One Dance UK, the sector support organisation for dance, is moving its U.Dance National Festival to an online format this year and aims to engage young dancers throughout the country with a wide range of free content.
Held from 17-19 July 2020 and accessed for free, aspiring dancers can expect professional dance masterclasses in a wide range of styles featuring artists from the UK’s leading dance companies, choreography challenges, industry and career information sessions with practical advice and tips from leaders in their field, dance showcases and more. This celebration of youth dance is aimed at dancers aged 11-19 years – up to 25 if the participant has a disability – and their teachers and group leaders.
The U.Dance programme of events is a nationwide initiative that allows thousands of participants across the UK to take part in a celebration of dance by performing at a regional platform in their area. The annual U.Dance programme – under ordinary circumstances – then culminates in the U.Dance National Festival, where up to 800 young people come together to take part in a weekend of performances, workshops and information sessions hosted in a different city each year.
By moving the 2020 festival entirely online, One Dance UK say that they are hoping to reach more young dancers than ever before.
'I have always been an advocate of increasing dance opportunities for young people. U.Dance Digital 2020 is a chance for aspiring dancers from across the country to take part in a national event, learn from the best. and get inspired about the amazing careers in dance that await them,' said Ballet star Carlos Acosta, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet and Patron of Children and Young People’s Dance at One Dance UK, while Andrew Hurst, Chief Executive of One Dance UK said 'One Dance UK, as the sector support organisation for dance, is committed doing just that at this unprecedented time: supporting the dance sector in its many forms. The U.Dance programme of events, with its thousands of young participants at platforms nationwide, is a huge part of the youth dance network in this country, and has at its heart the aim to be inclusive, accessible and to celebrate achievement and aspiration. It is therefore very exciting that One Dance UK is able to present U.Dance Digital 2020. This event will continue in the tradition of previous U.Dance regional events and national festivals, all the while being more inclusive and accessible than ever before, bringing high quality dance workshops and sector knowledge direct to young people all over the country. Whilst we are in a very trying period for the arts, it is important to remember that we will rebuild and grow again, and this celebration of dance will inspire and inform our next generation of dancers, dance makers and dance leaders.'
To sign up for information about U.Dance Digital 2020, email u.dance@onedanceuk.org