Why is it important to have a scheme like Lowry CAT?

Sally: “The Lowry CAT scheme allows young people to pursue their dreams of a career in dance as part of a broad and balanced education. They gain a strong pre-vocational training alongside their formal curriculum education without needing to leave home. The Department for Education means tested grant funding provides financial support for eligible families to support and in many cases, fully fund training costs; making this world class, specialist training affordable and accessible to young people regardless of personal circumstances”.

What does an audition for Lowry CAT involve?

Sally: “All the young people take part in a contemporary technique and creative class which allows them to demonstrate their capabilities and potential across both areas. The Lowry CAT training supports young people to develop a strong technical foundation and also importantly, find their voice as artists. Participants may also be invited for an interview at the end of the day which gives us all the opportunity to chat more about their aspirations and understanding of dance training”.

What are you looking for at the audition?

Sally: “We look for young people who have the potential to grow as a technical dancer and creative artist; those who demonstrate clear passion and determination to pursue a career in dance; who are excited to learn and take themselves out of their comfort zone. We’re not looking for years of technical experience but we do look to ensure that the young people have the facility within their bodies and the maturity to take on the intensity of the training. We offer feedback for those young people who we are not able to offer a place to and support them to identify other pathways into dance training”.

If successful what type of dance do people learn at CAT?

Sally: “The aim of our programme is to prepare our young dancers for full time vocational training and introduce them to what a career in dance may look like so they can make an informed decision about their next steps. The main focus of our technical training is contemporary dance which is in itself, very broad. The foundation of the technique comes from Cunningham but we introduce other techniques to fine-tune the physicality including Ballet, PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) Yoga, Injury Prevention and Health, and Wellbeing provisions.

“A strong focus of our training is on creativity. Choreography, devising and improvisation develops the dancers’ own unique artistic voice. In addition to all of this, dancers are offered the unique opportunity to develop their artistic and creative skills with professional dance companies & artists such as Akram Khan Company, Studio Wayne McGregor & Rambert Dance Company, to name a few, in intensive workshops and courses”.

What is the time commitment involved?

Sally: “CAT students train at The Lowry every Saturday and one evening a week during term time. They also have the opportunity to create dance with professional visiting dance companies/artists across intensive weekends at half term and a week over Spring break, culminating in an annual performance at the end of the year”.

How would you describe the learning environment?

Sally: “Our students have wonderful and varied experiences of dance. They learn in a highly supportive environment that allows them to be challenged and inspired physically and artistically, underpinned by a strong focus on their physical and mental health and wellbeing. Our tutors are practising dance artists and excellent educators.

“The scheme is based at The Lowry so students are immersed in the world of theatre and culture. We regularly have guest dance and theatre companies work with the students on intensive projects so students have the experience of making dance work with professionals; the connections that The CAT has across the arts sector are fantastic and supportive of their next steps into the world of dance”.

What age do people normally join the scheme?

Sally: “We have students join at a time that suits them between 11 and 16 years of age”.

What have graduates from the scheme gone on to do?

Sally: “Most graduates from the scheme choose to go onto vocational training or to train in something connected with dance such as physiotherapy. So many of our students are performing, teaching and choreographing across the world. Some examples of CAT Alumni career highlights include dancing with the world renowned Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, developing their own successful, innovative dance companies & researching in dance science and mental health. Students learn valuable life skills and make long lasting friendships and many have come back home to work with us here at The Lowry as teachers, choreographers and coordinators!”

How can people find out more?

Sally: “By attending one of our Open Days on 23 April or 14 May. You can book a free spot via the website or for more information email CAT@thelowry.com or call us on 07983485273. Application forms for the Audition in June will be available soon on The Lowry website“.

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The Lowry CAT is the North West base for national scheme, Centres for Advanced Training, which enables young dancers, aged 11-16, who show potential for a career in music and dance, to benefit from world-class specialist training.

Now in its 11th year, the scheme has alumni working with companies such as Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Cilla The Musical, Motionhouse, Southpaw Dance Company, Jasmin Vardimon 2, Disneyland Paris and Opera De Lyon.

Graduates of the scheme include BBC Young Dancer 2019 finalist, Matthew Rawcliffe and many young dancers go from Lowry CAT to study dance at major UK conservatories and vocational schools including: Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance; Central School of Ballet; the Northern School of Contemporary Dance; London Contemporary Dance School (The Place); and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Bird College.

Applications are now open for the next intake of students in September 2020. However, this year auditions have moved online in keeping with Government guidelines around the coronavirus pandemic.

Jade Aitchison, The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training Manager said: “ We hope that by offering free weekly dance classes and online experience days, we are making it as accessible as possible for as many interested candidates to be able to try out for our scheme.

“We are looking for passion, commitment and creative potential in dance and we feel that by observing students via our online Zoom classes over a number of weeks rather than in just one single audition, we will be able to really get a sense of who has these key ingredients to pursue a career in dance”.

The 75-minute online dance workshops will take place on Friday evenings throughout July and August 2020. Afterwards, those wishing to be considered for Lowry CAT are encouraged to take part in one of two Digital Experience Day Workshops for more in-depth training and a greater insight into the scheme.

A panel, of the CAT Management and artist team, will informally observe all weekly classes and the Experience Days to and encourage those wanting to be considered to engage with as many of the sessions as possible. These sessions will replace the standard and more traditional live audition and offer a unique opportunity for those interested, to be observed over a longer period – giving young people a chance to demonstrate the breadth of their creativity and facility whilst being support by the CAT staff, within what is a challenging setting and unusual circumstances.

For more details and to apply for the Weekly Workshops and Digital Experience Days visit the website and complete an online form.

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The Lowry CAT is the North West base for national scheme, Centres for Advanced Training, which enables young dancers, aged 11-16, who show potential for a career in music and dance, to benefit from world-class specialist training.

Graduates from the programme have gone on to study dance at major UK conservatories and vocational schools including: Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance; Central School of Ballet; the Northern School of Contemporary Dance; London Contemporary Dance School (The Place); and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Bird College.

After graduating from Lowry CAT Matthew went on to train with Rambert, and is appearing in BBC Young Dancer 2019 Grand Final on 18 May.

“The Lowry CAT scheme helped me understand the discipline required to be a professional dancer,” he says. “It allowed me to realise dance was something I was passionate about and it opened my mind to many opportunities in dance. As a Lowry CAT student, I worked with so many dance professionals, it was so inspirational, and it gave me the confidence to audition for Rambert School. I am now in my second year and competing in the BBC Young Dancer Grand Final! For any young dancer looking for a way into the profession, guidance and support, I can’t recommend The Lowry CAT enough.”

Other alumni have gone on to perform with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Motionhouse, VERVE Graduate Dance Company, EDge Graduate Dance Company, Southpaw Dance Company, Jasmin Vardimon 2, Disneyland Paris, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, and Cilla The Musical.

Throughout May and June the Lowry CAT is running free open auditions in Salford, Chester, Kendal and Carlisle, for young dancers interested in the art-form as a career.

Auditions take place between 12 May and 9 June. Visit the northwestdance.org.uk for details about the Lowry CAT, its free open days, drop-in sessions and auditions.

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