Calling North East Youth Dance groups – Applications are now open for the U.Dance North East Regional Celebration that will be hosted by Dance City in March 2021!

What is it?

  • The U.Dance North East Regional Celebration is an event hosted by Dance City that celebrates children and young people’s dance across the North East.
  • It is part a national programme by One Dance UK that supports and encourages dance and performance opportunities for young people across the county.
  • In 2021 the event will be hosted online and will show a selection of dance films submitted by Youth Dance Groups in the region.

 

When is it?

  • The U.Dance North East Regional Celebration will take place on Saturday 20 March.
  • The deadline to submit a dance film or video is Monday 1 March at 5pm

 

Where does it take place? 

  • Due to COVID restrictions, this year the U.Dance North East Regional Celebration will be taking place online.
  • You will be able to book tickets to the event on Dance City’s website nearer the time.

 

Who is it for?

  • The U.Dance North East Regional Celebration is for Youth Dance Groups who are aged 11 – 19 (or up to and including age 24 for dancers with a disability).
  • Groups must be based in the North East of England and include dancers who live in the UK.

 

How do we take part?

  • Your group will need to submit a filmed dance or screen dance piece which is between 2 and 7 minutes in duration. This can be in any style of dance.
  • To apply on behalf of your group, simply download the application form below and send it to our Dance Engagement Coordinator Helen Kumar via DropBox or We Transfer – full details on how to do this are included in the form.

U.Dance North East Regional Platform (Easy Read) Information

U.Dance North East Regional Platform Application Form

U.Dance 2021 General Guidance

 

What happens then? 

  • After we have received all submissions Helen and a selection panel of North East experts will select up to 10 pieces to form the event.
  • On the evening of the U.Dance North East Regional Celebration, One Dance UK will select two groups to represent the North East as the National U.Dance Festival taking place in July.
  • One Dance UK are hosting some free webinars on how to make dance films too so do keep an eye on their website for links.

 

FAQ’s

Who choses the films that will be shown at the U.Dance North East Regional Platform?

A selection panel of North East youth dance experts will create a shortlist of dance groups that meet the following criteria:

  • Demonstrate excellence in performance
  • Present excellent and engaging choreography
  • Show dancers taking clear ownership of the choreography, which is appropriate for their age and experience

Most importantly, you must make sure you follow the governments Covid 19 guidance and comply with any updated info regarding social distancing.

Supporting your entry

One Dance UK and all U.Dance Regional Partners are committed to helping you and your young dancers make the most of U.Dance during this difficult period. We want applications to best reflect the commitment and creativity of your work. It can be daunting creating, recording and editing a piece for film, and we want groups from a variety of settings to take part:

  • School groups

  • Youth dance companies

  • Private dance schools

  • Individuals

All are welcome, and you may find working towards a performance opportunity like U.Dance will provide a welcome sense of achievement for your dancers.

To support groups with their digital applications, we encourage you to watch the below Upskilling Webinars with dance film experts free of charge. These were filmed in December 2020 with a particular focus on dance for children and young people:

  • Filming Dance for Stage with Craig Bush (previously worked with Birmingham Royal Ballet, New Adventures and Rambert School)

  • Filming Dance for Screen with Jo Cork (The Place, Studio Wayne McGregor, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company)