Summer Dance Intensive (Mon 13 - Fri 17, 2018)

We have a fantastic Summer Dance Intensive taking place from 13 - 17 August for young people who live or study in Islington. It is FREE to attend, so please register to reserve your place. It is a great way to continue dancing over the Summer for FREE.

The included styles are Afro-Fusion, Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip-Hop dance, and the programme is part of Islington Council's 'Launchpad' activities taking place over the Summer.

The details are below:

Dates: Monday 13th August - Friday 17th August

Time: 11.00am - 4.30pm 

Dance styles:  Afro-Fusion, Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip-Hop dance.

Age: 16 - 24 years

Level: All levels welcome

Where:
City and Islington College

Centre for Business, Arts and Technology

444 Camden Rd, 

London, N7 0SP

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/AfEsgntGSb92

Closest Tube: Holloway Road (Piccadilly Line)

Cost: FREE

Places are limited, so register now! To reserve your place, visit: www.artistryyouthdance.com/summer
 

Callyfest - Bus Stop Dance Floor

Artistry Youth Dance performed at the recent Cally Festival at the 'Bus Stop Dance Floor', hosted by the Urdang Academy and Sadler's Wells Theatre. The Caledonian Road event featured music, dance, art, and creative workshops, bringing the community together for an enjoyable day of live performances. 

Happy Birthday to us!

It's our 5th birthday!!

Artistry Youth Dance is celebrating its 5th anniversary on the 14th April!! We are thankful for our dancers, teachers, choreographers, venues, sponsors, and supporters for helping us get this far!! Check out this video made in honour of this wonderful occasion! 

'Nay Triple Bill' - Friday 15th September

On the 15th September, 2017, choreographer Mbulelo Nbabeni launched his company, N'Da Dance Company, with an enthralling evening of dance, entitled the 'Nay Triple Bill'. Held at Rich Mix, Mbulelo Ndabeni staged an evening of thought provoking works in collaboration with Yinka Esi Graves, Dr Omar Timberlake and Carolyn Bolton exploring the notion of masculine, feminine and conflict. We were fortunate to have performed his piece 'I Matter' as a curtain raiser. The event was sold out and showcased Mbulelo's fantastic work. It was a pleasure to have been involved in the wonderful event. https://www.richmix.org.uk/events/dance/nay-triple-bill

'EMPOWERMENT' - THANK YOU FOR YOUR FANTASTIC SUPPORT!

A brilliant End of Year Showcase, featuring a diverse mix of dance

Thank you to everyone who attended our end of year dance showcase, 'Empowerment', on Monday 7th August. We are grateful to those who were in the audience, and to those who sent messages of support. The dancers put on a spectacular show and presented several pieces in Jazz, Contemporary, Horton Technique, and Caribbean dance styles. The pieces were choreographed by Kamara Gray, Heather Benson, and guest choreographers Shelley Maxwell, and Alleyne Dance. The evening was hosted by the talented Simone Daley-Richards.

The showcase also featured a Special Guest performance by Nafisah Baba, winner of the BBC Young Dancer of the Year Award. Nafisah presented a breathtaking solo that highlighted the struggles faced when she was in school, about whether to pursue sports, netball or dance. 

The audience included the Worshipful the Mayor of Islington, Councillor Una O'Halloran, Islington Deputy Young Mayor, Tega Agbede, and Islington Youth Councillor Honey Baker, who gave positive feedback for the performance.

We would like to thank the Islington Council Local Initiatives Fund for their support; our patron Namron OBE; Lighting Designer, Neill Brinkworth; Sound Technician, Amina Njalira; Photography team led by Carole Edrich;  The Student Support team; City and Islington College; the Executive Team, Nicholas Norman, and Tahlia Gray; the dancers, parents, and the wonderful audience. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all and we look forward to presenting future performances.

'Tunnel Visioned'

Namron OBE and Nafisah Baba

With Islington Mayor, Councillor Una O'Halloran

Artistry Youth Dance present 'Empowerment', a sharing of Dance

Artistry Youth Dance present their end of year dance showcase entitled ‘Empowerment’. The evening will feature exciting work by a selection of choreographers, including Kamara Gray, Heather Benson, Shelley Maxwell, and guest choreographer Alleyne Dance.

Kristina and Sadé Alleyne presents Alleyne Dance, an internationally touring, innovative, modern, multi disciplined dance company based in London. Kristina and Sadé have worked with many companies across the years and trained in many genres of dance including traditional African dance, Hip Hop, Kathak, Latin and Circus Skills. 

The programme will also feature a special guest performance by Nafisah Baba, winner of the BBC Young Dancer of the Year Award.

The event is supported by the Islington Council Local Initiatives Fund.

Artistry Youth Dance - Summer Dance Intensive! REGISTER NOW!

Auditions for new dancers - Sunday 2nd July, 2017

Seeking dancers of African & Caribbean descent, aged 14-25 years to join our successful youth dance company! This year, we're accepting dancers up to age 25! Don't miss out!

Learn more, and register at: www.artistryyouthdance.com

‘ +Push’ Performing Arts Festival

Brit School, Croydon

23rd March. 2017

Our final performance for the term was at the Brit School’s ‘+Push' Performing Arts Festival. The Festival was an evening of exciting performances from London schools, colleges, and youth dance companies. It was a great event to have been involved with, and a wonderful chance for the dancers to further showcase their dance and performances skills. A special thanks to the Brit School for programming us in their exciting show.

