Berkshire County Dance Company Youth! (BCDCY)

South Hill Park is home to the newly formed youth dance company for the whole of Berkshire county.

The company was set up in 2011 to provide an opportunity for talented young dancers across the region to be able to make the leap from school and after-school club dance training to vocational dance training before pursuing a career in dance.

BCDCY will be presenting a 'Highlights - A Gala evening of Dance' on Saturday 23rd June at South Hill Park with guest performers including BalletBoyz The Talent and Jasmin Vardimon Company. Tickets on sale from April.

Auditions for the September term of BCDCY will take place on Sunday 8th July. Please email for more info and an application form.

The company audition each June to select 20 dancers to receive high level training from professional dance teachers and choreographers and offer a wealth of opportunities to develop their skills including performing at youth dance platforms throughout the UK, have work created on them by professional dance companies and perform as curtain raisers on professional company tours. They will also undertake workshops in various specialist styles of dance and related disciplines. The company primarily train in contemporary dance.

This year the company will be working with James Wilton, winner of the Sadlers Wells ‘Global Dance Contest 2010’ during the Autumn term, and Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company in the Spring term. Both companies will create pieces on BCDCY to be performed in Lift Off Dance Festival in Feb/Mar 2012 as well as both pieces as curtain raisers to the professional companies performances at SHP later that season. They will also be working with Dan Little, Artistic Director and Choreographer for Vanquish Dance Company to develop their street dance skills.

The company also strive to support and develop each dancers unique or strong talent whether it be as a choreographer, performer, group organiser or spokesperson and will undertake recognition for these achievements through the ‘Arts Award’ scheme.

For more information about how to audition for the company, who the company will be working with and how to support them or make a donation, please contact Lena Dee, Artistic Director of BCDCY and Performing Arts Officer for SHP: