Online search for the next dancing stars

The Lowry is running free online dance workshops for young people to audition for a place on its successful dance programme.

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.