Phoenix Youth Academy students have made it through to the national youth dance festival taking place at the Lowry in Salford Quays later this year, following stiff competition from youth dance companies all over the Yorkshire region.

Phoenix Youth Academy were one of 21 groups selected to perform at the Yorkshire Regional Platform Fresh at CAST in Doncaster on 26th March, out of a total of 43 applications. The event brought together groups from across the region from a range of backgrounds and performance styles, to compete for a place at national dance festival U.Dance 2016.

Following a successful performance, the panel of judges shortlisted Phoenix Youth Academy who will join the other Yorkshire finalist, Wakefield’s Momentum Dance, to perform at U.Dance 2016, an annual festival which celebrates youth dance choreography and performance.

Phoenix Youth Academy is run by Leeds-based Phoenix Dance Theatre and offers a high-quality training programme for talented young dancers (aged 13-19 years) interested in pursuing dance as a career. Students meet twice per week, developing their contemporary dance technique through working with recognised choreographers and Phoenix Dance Theatre’s company dancers.

Companies were shortlisted for U.Dance 2016 on the basis of being able to demonstrate excellence in performance standards, integrity and authenticity of choreography and reflecting the diversity of the sector and their regional strengths.

Emily Labhart, Access and Education Projects Coordinator, Phoenix Dance Theatre comments:

‘It was a pleasure to see our young people perform alongside hundreds of hugely talented dancers from across Yorkshire at the Regional Platform last week. It’s an added bonus that our Youth Academy have been recognised for their high quality, innovative and ambitious approach and selected to perform at such a prestigious dance event. We can’t wait to represent Yorkshire at the national festival in July’