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The National Youth Ballet (NYB) have something exciting to add to your calendar. They are looking for 105 talented young dancers aged 9-18 to audition for their 2019 Residential Performance Company.

• Deadline to apply for London Preliminary Auditions is 10.00 a.m. Friday 24 January 2019.
• London Preliminary Auditions on Sunday 3 February 2019.
• Deadline to apply for Birmingham Preliminary Auditions is 10.00 a.m. Friday 8 February 2019.
• Birmingham Preliminary Auditions on Sunday 17 February 2019.

To audition you will need to complete the online audition application form at nationalyouthballet.

Bright Young Things
The 2018 Season Bright Young Things comprised of 7 short ballets inspired by the lives of extraordinary people and celebrated the power of imagination. Broadway World reviewed our Gala performance at Sadler’s Wells and wrote “it was two hours of joyful, enticing dance delivered by 105 performers… it was impressive to see the way the very youngest held themselves on the Sadler’s Wells stage.”

There was new work for the Junior Company, who delighted in Emily-Jane Boyle’s The Red Balloon, a narrative ballet based on the 1950’s Albert Lamorisse film. A more abstract work was Louise Bennett’s Ada, inspired by the life and work of Ada Lovelace and connected mathematics and art through intricate patterns within the choreography. Complementing our first act was Matthew Nicholson’s Another Night’s Dream, a modern twist on the Shakespeare classic. Antony Dowson choreographed Bright Young Things, a piece set to Glenn Miller tunes, against a backdrop of wartime London. The piece was full of hope. Finding Your Voice by Jo Meredith was based on the rise of 1920’s American silent film star Clara Bow, and Sophie Laplane’s contemporary Watusi explored parallels in herd mentality in humans and animals.

Patron, Sir Matthew Bourne praised the work of the dancers post-performance which was fitting, and as Broadway World wrote “a number of the characterful, story ballets have shades of work performed by Bourne’s own company, New Adventures.”

Following the success of the 2018 Season, the NYB has had a lot of fun creating plans for 2019. Dates for “Strictly Ballroom” and “Swanlake” Masterclasses are soon to be announced. Headlining the NYB Spotify playlist is the extraordinary musician cellist YoYo Ma which along with Literary Wonderlands is providing inspiration for next year.

The NYB are pleased to say their work this year has succeeded in forcing even the biggest office Scrooge to emit a smile. A very happy Christmas from all the team at National Youth Ballet.