Apply to Perform in Applause Youth Dance Festival!

Applications are now open for Applause Youth Dance Festival, your U.Dance Regional platform for the Midlands. U.Dance is a national programme of events led by One Dance UK offering high-quality dance opportunities to young people. Each year, the nation’s young dancers can explore their creativity, learn more about dance careers, and experience the thrill of achievement from performing. 

This year, FABRIC will lead a region-wide event called Applause Youth Dance Festival, happening at the Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March 2025 with performances taking place on both days.

The Applause Youth Dance Festival weekend will celebrate youth dance from across the Midlands, giving young dancers the opportunity to perform with their peers in a professional venue, watch other youth groups’ work and take part in workshops with professional dance artists.

FABRIC hopes that the event will be able to support up to 25 groups, with places divided equally across the East and West Midlands and the Saturday and Sunday programmes respectively. Bursaries will also be available to support groups or individuals travelling the furthest.

FABRIC welcomes and encourages applications from youth dance groups and soloists who create dance pieces across all genres. In the past there’s been a mix of street dance styles, jazz and theatre styles, ballet, South Asian dance, contemporary dance, the dance of the African Diaspora, and folk dance. No genre is excluded and all genres of dance and young people from all walks of life are welcome.

FABRIC is seeking applications that best reflect the commitment and creativity of your work. Dancers from various backgrounds and disciplines, aged 11 to 19 or up to and including 25 for dancers with disabilities. You can apply as school and college groups, youth dance companies, private dance schools, or as an individual.

To be eligible to apply for Applause Youth Dance Festival, groups/individuals must submit an application form and a video of their dance piece to FABRIC before the application deadline of Wednesday 29 January 2025, 9pm.

One Dance UK also host the U.Dance National Festival, which will take place at Sadler’s Wells East in London on 25 – 27 July 2025. Groups and individuals who would like to be considered for this event need to specify on their application form that they would also like to be put forward for this additional opportunity.

Click here to learn more and apply for this year’s Applause Youth Dance Festival.

Applause Youth Dance Festival, Image credit FABRIC Dance