/CHOREOGRAPHER ON PROJECT Y

‘I got an accurate idea of what full time dance training is like and got to meet an amazing range of people with exciting and varied dance styles.’ PROJECT Y PARTICIPANT

YDance established Project Y in 2006, as an aspirational company for young dancers in Scotland, an aspect of work which had long been in place in the other National Youth Companies, but had previously been lacking in dance. Project Y allows talented young dancers in Scotland to develop their technique, knowledge and craft over an intensive period of creation and performance, and to tour under professional conditions. Project Y has commissioned 20 new works from a range of choreographers including Filip van Huffel, Errol White and Duncan MacFarland. Throughout the year the dancers within this production company have opportunities to be involved with other projects, home and abroad. Project Y participants have taken part in international exchanges with Sweden, France and Germany, have performed at high profile events such as the launch of Homecoming 2009 and as part of the Delhi Handover cast for the Commonwealth Games, and formed part of the first combined National Youth Arts company with Scottish Youth Theatre and the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland for an innovative production of Tam O’Shanter in 2009.

In 2010, YDance commissioned Bryan Beattie of Creative Services Scotland to undertake a review of the first five years of operation of Project Y. The review was very positive, demonstrating the impact the project has had on past participants, dance education centres, the wider dance sector and the arts sector in Scotland.

In 2010, Project Y took place in Glasgow based at RSAMD. 39 young dancers took part, 25 in the Production company and 14 on the Elements foundation course. The Elements students performed to an invited audience and the production company toured to RSAMD, Eden Court Theatre in Inverness and the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen (part of Aberdeen International Youth Festival). Four new works were created, choreographed by Andy Howitt, Anna Kenrick, Errol White and Yolanda van Welig. Following a review of the impact of taster sessions designed to attract applicants in previous years, tasters were held in January / February 2011 in schools and other agencies providing Higher Dance and in colleges offering dance training throughout Scotland. Two Open Door taster days were held in Glasgow and Edinburgh to attract applicants for the 2011 courses, which will be based at the new Speirs Lock Studios at RSAMD.

Three Project Y participants were chosen to take part in the cast for the Glasgow Handover Ceremony at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October 2010 and participants also took part in an exchange programme in Sweden in March 2011.

‘It is a great project and a unique opportunity. It is a great dance boot camp for budding young performers. It’s also a great way for them to become aware of thepossibilities in dance, the professionals already in place and allows them to experience a life away from home – all great benefits!’PROFESSIONAL DANCER/CHOREOGRAPHER ON PROJECT Y

‘I got an accurate idea of what full time dance training is like and got to meet an amazing range of people with exciting and varied dance styles.’ PROJECT Y PARTICIPANT

HIGHER DANCE/GLOW & CO-CREATEFollowing the success of the Aim Higher programme delivering Higher Dance in three local authorities in 2009-10, YDance was awarded funding from the Scottish Arts Council and Learning Teaching Scotland’s GLOW / Co-Create Fund, to support the continued delivery of Higher Dance by providing dance lessons and teacher training through GLOW (the Scottish Schools Intranet) backed by an extensive online resource bank. The project aimed to increase PE teachers skills to enable them to deliver dance, to improve quality in the delivery of Higher Dance in schools, increase candidate numbers and improve pass rates, and to enable schools to share experiences and best practice. The project combined direct delivery by YDance tutors, online CPD sessions for teachers through GOW meets, and the creation of a GLOW microsite for Higher Dance, including teacher and pupil zones with extensive video, audio and text resources to facilitate dance work in schools.

GENERAL WORKSHOPSThroughout the year, YDance responds to requests for dance workshops from schools, local authorities and other groups. Company policy is to try wherever possible to negotiate longer-term workshop projects in partnership with other agencies rather than one-off workshops, and projects are tailored to individual needs. YDance offers a range of themed workshops for schools, to cater for all ages from Nursery to P7. Tailored programmes of work are also available, ranging from one-off workshops on a particular theme, to term-long regular sessions leading to performances or sharings.

In 2010/11 the trend marked in the previous year of a reduction in requests for workshops, from schools and Local Authorities continued, reflecting budget reductions for this work in the education sector generally. In order to address this, and to encourage schools and other agencies to work with the company, YDance has developed a range of workshops related to Curriculum for Excellence, Intermediate 2 and Higher Dance, and is widening the reach of training and workshop activity to include voluntary youth organisations and organisations working with marginalised young people.

