Dance in Devon was delighted to host the U.Dance 2019 Regional Platform for the South West at Dartington, Devon. The event took place on Sunday 14th April 2019.

Each year One Dance UK holds their National Youth Dance Festival, in 2019 it returned to London after 7 years and took place between 20 – 21 July 2019 at the Southbank Centre. One Dance UK’s aim with U.Dance is to present youth dance that is high quality, innovative and ambitious – a celebration of youth dance from across the UK! Across the weekend, the dancers also took part in workshops and masterclasses with industry professionals, inspired each other with their love of dance and developed their understanding of the dance sector.

The South West Regional Dance Platform acted as a selection event for U.Dance 2019 but also provided youth dancers from across the region with the opportunity to take part in workshops with professional dancers and artists as well as perform a piece of work they have created to a live audience.

13 brilliant South West based youth companies performed in the theatre space at Dartington

• Swindon Youth Dance Company
• Jigsaw, Salisbury Youth Dance Company
• Hampshire Youth Dance Company
• Coast Youth Dance Company
• B&NES Youth Dance Company
• Hall for Cornwall Youth Dance Company
• Dartington Making Company
• 4 Funk Sake Youth Dance
• Dorset Youth Dance Company
• Kinesis Youth Dance Company
• Wheelfever Youth Dance
• BDC, South Dartmoor Community College
• Chhaya Youth Dance Company

Throughout the day, the youth companies were invited to join in a range of exciting and creative workshops:

• Contemporary Dance workshop with Alleyne Dance
• Digital Dance workshop with Ben Dunks
• Arts Lab with Sara Downham-Lotto

Dance in Devon would like to thank Dartington Arts for supporting the event through venue, volunteers and box office.
Dance in Devon works with Pavilion Dance South West to support young people’s dance.