National Youth
Dance Wales
Are you the future of dance in Wales?
Registrations to join National Youth Dance Wales in 2025 are NOW OPEN!
Deadline: Sunday 16 Feburary
In 2025, National Youth Dance Wales (NYDW) celebrates a landmark 25 years of empowering young Welsh dancers, and this year’s programme promises to be one of the most exciting yet. To commemorate this milestone, the ensemble will perform at the prestigious Sadler’s Wells in London, sharing the stage with other National Youth Dance Companies. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to showcase the future of Welsh dance on a renowned international platform.
What sets this year apart is the comprehensive and transformative experience designed for members. The programme offers rigorous dance training with leading dance practitioners, supporting dancers to push their abilities, refine their artistic voices, and hone performance skills. Participants will also benefit from dedicated well-being support to enhance both physical and mental resilience, ensuring a holistic approach to their development.
Additionally, dancers will collaborate with a leading choreographer and creative team to create a brand-new, innovative piece that reflects the vibrant spirit of Wales’ must promising young dancers. This piece will be performed in both Wales and London, giving participants valuable performance experience and a taste of being in a professional dance company.
By joining NYDW in 2025, members not only becoming part of a celebrated youth dance companies but also a supportive community of passionate dancers from across Wales.
A note from NYDW Producer
Jamie Jenkins
National Youth Dance Wales Producer
2025 Programme
NYDW members will work with an esteemed choreographer to develop original works that highlight the artistic strength and potential of Wales' young dancers. This collaboration will blend technical training with creative exploration, offering dancers a chance to shape and present their unique artistic voices.
Dates for the diary…
Apply by:
16 February
Auditions:
22 February - 1 March
Online submission deadline: Saturday 22 February 2025
Results:
17 March
Auditions:
Saturday 22 February: Swansea (AM) / Bridgend (PM)
Sunday 23 February: Cardiff (AM)
Monday 24 February: Newport (AM) / Abergavenny (PM)
Tuesday 25 February: Llandrindod Wells (AM)
Wednesday 26 February: Llandudno (AM) / Wrexham (PM)
Thursday 27 February: Anglesey (AM)
Friday 28 February: Cardiff (AM) / Neath (PM)
Saturday 1 March: Tenby (AM)
Phase One (12 July – 26 July 2025 13 days)
Residency: Rehearsals culminating in a public performance at Sadler’s Wells, London. A prestigious platform celebrating NYDW’s anniversary and Youth Dance in the UK. The performance is a triple bill with National Youth Dance Companys of Scotland and England.
Phase Two (28 – 31 October 2025 4 days Half Term)
Rehearsals culminating in a second performance at Riverfront Theatre in Wales.
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£600
This fee is a contribution towards your tuition costs, accommodation, food and board, travel within the residency and social activities. The full value received by each individual is over £2,500 - but thanks to the generous support from our funders and supporters, we subsidise a significant part of the costs for everyone offered a place in a national ensemble.
Our Bursary Fund could help to cover some or all of the membership fees, so that no-one is deterred from applying for the NYAW Ensembles for financial reasons. If you have an annual household income of less than £70,000, you could be eligible for financial support.
Additionally, for the first time this year and with support from The Leverhulme Trust, we can offer full Fee Waivers and additional support towards travel expenses and other costs associated with NYAW membership for those who need it most. Visit NYAW BURSARY FUND for full information including how to claim help toward audition costs and membership fees.
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Bursary FundOur Bursary Fund could help to cover some or all of the membership fees, so that no-one is deterred from applying for the NYAW Ensembles for financial reasons. If you have an annual household income of less than £70,000, you could be eligible for financial support. Visit NYAW BURSARY FUND for full information including how to claim help toward audition costs and membership fees.
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NYAW accepts applications from people who live/study full-time in Wales or were born in Wales.
We are looking for talented young dancers aged 16 – 22 years who live/study full-time in Wales or were born in Wales and who regularly engage in dance classes through their school/college, private dance school and/or with their local youth dance company at intermediate level or above.
For the 2025 residencies participants must be aged between 16 and 22 on 31 August 2025. This means that you may be able to audition aged 15, as long as you will be 16 by this date.
NYAW reserves the right to exclude anyone from taking part in its ensembles at its reasonable discretion, to be exercised by senior staff or trustees.
For any questions about our eligibility criteria, please email us at: nyaw@nyaw.org.uk.