Choreographer Hofesh Shechter has selected 20 dancers for the U.Dance Ensemble, a new UK-wide youth dance company. Shechter, the young company’s artistic director, chose the dancers from a national audition in December. All the dancers are aged between 16 and 21.
Shechter said: “It was a fascinating experience to see young dancers from throughout the UK during the audition process. I’m looking forward to getting into the studio for the intense creation period, teaching them as much as I can, and in turn I’m sure I will be learning from their vibrant energy and humour, of which I’ve already had a taste over the last months.”
The company will meet during three main residential rehearsal periods between January and July 2012. During the residencies, Shechter will lead the young dancers in the creation of a new dance work, which will be a highlight of Youth Dance England’s U.Dance 2012 festival, performed at Southbank Centre in London. The premiere will be on July 13 in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with a further performance on July 15 in the Royal Festival Hall. Subsequent tour dates are being planned in August for performances in Scotland and Wales.
The chosen dancers are:
Charlotte Arnold (England)
Anna Britton (Scotland)
Eilidh Brown (Scotland)
Jemima Brown (Nothern Ireland)
Ffion Campbell-Davies (Wales)
Cameron Finnemore (England)
Luke Ganz (Wales)
Phoebe Haymer (Scotland)
Matt Holland (Wales)
Sophie Holt (England)
Bethany Howitt (Scotland)
Brona Jackson (Nothern Ireland)
Keith Low (Scotland)
Hannah Martin (England)
Kelly Maskell (England)
Rhys Owen (Wales)
Georgia Redgrave (England)
Natasha Smith (England)
Sally Smithson (Wales)
Benjamin Whisken (England)
The U.Dance Ensemble is a joint initiative, managed by Youth Dance England in partnership with YDance (Scottish Youth Dance), National Youth Dance Wales, DU Dance (based in Northern Ireland) and Southbank Centre.
Picture: Hofesh Shechter with young dancers at the audition. Image courtesy of Youth Dance England. Photograph: Brian Slater
