Pulse and U.Dance 2013

Dance and Young People in the North East

Dance City has a commitment to provide and champion high quality dance in all its forms, for all children, young people, and youth dance leaders throughout the region; promoting increased access to opportunities, raising standards and improving progression routes. We deliver this by working in partnership with our youth dance hubs across the North East region:

Dance City - Newcastle and Gateshead (www.dancecity.co.uk)
Queens Hall Arts Centre – Northumberland (www.queenshall.co.uk)
The Customs House - North and South Tyneside (www.customshouse.co.uk)
The Forge - Durham and Sunderland (www.intheforge.com)
ARC - Tees Valley (www.arconline.co.uk)

PULSE 2013

PULSE 2013 is a framework that acts as a competition for groups to advance from a sub regional event, to the regional final and then onto the national U.Dance 2013 event.

The PULSE 2013 events celebrate the best in youth dance across the region and provide groups with the opportunity to perform in a professional space, be inspired, see each other’s work and acknowledge the talent of young creators and performers. They offer the opportunity, for groups selected, to represent the North East at the national U.Dance 2013 celebration festival at Leeds in July 2013.

Dance City and its partner hubs will be managing and coordinating these sub regional PULSE 2013 events throughout February and March 2013, with those groups selected from these events performing at the PULSE 2013 regional final at Dance City on Saturday 20 April 2013.

Find out where your local PULSE event is taking place:

Newcastle/ Gateshead
Date: Sun 3 Feb, 7:30pm at Dance City

Durham and Sunderland
Hub Lead for PULSE: Nicola Haigh
E: nicola@intheforge.com
Date: Tue 5 Mar, 4:30pm at Durham Johnson Comprehensive School

Northumberland
Hub Lead for PULSE: Mileva Donachie
E: milevadonachie@me.com
Date: Thu 28 Mar at Alnwick Playhouse

Tees Valley
Hub Lead for PULSE: Rachel Ankers
E: rachael.ankers@arconline.co.uk
Date: Sat 23 Mar at ARC, Stockton on Tees

North and South Tyneside
Hub Lead for PULSE: Emma Horsman
E: emma@customshouse.co.uk
Date: Mon 11 Mar, 7pm at The Customs House, South Shields

U.Dance is a national programme run by Youth Dance England, the national organisation that champions dance for all children and young people.

U.Dance 2013 is a huge youth dance festival that will take place across Leeds from 18 – 21 July 2013. The festival will showcase the best of UK youth dance with performances from outstanding youth dance groups and young choreographers.

2013 will see the selection of a youth dance group to represent the North East at the U.Dance 2013 festival via engagement and performance at sub regional and regional PULSE events.

U.Dance 2013 will provide even more opportunity for youth dance groups to perform as part of the festival in 2013, by opening up different strands of application nationally. More information about these strands will be announced on the U.Dance website in September 2012. www.u-dance.org.

Pulse 2012 winners 

PULSE 2012 winners, Vizavis Dance Company, based at Dame Allan’s School in Newcastle upon Tyne, went on represent the North East at U.Dance 2012 at the Southbank in London last year. Here’s what they had to say about their PULSE and U.Dance experience:

'It was great to see other dances by Youth groups from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The standard was so high it made us feel a real sense of achievement to be selected.'"  U. Dance participant

"Performing in the Royal Festival Hall is an experience I will never forget. Just loved it!" U. Dance participant

"It was a real privilege to take part in the whole U.Dance experience from performances at Dance City, as part of Pulse to the regional final which was held at the Arc, Stockton. It gave the group a real focus and sense of purpose to their work. It was also wonderful to see Youth Groups from all over the region and to see the vast range of dance that is on offer. The standards set were incredibly high!

Taking part in the U.Dance National platform was incredible. Every day of the residency provided inspiration for Group leaders and dancers alike. The workshops were fantastic, ranging from African, hip hop and break dance to Ballet and contemporary. The chance to network and just chat with other Group leaders was invaluable - sharing good practice and the possibility of new performance opportunities. An experience that is to be highly recommended!"  Group Leader U.dance 2012