A new national collaboration to strengthen youth dance in Wales

Three leading dance organisations have marked a significant milestone in Welsh arts through the signing of a memorandum of understanding, in a bid to support the growth of dance in Wales.

National Youth Arts Wales, National Dance Company Wales, and Ballet Cymru have joined forces to enable strengthened youth dance engagement and participation across the country.

Representing a united effort, this strategic alliance will establish a comprehensive framework for youth dance provision across the nation. By combining their resources and expertise, the organisations will create a robust and inclusive infrastructure nurturing the growth of youth dance in Wales. 

This will ensure that every aspect of their offerings focuses on accessibility, inclusion, quality, and further developmental and performance opportunities. This, in turn, positions youth dance as an integral component of Wales' cultural identity.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding marks a pivotal moment in the collaborative journey to support and strengthen the dance landscape in Wales. With a shared commitment to nurturing talent and fostering inclusivity, the alliance will lay the groundwork for sustainable growth and innovation in youth dance initiatives across the country.

National Youth Arts Wales Chief Executive, Evan Dawson said: “At National Youth Arts Wales, we are very excited about having an even closer relationship with Ballet Cymru and National Dance Company Wales. Working together and with the wider dance sector, we want to provide creative and world-leading opportunities for young dancers and choreographers. It’s a very challenging time for everyone working in the arts at the moment, but we are confident that this new strategic collaboration will help the next generation of dancers make the most of the resources we have whilst also supporting grassroots dance organisations throughout Wales.”

National Youth Dance Wales Producer, Jamie Jenkins said: "This new partnership will play a vital role in helping to shape the future of youth dance across Wales whilst at the same time supporting and celebrating already established youth dance provision.  NDCWales, Ballet Cymru and National Youth Arts Wales working closer together is a step in a positive direction."

NDCWales Artistic Director, Matthew Robinson said: “National Dance Company Wales seeks to inspire and propel the development of the artists of tomorrow through the work we do on and off stages. As we embark on this strategic collaboration with National Youth Arts Wales and Ballet Cymru our collective ambition for young people fills me with optimism for the future. We look forward to working with the incredible independent artists, teachers and organisations of Wales to ensure our interconnected work has the greatest impact for young people. A great artist can come from anywhere, and we are committed together to enabling young artists, wherever they may be in Wales, to shape the future of dance.”

Ballet Cymru Artistic Director, Darius James OBE and Assistant Artistic Director, Amy Doughty said: “Ballet Cymru is a national ballet company for Wales that challenges traditional boundaries and expectations. We are delighted to be working closely with National Youth Dance Wales and National Dance Company Wales to strategically forge new opportunities to inspire and support our next generation of dancers. This national collaborative effort to elevate dance, increase inclusion, and deliver more access for young dancers throughout Wales, is hugely exciting.”

Laura Drane from Arts Council Wales said: “These plans to strengthen participation and access for youth dance are warmly welcomed. It is exciting to hear how the three national organisations plan to collaborate and share resources, bringing together their years of expertise. This partnership will help to develop the sector and impact the artistic journeys of young people of Wales."