Teenager chosen to join National Youth Dance Company

A TEENAGER from Westbury, Dylan Jones, has been selected to join London’s National Youth Dance Company after   being chosen from 400 dancers from across the UK. 

Eighteen-year old Dylan Jones, a former student at Matravers School, has been dancing for three years and is now excited to join a prestigious youth dance company at Sadler’s Wells in London. 

Earlier this year NYDC held workshops all over the country  looking for the next cohort of dancers for 2019/2020. 

Around 400 dancers attended these workshops across the UK, with only 30 dancers then being chosen.  

Speaking to White Horse News Dylan said, “I was incredibly excited to receive the phone call almost a month after the audition! It is a privilege and an honour to be representing NYDC in the coming year and I cannot wait to get started. 

“When I was 15 I started jazz and hip hop classes with a little bit of ballet. I didn’t start taking my training seriously until I successfully gained a place on Swindon Dance CAT  (centre for advanced training) contemporary programme when I was 16.  Whilst on the CAT scheme I have worked with lots of professional dance companies to create different pieces, some of which we performed as curtain raisers on company tours.  These include: Luke Brown Dance, Yorke Dance Project and coming up in November I will be part of a curtain raiser for Tribe Dance Company.”

Dylan’s mother, Tamasin, said, “We are immensely proud of Dylan. He works so hard and is hugely committed to his dance training, travelling to Swindon three times per week to attend CAT and taking part in intensive training programmes during college holidays. 

“It is amazing for him to be given this opportunity to join NYDC and we cannot believe we will be watching him perform at Sadler’s Wells in London when he goes on tour with the company next year!”

When asked what he hopes for the future, Dylan said, “I would like to go into full time dance training at a UK or European conservatoire from September 2020, with a view to becoming a professional dancer.”

Sadler’s Wells said, “The new cohort joins guest artistic director and Sadler’s Wells associate artist, Russell Maliphant, to work on a new piece especially created by Maliphant for NYDC. The piece premieres at DanceEast on Saturday 18th April 2020.

“During the dancers’ time with NYDC, they are offered a unique insight into the dance profession, living and working closely together as a company, alongside NYDC staff and the artistic team. The year-long experience in the company provides members with the necessary skills and techniques to find career opportunities and raise aspirations, self-esteem and confidence.”