National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) is England’s flagship company for young dancers run by Sadler’s Wells. Each year, a guest artistic director auditions and selects young dancers between the ages of 16 and 24 to collaborator to create a new dance work. The work tours nationally and is a representation of youth dance and culture in the UK.
Dancer Luis Green heard about NYDC through an introductory workshop offered at his school. “I remember feeling so nervous before my first audition, and as soon as I walked in and met a few of the company members from that year, I instantly felt that I was free to express myself and enjoyed both of the auditions.”
This year, Oona Doherty is the guest artistic director and the creator of the new work, Wall. Doherty is a graduate of London Contemporary Dance School and Laban London. Doherty was awarded the Silver Lion at Venice Biennale Silver Lion in 2021, one of the most prestigious prizes for live performance. “I think it’s about difference,” says Doherty about Wall. “And that we’re stronger together. It’s about the cast. And that they are all different but are ‘young Britains.'”
Doherty, who is interested in the professionalism of care, says, “Sometimes, in companies, there are people off stage who care for the show, the finance of the show, but not the care of the physical and mental state of the dancers in the company. I think this is the difference, and something to learn from youth companies.”
Doherty continues, “National Youth Dance Company is inclusive. Gender, class, race, neurodivergence, ability and disability. NYDC has a team who are on site for the creation to keep these differences, challenges and originality in mind. They care for the company regardless of what the show is.”
“From the process, I have become a more confident, technical and expressive dancer,” says Green. “Being surrounded by such talented dancers and such a talented artistic team is extremely inspirational, and to be able to live and work amongst these people is a complete pleasure. I’ll take away a new vocabulary in dance and the different ways in which you can create, perform and enjoy dance. I have never felt more ready to spend the rest of my life dancing!”
Wall opened at the Leeds Playhouse and now tours from the 30 June, to Wakefield Falmouth, Ipswich, Latitude Festival, Leicester and London, including a performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre on Saturday 13 July.
For more information, visit sadlerswells.com and nydc.org.uk.
