Dance Digital Programme

Project
Hertfordshire County Youth and Junior Dance Companies

Scenario
InPulse the Hertfordshire Youth Dance Company and the three county junior dance companies, Shift: West, Shift: East and Shift: North, are joint initiatives between the Hertfordshire Dance Adviser and DanceDigital and are funded by Hertfordshire County Council.

InPulse, the County Youth Company, is open to 14–19 year olds, Shift:West, the County Junior Youth Dance Company caters for 11-13 year olds and Shift:East and Shift:North are open to 8-11 year olds. The companies offer Hertfordshire’s most talented young dancers the chance to train, rehearse and perform, with professional choreographers leading the training.  The companies also represent the county at local and regional events.

Outcomes
Each year the four youth / junior companies offer up to 100 talented young dancers the opportunity to experience training with professional dancers and choreographers.  By working closely with schools the programme reaches individuals across the whole of Hertfordshire from a diversity of backgrounds. 
The dancers have a wide ranging dance skill set and different levels of experience, including those with raw talent.  What sets them apart at the annual auditions is the enthusiasm, commitment and potential they have for dance.

During the academic year 2009/10 the companies have taken part in eight performance platforms in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Suffolk reaching a total audience of approximately 2000 people.

DanceDigital works closely with dance organisations across the eastern region and as a result offers the companies the opportunity to network with other dance companies and to get involved with the wider youth dance scene.  In Spring 2010 InPulse were selected from over 100+ other companies to perform at the Youth Dance England U.Dance Regional Youth Dance Platform.

Pupil Outcomes
Dancers in all the companies develop their technique, movement vocabulary and gain a strong sense of achievement, driven by the many performance opportunities that are offered to them.  Company members also input into the choreographic process of creating new work, so their creativity skills are also enhanced.

The county youth / junior dance companies bring together individuals who share the same passion for dance and many make new friendships through taking part.  Feedback has shown that the youth company find taking part in the performance platforms a fantastic bonding experience.

Junior Dance Company members have the opportunity to go on to further training with InPulse and in September 2009 a member of the original Shift:North Junior Company successfully auditioned for the county youth company.

Youth Dance Company members go on to further dance training and past members have continued their training at dance and HE establishments including Bird College, Roehampton University, Middlesex University, University of Bedfordshire.

Contact details
Carrie Washington
Programme Manager Hertfordshire
DanceDigital
2 Bond Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1GH
Tel: 01245 240701 or 01245 346036