U.Dance North East
Regional Celebration 2023

Celebrating Youth Dance across the North East Saturday 11 March.

Welcome to the Dance City Regional U.Dance Celebration

U.Dance North East is a series of events, which celebrate the best in youth dance across the region.  It provides 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.  Dance is a great way of sharing skills, developing confidence, self-awareness, body awareness and communication.  It is also a tool to encourage group work and social skills and not forgetting that dance is great fun (at any age!). The ethos of U.Dance events across the region remains the same; all the Dance partners involved are keen to create events for more and more people to enjoy being part of something special and making memories.     

U.Dance events are happening in two areas this year Dance City is proud to host tonight’s event for the Newcastle and Gateshead groups.  The events offer the opportunity for youth dance progression routes, groups of young people aged 11 to 19 (and disabled young people up to the age of 24) can opt to be part of a selection process to represent the North East at the ‘U.Dance Festival’ in Newcastle in July.

For more information about dance opportunities at Dance City or in your school or group, please contact engagement@dancecity.co.uk

Today’s performances

Vizavis Dance Company – The Ghosts of Babcock Asylum 

Babcock Asylum is the second oldest asylum in the USA. The horror and atrocities which happened in this institution have been the inspiration to this dark piece. 

Choreographer: Rebekah Waters
Music: Death by Mica Levi, Machine Gun by Portishead

Division Dance Company- Enough

“Enough” is a contemporary dance piece exploring the societal pressures faced by young people. The performance delves into themes such as the desire to conform to social norms and expectations, the impact of appearance and behaviour, academic performance, and the influence of social media. Through movements and emotive expression, the dancers convey the struggle of individuals to maintain their individuality amidst societal pressures to conform, and the frustration this brings. The piece highlights the importance of being true to oneself and the power of self-expression through dance. The dancers have had enough, and they are more than enough.

Choreographer/s: Claire McGrath and dancers

Music: The Way (instrumental) by Zach Hemsey

Ground Breakers –Did somebody say Party?

The Lawnmowers very own Ground Breakers Crew present their first new show since the pandemic, welcoming new members alongside the core squad. A normal Friday night turns into a party night when a group of lads and lasses invite some people out for a boogie.

Choreographer/s: Conor O’Kane and Ground Breakers

Liberdade Youth Dance – At the Barre

Liberdade Youth Dance was formed in September 2019 and come together on a Wednesday evening at Gosforth Civic Theatre. The group take part in contemporary dance technique class, followed by creative sessions where they learn new skills in contemporary dance, physical theatre and choreography. Our youth dancers have been inspired by a piece performed by BalletBoyz. Exploring creative ways of using our bespoke ballet barre, the group looked at the idea of being young and carefree.

Choreographer: Heather Huggins and Kelly Turnbull
Music: Saturday by Sam Fender & Tender by Blur

Barbara Priestman –The Jungle Book  

BPA Dance Company students set up their own dance enterprise. They have worked with Liberdade to create a piece of physical theatre based on the story of The Jungle Book.

Choreographer/s: Kelly Turnbull and Heather Huggins

Music: Whistling & Chattering Jungle Background with Insects by Ambient Nature Sounds, Doki by Afrodrumming, Isoka by Sibongile Khumalo, Into the Wild by African Music Drums , River by Leon Bridges

EYD- The Changing of the Seasons

EYD is a project for gifted and talented young dancers who have a learning disability or who are autistic. The group met for three days over half-term to create this dance about the four seasons.

Choreographer/s: Tess Chaytor and Tertia Brigham
Music: The Heroic Weather by Alexandra Desplat

Red Creative Group–The Gathering

“Once a year when the last leaf of autumn falls, we gather to honour the great cycle of life and death”. This piece was inspired by the ‘Addams Family’ ancestors’ gathering. This creative group is one of several that meets weekly and is part of TIN Arts children and young people’s programme.

Choreographer: Tess Chaytor and Tertia Brigham 
Music: Ancestors by Lindle Lila, The Vampire Masquerade by Peter Gundry, Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones

TFC Dance Co – Don’t lose your courage

This group of experienced young dancers has been meeting on Mondays to choreograph their own dance. Using music as their inspiration, they explored how they could make one piece that celebrated both their individuality and their sense of togetherness.

The dancers have been supported in the studio by Tess Chaytor and Tertia Brigham (TIN Arts)

Music: Midnight Moon by Oh Wonder

Dance City Youth Company – Reservoir of thoughts

A piece exploring the mind; the conscious decisions and thoughts we make while those of our unconscious slip though the carefully controlled filters our minds protect us with. Between the conscious and the unconscious, the mind has put up a swing: all earth creatures, even the supernovas, sway between these two trees, and it never winds down. – Written by Kabir, translated by Robert Bly This is the first piece this cohort of the Youth Company have performed together and has been a process centred around getting to know each other, learning how to dance with each other, and to trust one another through the creative process and on stage.

Choreographer/s: Emily-Fleur Peake and the Dancers.

Music: Feathers by Poppy Ackroyd