2010/11 saw an increase in general workshop activity over 2009/10, mainly due to involvement in a number of one-off projects funded through the SAC Inspiring Communities Lottery Fund, including the Body Currents project in the Highlands, and Only Boys Allowed, a music and dance project managed by Horsecross in Perth. Collaborations included work with Aberdeen City Council on a Commonwealth Games themed project, with Conflux in the Briggait in Glasgow, Aberdeen International Youth Festival Dance Lab, a pilot project with the National Museum of Scotland and the establishment of a boys dance group at Bridgeton Community Learning Campus in Glasgow. Response workshops took place in Comrie, East Ayrshire, Hamilton College, and Tramway in Glasgow, and a four-week alcohol awareness themed programme was provided for Right Track in Bridgeton, Glasgow.

INTERNATIONALSweden: Over the past three years, YDance has developed a relationship with the Folkuniversitetet Gymnasium in Linköping, Sweden, an upper secondary school providing full-time dance education to young people aged 16 – 19. In January 2011 a group of students from the school visited Dundee, working for a week with YDance participants from previous Project Y companies and students from the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance at the Space. A return visit to Linköping took place in March 2011, funded by the EU Youth in Action Fund administered by the British Council.

Germany: In November 2010 two YDance staff and a group of 7 participants from the Free to Dance project in Glasgow took part in an exchange visit to Nuremberg. Funded by the cultural exchange department of Glasgow City Council the trip formed the return leg of an exchange which started in August 2009, when a group of girls from Nuremberg worked with Free to Dance participants in Glasgow. During the visit, both groups worked together to create a contemporary dance piece which was performed at a children’s dance festival hosted by Weise69.

HIGHER DANCE/GLOW & CO-CREATEFollowing the success of the Aim Higher programme delivering Higher Dance in three local authorities in 2009-10, YDance was awarded funding from the Scottish Arts Council and Learning Teaching Scotland’s GLOW / Co-Create Fund, to support the continued delivery of Higher Dance by providing dance lessons and teacher training through GLOW (the Scottish Schools Intranet) backed by an extensive online resource bank. The project aimed to increase PE teachers skills to enable them to deliver dance, to improve quality in the delivery of Higher Dance in schools, increase candidate numbers and improve pass rates, and to enable schools to share experiences and best practice. The project combined direct delivery by YDance tutors, online CPD sessions for teachers through GOW meets, and the creation of a GLOW microsite for Higher Dance, including teacher and pupil zones with extensive video, audio and text resources to facilitate dance work in schools.

MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES & CPDIn 2010 YDance, with funding from the SAC Resilience Fund, appointed an external marketing special-ist to research and create a new sales and marketing strategy for the company’s educational resource library, focusing on the Choreographic resource. Based on the resulting report, YDance began to implement a series of marketing activities designed to reach new markets and increase sales income, initially within the UK and then moving into the international marketplace. Educational organisations and key dance contacts across England and Wales are being targeted through phone and e-marketing and YDance is negotiating with educational resource publishers to sell Choreographic. The strategy has Choreographic as it’s principal focus, but it will also create new opportunities to sell on other existing resources, and to promote YDance’s programme of CPD Training and workshops. The strategy will continue to be rolled out in 2011/12. YDance offers CPD sessions for teachers based on the full range of multimedia resources available, a tailored programme of courses based on Higher and Intermediate 2 Dance delivery, and sessions on different dance styles and issue based work. Session planning is done in consultation with the commissioning organisation to enable the most appropriate content for each individual programme. In 2010/11 YDance delivered CPD for youth workers on introducing dance with teenage girls in out of school settings through the Free to Dance project, 8 sessions with North Lanark-shire Council on Curriculum for Excellence, sessions for South Lanarkshire Council in April 2010 and January – March 2011, sessions in West Lothian and North Ayrshire, and continued the annual programme of input to Glasgow University Initial Teacher Training.

INTERNATIONALSweden: Over the past three years, YDance has developed a relationship with the Folkuniversitetet Gymnasium in Linköping, Sweden, an upper secondary school providing full-time dance education to young people aged 16 – 19. In January 2011 a group of students from the school visited Dundee, working for a week with YDance participants from previous Project Y companies and students from the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance at the Space. A return visit to Linköping took place in March 2011, funded by the EU Youth in Action Fund administered by the British Council.

Germany: In November 2010 two YDance staff and a group of 7 participants from the Free to Dance project in Glasgow took part in an exchange visit to Nuremberg. Funded by the cultural exchange department of Glasgow City Council the trip formed the return leg of an exchange which started in August 2009, when a group of girls from Nuremberg worked with Free to Dance participants in Glasgow. During the visit, both groups worked together to create a contemporary dance piece which was performed at a children’s dance festival hosted by Weise69.

PERFORMANCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLEIn 2010/11 this aspect of the company’s work was incorporated into the Ignite project, with the collaborative production of two pieces by YDance and Smallpetitklein – Touch Paper choreographed by Andy Howitt and Trigger choreographed by Tommy Small– touring to schools and theatres.

