Young Dancer 2015

Today marked the launch of the BBC Young Dancer 2015 competition organised in conjunction with the Sadler’s Wells Theatre. Following on from the success of the biennial Young Musician of the Year Awards, the BBC has turned the spotlight on to the UK’s young dancers. In what will be a celebration of the best of British dancing, the competition aims to expose a wide audience to the wealth of dance talent here in the UK.

Young dancer’s aged between 16 and 20 from across the UK were today invited to submit their applications. The competition will consist of four categories, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop and South Asian. Successful candidates will have to progress through three rounds where they will be judged on their technique, creativity and expressive ability. Throughout the competition there will be the opportunity to get involved in workshops and meet leading figures in each of the different disciplines. Amongst those judging the individual categories will be the Hip Hop artist DJ Renegade, Contemporary dancer Sharon Watson, Bharatanatyam dancer Seeta Patel and Ballerino David Nixon. The final of each category will be broadcasted on BBC Four as part of its Year of Song and Dance and the winners of each category will receive £1000 to help further their dance studies. Alongside two ‘wild card’ competitors, they will also advance to the Final.

The Grand Final will be held on May 9^th 2015 at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre and broadcasted on BBC Two. The candidates will work closely with a young choreographer to produce a solo piece, which will be performed alongside a solo from their repertoire, a duet and an ensemble piece. Judging these performances will be ballerina Tamara Rojo, choreographers Matthew Bourne and Wayne McGregor, contemporary dancer Akram Khan and Hip Hop dancer Kenrick Sandy. The competition provides the candidates with the opportunity to perform not just on the infamous Sadler’s Wells stage but in front of a television audience. In addition the winner will receive £3000 towards their dance studies. The closing date for applicants is on the 1^st November 2014, so make sure you get your application in on time! Similar competitions have helped launched the careers of many dancers and other artists, including the competition’s ambassador Carlos Acosta, so enter now. Good Luck!