Performance at Move It, 2017

Sunday 12th March

Excel Centre, London

We were invited to perform at this year’s ‘Move It’ exhibition, the UK's biggest dance event. Over 28 000 visitors attended the 3-day event which featured performances, workshops, and everything dance. 

We were delighted to feature as VIP guest artists at the new Move It and Capezio Dance Championships stage. The dancers presented their compelling Contemporary Caribbean piece, 'Empowerment', choreographed by the talented Shelley Maxwell.

‘Blaze’ Girls’ Day of Dance Trinity Laban

Trinity Laban

15th February, 2017

For the second year in succession, we were guest performers at ‘Blaze’, a unique dance event run by Trinity Laban. Blaze is an interactive day of dance for girls aged 11-16 years, aimed to encourage them to participate in dance. The day featured performances by female dancers in order to inspire the participants. Audience members stated that their highlight of the event was ‘being able to watch all of the different performances’. A huge thank you to Trinity Laban for including us in such an uplifting event.

Meet and greet with dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater!

Artistry Youth Dance had the chance to watch a performance of the talented Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Sadler's Wells Theatre. The students then met Ailey Company members, Yannick Le Brun and Constance Stamatiou, during an informative Q&A session, where they spoke about their experience of being in the Company.

Some of the dancers were also fortunate enough to meet Artistic Director, Robert Battle, which  was a great inspiration.

Watch highlights of our showcase, 'Resilience'!

Watch highlights of our showcase, 'Resilience' below:

Group Trip to see 'Phoenix Dance Theatre'

The dancers with Phoenix Dance Theatre Artistic Director, Sharon Watson

We also had the chance to watch the fantastic Phoenix Dance Theatre live at the Royal Opera House. The Company presented a Triple Bill featuring Until.With/Out.Enough by prominent Israeli choreographer Itzik Galili, Bloom  by rising star Caroline Finn and TearFall, by Sharon Watson, Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre.

We had a wonderful evening and the dancers even had the opportunity to meet the Artistic Director, Sharon Watson, after the show.

Have a read of the reviews written by some of the dancers about their thoughts on the show. Click here to see what they thought!

ADAD Trailblazer’s Showcase - Group Trip

The dancers enjoyed a fantastic evening of dance from the African Diaspora on Saturday 31st May 2014. The evening featured the winners of the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD) Trailblazer Award for 2014. The mixed bill was innovative and exciting and showcased some interesting pieces from across the UK.  

This evening was curated by Trailblazer Champion Denise Rowe and featured work from ADAD’s 2013-14 Trailblazing artists Idrissa Camara, Cindy Claes, Cleo Lake, and Denise Rowe.

ADAD is a national organisation that supports the practice and appreciation of dance of the African Diaspora. 

Dutch National Ballet Junior Company- Group Trip

On the 29th May some of the dancers enjoyed an outstanding performance by the Dutch National Ballet Junior Company. The performance was at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The company features the incredible dancer, Michaela de Prince who was simply breathtaking to watch. I urge anyone who enjoys ballet to go and see her perform if they have the chance!

Dutch National Ballet Junior Company at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Source: http://www.operaballet.nl/en/doublebill/2013-2014/show/junior-company-tour

Our day at U.Dance as regional finalists!

By Chanelle (company dancer)

AYD were delighted to have been selected as one of the eight regional finalists for U.Dance 2014! We had an amazing, fun-filled day. The day began with a tech rehearsal on stage and we were introduced to all the staff that would be assisting us throughout the day. Everyone there was very helpful and excited. Following on from our tech run on stage, we had a rehearsal and made our last minute tweaks to the routine that we would be performing later on that day.

After lunch we had an insightful careers lecture on different pathways we take when considering a profession in the dance world. We then had a workshop with two very talented dancers from, the stage production of, Lord of the flies. It was very different from the type of workshops we have done before but it was very enjoyable as we participated with another dance group.  Thereafter we had a dress rehearsal and got to watch the other group’s performances. All of the group's dances were fantastic and the atmosphere during the dress rehearsal was enchanting as everyone praised and congratulated one another after each performance.

Later on that evening we had our final performance and all our hard work had paid off, we received an enormous round of applause when taking our bow.

'The Scottsboro Boys' at The Young Vic

We went to watch the musical, Scottsboro Boys, at the Young Vic and it was AMAZING! A very emotional story about nine young black boys who get accused of a crime in 1931 in Alabama, USA. It's based on a true story and the dancing and singing from the cast were outstanding. Like true groupies, we even managed to get a few sneaky pics with the cast after the show much to the delight of the dancers.

Here's the blurb from the Young Vic website about the show:

"Kander and Ebb’s exhilarating, dazzling and provocative musical receives its UK premiere, once again directed by Susan Stroman, 5-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer of The Producers.

1931. Nine black teenagers board a train in Scottsboro, Alabama, in search of a new life. By the end of their journey, their lives – and those of every American – would be changed forever.

Accused of an unspeakable crime, their trial would divide a nation. But behind the screaming headlines was the devastating story of nine young men, desperate to prove to the world that they mattered.

Nominated for a remarkable 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical, The Scottsboro Boys is bold, wildly inventive and a daring modern classic of musical theatre.

Step right up and meet the Scottsboro Boys. Their story will change everything…"