National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) – the country’s flagship company for young dancers, run by Sadler’s Wells, has selected its eighth intake of dancers sourced from 25 towns, cities and villages across England. The new cohort joins Guest Artistic Director and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Russell Maliphant to work on a new piece especially created by Maliphant for NYDC. The piece premieres at DanceEast on Saturday 18 April 2020.
Covering all regions across the country, 20 workshops took place from May – July to select the 30 new members for the 2019/20 intake. Consisting of 15 female and 15 male dancers aged 15 – 24, the new members join 10 dancers returning from last year to form an impressive cohort of 40.
The new Guest Artistic Director Russell Maliphant takes over from last year’s Guest Artistic Director Botis Seva whose Olivier Award-winning work BLKDOG formed part of the Sadler’s Wells’ 20th anniversary commission, Reckonings, in October 2018. Seva’s commission for NYDC, MADHEAD, was presented in Ipswich, Plymouth, Newcastle, Essex, Brighton, Birmingham and London.
Russell Maliphant established his own dance company in 1996 as the framework to create productions and work with his own ensemble of dancers. He has received two Olivier awards, three South Bank Show awards and four Critics’ Circle National Dance awards, amongst many other national and international awards and nominations. The Russell Maliphant Dance Company became one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations in April 2018. Maliphant’s work has also been performed by renowned dance artists including Sylvie Guillem, BalletBoyz, Munich Ballet and English National Ballet. Maliphant became an Associate Artist of Sadler’s Wells in 2005 and was awarded an honorary doctorate of arts from Plymouth University in 2011.
Two graduates of NYDC, Edd Arnold and Folu Odimayo, make up part of the Russell Maliphant Dance Company and can be seen performing in Silent Lines at Sadler’s Wells, on 18 & 19 October.
During the dancers’ time with NYDC, they are offered a unique insight into the dance profession, living and working closely together as a company, alongside NYDC staff and the artistic team. The year-long experience in the company provides members with the necessary skills and techniques to find career opportunities and raise aspirations, self-esteem and confidence.
The dancers are mentored during four intensive residencies in school holidays to create and rehearse the new piece: 19 – 22 October (Ipswich), 14 – 19 December (Birmingham), 15 – 23 February (TBC) and the final residency takes place in Ipswich and London, between 4 – 19 April, ahead of the opening night at DanceEast.
The 30 new dancers for 2019/20 are:
Aaliyah Francis, London
Amelia Clarke, London
Cameron Cook, Cheshire
Charlotte Hoyle, Nottingham
Chiara Moore, Warrington
Dylan Jones, Wiltshire
Elisabeth Mulenga, Birmingham
Eve Shorten, Oxfordshire
Haydn Hull, East Ardsley
Jack Ward, Newcastle
Jacob Philips, Bristol
Joshua Pilgrim, Somerset
Kenan Smith, Worsbrough Dale
Lauryn Bryan, London
Leo Udvarlaky, Kent
Lewis Logie, Carlisle
Mareih Belocura, Worthing
Meghan Warburton, Kidlington
Mia Grote, Totnes
Mirabelle Haddon, London
Philippa Brewis, Suffolk
Renette Wesley, London
Sonny Connor-Bell, Birmingham
Sonny Cwynarski, London
Spike King, Twickenham
Steffi Fashokun, Truro
Tom Sutton, Middlesbrough
Wil Trash, Barnsley
Willow Fenner, London
Zac Crowe, Preston
The new intake joins the 10 returning dancers:
Ethan Hurip, Brighton
Faye McLoughlin, Bristol
Hannah Joseph, London
Harvey Burke-Hamilton, Surrey
Karim Dime, London
Maia Faulker, Brighton
Mark Halton, Ambleside
Mathilde Anderson Mellor, Brighton
Millie Smith-Hashim, Brighton
Sekou Diaby, London