Showcasing the next generation of Welsh dance

As part of this year’s National Youth Dance Wales (NYDW) intensive summer residency, twenty of Wales’s most talented young dancers came together in Cardiff to learn from a team of highly acclaimed choreographers and dance artists. For the first time, they worked with Artistic Director and Choreographer of Marcat Dance, Mario Bermúdez, to create a brand new work exploring themes of tribal movement, textures and relationships during their two-week residency.

"Being part of National Youth Dance Wales has helped reignite my love for dance, and this experience has inspired me and has made me see possible routes there are for me with contemporary dance" – NYDW 2023 Member

The resulting new work entitled ‘Twenty Tales’ was performed by the NYDW company of 2023, receiving its world premiere at The Riverfront, Newport, on the 3rd and 4th of November. The work was one of three works performed each evening, with performances by Ballet Cymru Artistic Director, Darius James and choreographer, Marcus Jarrell Willis performed by dance company Ballet Cymru. The evening was also accompanied with a live musical performance by Welsh singer and songwriter, Cerys Matthews.

"It was terrific - Music choice, movement, design, costumes and choreography and over all unity. Utterly bewitching" - Cerys Matthews (via X)

"Stunning choreography, communal movement, costumes and expression NYDW are incredible” - ‘Twenty Tales’ Audience Member

Jamie Jenkins, Producer of National Youth Dance Wales, said: "I am immensely proud of the members National Youth Dance Wales, whose exceptional hard work and unwavering passion for dance was evident in their outstanding performances of 'Twenty Tales'. They are a testament to the remarkable talent that young dancers in Wales have, supported by dance tutor, leaders and communities".

Did you miss this year’s National Youth Dance Wales performance? No need to worry, you can watch view this year’s spellbinding performance of ‘Twenty Tales’ here.

But that’s not all NYDW achieved this year. In July, NYDW members, Isaac and Layla, choreographed and performed their own duet as part of the prestigious U.Dance National Festival in Newcastle, representing Wales on the Northern stage and captivating audiences from across the UK. Isaac has also recently been appointed to the Board of Trustees for National Youth Arts Wales.

Working with alumni, Daisy Belle Howell, NYDW members created two stunning pieces both performed, and filmed from various locations around Cardiff. You can watch both performances here. Since becoming a member of NYDW, Daisy has gone on to work as a professional dancer and choreographer in Wales and beyond and is the co-director of Manchester based performance and events company, Night People.

NYDW also entered its third year of partnership with Celtic Creative, an exchange programme with the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland that gives young performers in both countries the opportunity to learn from each other and from different professional artists.

2023 has been a busy and highly successful year for NYDW, but 2024 is looking even better. Soon, the team will be starting the 2024 audition tour in Swansea, before travelling to towns and cities the length and breadth of Wales throughout February, looking for the best dance talent Wales has to offer.

Are you the future of Welsh dance? Applications to be a NYDW 2024 member are now open! Apply today via the NYAW Auditions page.