April 18, 2018

The North West Centre for Advanced Training is offering young Cumbrian dancers aged 12 to 18 years a chance to sample life as a professional dancer, potentially leading to a place in Cumbria Youth Dance Company or on the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) scheme.

A series of FREE Open Days across the North West will take place during May & June to introduce young people to the CAT scheme and to local provision such as Cumbria Youth Dance Company.

The Centre for Advanced Training, based at The Lowry in Manchester, is now in its 9th year and is designed to offer young North West performers aged 12- 18 years a route into the dance industry, preparing them for further professional training.

Cumbria’s Open Days will take place on Saturday 12th May, 9.30am to 1.00pm at University of Cumbria, Carlisle AND on Saturday 12th May, 2.30pm to 6.00pm at The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal. The Open Days will include a contemporary technique class and a creative session followed by questions and answers. The sessions are free to attend but places must be booked in advance by contacting 07584 251352 or lynn-barnes@outlook.com or online at www.northwestdance.org.uk/CAT 

During these Open Days a panel of dance specialists will also select up to 14 young people to form Cumbria Youth Dance Company for 2018/19. The company provides accessible, high quality training and opportunities for gifted and talented young people living in Cumbria. They meet regularly for contemporary technique training and weekend intensives, working with visiting choreographers to create new work for performance. Company members also see professional performances and collaborate
with other young dancers from across the region.

Lynn Barnes, who co-ordinates the CAT outreach programme across Cumbria and Cumbria Youth Dance Company says, “It’s brilliant that these opportunities continue to be available to talented young people across Cumbria. The CAT scheme provides an
amazing standard of training and Cumbria Youth Dance Company is an invaluable stepping stone for young people who are thinking about dance as a career option.”

“Here in Cumbria we run our Cumbria Youth Dance Company auditions alongside the CAT Open Days; it helps us both to identify amazing young dancers from right across the county. Typically we look for spirited young people who have a clear passion for dance and a raw talent that we can help shape."

Ahead of the Open Days many young people across Cumbria will have also accessed FREE taster sessions in some of the county’s secondary schools.

Following the Cumbria Open Days the final CAT audition will take place at The Lowry, Manchester on Sunday 24th June.