YDance has no current plans for future productions for young audiences. Despite the success of previous productions, the lack of available funding for this type of work, and the fact that Education Authorities are not able at present to buy in work of the scale presented to the extent where it is financially viable has led the company to put this strand of work on hold for the next financial year.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT& ADVOCACYYDance supports core staff, full-time dance workers and freelance staff to develop their skills and themselves. In 2010/11 full-time Free to Dance project staff have had regular training sessions, and attended the Move It! Conference and trade fair in London. YDance core staff attended a range of trainings and conferences at outside organisations including the Arts Marketing Association, Independent Theatre Council and Children in Scotland, and in-house training days were offered to existing and new freelance dance workers. YDance continues to support dance students work experience placements for young people from various colleges each year.

YDance is actively engaged in the development of the dance sector in Scotland and in the UK. As members of the Federation of Scottish Theatre YDance is involved in the Dance Sector Working Group, which is formulating a Dance Advocacy Strategy for Scotland. The Executive Director is representing the dance sector in Scotland on the UK Dance Takes the Lead group, which is planning a UK wide Big Dance programme as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The youth dance sector in the UK is also coming together to work on joint initiatives for 2012, including an extension of the U.Dance programme run by Youth Dance England to involve a joint programme of work by YDE, YDance in Scotland, Dance United in Northern Ireland and Youth Dance Wales. YDance participants will also form part of a UK Youth Dance Ensemble which will perform at the SouthBank Centre in London in July 2012.

YDance continues to work with the other National Youth Performing Arts Companies in Scotland on the future development of young people’s work. Following a meeting with the Minister for Culture in June 2010, the companies will be contributing to the development of the Youth Arts Strategy being drawn up by Creative Scotland in 2011.

STAFFINGDuring the year, Projects Co-ordinator Sarah Potter left the company. The post was taken up by Victoria Ram, formerly Marketing Assistant. Nicola Muir was appointed to the revised post of Marketing and Business Develop-ment Assistant. The post will focus on delivery of the marketing strategy for interactive resources.

Sarah Stuart left the position of Dance Development Officer in July 2010. Yvonne Young (Assistant Director) returned from maternity leave in November 2010.

Andy Howitt left YDance at the end of February 2011 after serving as Artistic Director since 1999, to take up the post of Artistic Director with Citymoves in Aberdeen. The Board of Directors wish to thank Andy for his service to the company during his tenure as Artistic Director and wish him every success in his new post. Anna Kenrick took over as acting Artistic Director in March 2011. A new appointment will be made in 2011.

THE BRIGGAIT In June 2010 the YDance office was moved to the newly redeveloped Briggait building in Glasgow. The new premises not only offer more suitable accommodation, with all staff now working in one space, but the company is also benefiting from being in an arts focussed building, with informal connections being made with a number of other performing and visual arts practitioners which could lead to future collaborative work.

UNDER THE SAME SKYYDance continued to work in partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council, on the third year of the Under the Same Sky project in 2010-11. The project was funded by the Lankelly Chase Foundation, and Glasgow Life. In June 2010, a company of 60 dancers from all over Glasgow performed at The Tron Theatre as part of Refugee Week. The dancers ranged from 9 - 17 years old and included Congolese, Kurdish, Scottish, Pakistani, Iraqi, Botswanan, Turkish, Afghan, Slovakian, Polish, Somalian, Iranian, Chinese, Indian, Portuguese and Cameroonian dancers.

YDance has continued to work with the well established boys group in Knightswood, who have also taken part in some of the Ignite programme opportunities in 2010. Under the Same Sky will culminate in 2011, with the creation of a dance film which will show alongside live performances at Refugee Week in June and serve as a legacy of the project and a resource for other groups.

YDANCE STAFF 2010/2011Carolyn Lappin Executive Director

Andy Howitt Artistic Director

Yvonne Young Assistant Director

Anna Kenrick Free To Dance Project Director

Victoria Ram Projects Coordinator

Esther Currie Marketing Manager

Nicola Muir Marketing & Business Development Assistant

Denise McLeod Office Administrator

Lauren Quigley Administrative Assistant

Lisa Yip Free To Dance Development Officer (Ayrshire)

Caroline Burnside Free To Dance Worker (Ayrshire)

Gillian Smith Free To Dance Worker (Ayrshire)

Sarah Smith Free To Dance Development Officer (Glasgow)

Kelly Shearer Free To Dance Worker

Vicky Millen Free To Dance Development Officer (Orkney)

YDANCE BOARD 2011/2011Zoe van Zwanenberg Chair

Ian Dewar Treasurer

Philip Brady

Mhairi Currie

Stewart Harris

Emma Jones

Carolyn Lappin

Matthew Lowther

Gordon McAllister

George Smith

YDance would like to thank the following for their financial support in 2010/2011:

Lankelly Chase Foundation Youth in Action