yda information pack 2016-17.pub
TRANSCRIPT
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
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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: [email protected]
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
14
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
01793 601702 op�on 3
swindondance.org.uk
YDASwindonCAT
@YDASwindonCAT
youthdanceacademy
Jonah Cook, Royal Ballet School. Soloist;
Bavarian State Ballet