Can You Dance? (CYD?) The UK’s largest touring and industry-leading dance convention company has become an international dance destination, welcoming dancers and dance schools to its Super Convention from global dance captitals.
Having grown over the last 15 years, CYD?, the brainchild of Tom Shilcock and Matt Flint, has evolved from a single convention to offering multiple UK events, and its Super Convention is now a global hub of inspiration for dancers coming from as far as Australia, America, Dubai, and Europe.
“We wanted to create opportunities across the UK,” Co-Founder Shilcock explains. “We wanted to bring incredible educators, amazing companies, different colleges, organisations, to people across the UK, and we just loved this whole touring concept of taking it to the people.”
Accessibility and creating opportunity have been key themes driving the company forward and have contributed to its growth. Noting that at the time of the event’s creation, the majority of conventions and dance gatherings were in London. With that in mind, the pair wanted to “bridge that gap and create a space and platform for people to be able to use and further their training” beyond what many consider the entertainment capital of the UK, London.
Their flagship annual event, the CYD? Super Convention, which takes place at the Liverpool ACC, an exhibition centre located on the Royal Albert Docks, and this year runs across the weekend of October 11 and 12, and is attended on average by 18,000 people over the two days.
On the growth of the Super Convention, Shilcock comments, “What’s really exciting is how the Super Convention has started to become an international destination. We’re getting dancers from across Europe, America, Dubai, Australia, from all over the world really. When I walked through the floor last year, I remember hearing so many different languages on the show floor, and that inspired me that we were starting to reach that type of audience, not just in the UK, but people are now wanting to come to CYD? from further afield. And I think there’s going to be a big push on that for us, I think in the future.”
With the dance industry evolving, Shilcock believes that CYD?, as well as the rise in dance competitions in the UK, has helped raise the standard.
“I think I’ve really seen the standard [of dancers attending] go up over the years,” he says. “I think that’s part of, actually, one of the reasons we wanted to do this touring convention – it was to help improve the level of training in the UK by making it more accessible. Naturally, the standard is going to rise. You put these amazing educators in front of these dancers regularly. It will encourage growth and progression in the UK. And I feel like CYD has been a big part of that.”
Shilcock adds, “I was inspired by the American conventions. I attended a few of those conventions before CYD?. And I was very much inspired by what they were doing. And I did think, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could have that in the UK, and be at that level and have this kind of level of training?,’ because I didn’t have access to that [growing up]. You know, there wasn’t anything like that.”
With over 250 masterclasses across multiple dance disciplines, with “something for everyone”, Shilcock adds that the Super Convention event also has over 100 exhibitors, again from the UK and international locations.
This year, the Super Convention will also host a casting event that will bring together leading companies in the sector, all looking for talent. Shilcock is excited about the prospect of helping dancers secure work worldwide and says that the soon-to-be-announced format will allow graduates, those nearing graduation and professionals the chance to audition for multiple companies “all under one roof.”
The Super Convention is open to individuals five years of age and above, allowing them to take classes and meet exhibitors. There are networking and casting opportunities, as well as a showcase stage for both dance schools and colleges. There is also a dedicated musical theatre 360° stage for Can You Sing and Can You Act, with Shilcock sharing how diversifying your skill set can help you thrive in dance and beyond.
On inclusivity, he comments, “We’ve always tried to keep everything as affordable as possible. It’s like £20 for a ticket and £7.50 for a class. We’ve always been mindful of what we’re charging because we want to make sure that it’s inclusive and we’re not putting people out. The same applies to our exhibitors and attendees. We always make that side of things affordable because I’d rather have them at the event meeting dancers, making that connection and hopefully giving an opportunity to a dancer that they might not usually have because they can’t afford to go to their open days, or they can’t afford to go down to London or where they’re based. So, it’s just trying to open as many doors as we can and just being mindful, always being mindful of obviously our price points and making sure that we’re not cutting anybody out really.”
In addition to international dancers and dance schools attending, a portion of the 70+ strong faculty are international practitioners.
“We aim to get a lot of educators to work and give them that platform. If you love dance, then the platform is there for you to come along and have fun and promote yourself.”
Shilcock concludes, “It’s a real special, special event. And it’s one of those when I walk into the hall, and I’m just like, I feel so small. It’s so big. And you’re just like, ‘Well, this is way beyond me.'”
CYD? comprises the Super Convention, Regional Conventions, Teachers’ Convention, CYD Ireland, as well as collaborative events CYD x Joffrey Intensive, CYD x Move It, and CYD x Stand Out.
For more information, visit canyoudancelive.com/super-convention.
By Jamie Body of Dance Informa.
