OVER 200 YOUNG PEOPLE WILL PERFORM IN YOUTH DANCE WEEKEND AT THE JERWOOD DANCEHOUSE

The Jerwood DanceHouse is being taken over by young dancers from across the region on 13^th and 14^th February with two spectacular showcases and Youth Dance England event U.Dance East

“Dance.mmensely proud of the young dance talent across the region. We are delighted to be hosting the regional U.Dance performance and Spring Showcase in the same weekend. It gives us a brilliant opportunity to shine the spotlight on the fresh energy and creativity of young people.” Jeanette Siddall CBE (Head of Creative Team at DanceEast).

The annual Spring Showcase, on Saturday 13 February, is an evening of dance from DanceEast’s resident Performance Groups and Centre for Advanced Training. The groups have been rehearsing since they started back after the summer holidays in September. Youth dance groups include Boyz United, a boys only troupe of 10-15 year olds, Suffolk Junior Dance Company, a mixed youth group of 10-16 year olds, Suffolk Youth Dance Company, a group of 16-25 year olds and the DanceEast Centre for Advanced Training students. Spring Showcase provides a platform for all of these young people to perform to their family and friends. Also performing in Spring Showcase are The Elderberries and Dance Unlimited.

U.Dance East, on Sunday 14 February, celebrates and showcases excellence in youth dance from across the east of England. DanceEast received applications for U.Dance East from across Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and the lucky applicants include Suffolk Academy of Dance and Performing Arts (Ipswich), UNIT (Sudbury), Dance2 (Bedford), Lantern (Ely), JNR Sinstars (Cambridge), Revolution (Sandy) and St Ivo School (St Ives). Two groups from the event will be chosen to perform at the U.Dance 2016 National Festival in Manchester.

U.Dance is a programme and framework led by Youth Dance England, which seeks to increase the number of youth dance performances and support those who organise them. The framework aims to provide dance performance opportunities for every child and young person in England.

Youth dance is at the heart of DanceEast and is crucial to its success. DanceEast brings dance to young people in schools and hospices; working with people from all walks of life; from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special needs. DanceEast delivers ground-breaking work through projects working with ‘looked after’ children and those at risk, as well as children in hospitals, offering them all the opportunity to use dance for creative expression and physical and psychological therapy. Dance can energise, motivate, encourage creative thinking, and develop expressive minds and healthy bodies.

“Later in the year we will be putting Ipswich at the heart of two national and international initiatives to nurture the next generation of dance talent and leadership. It is all part of celebrating young people’s achievements, which is something we love to do.” Jeanette Siddall CBE (Head of Creative Team at DanceEast)

Performance details and Box Office information

Spring Showcase

DanceEast, Jerwood DanceHouse, Foundry Lane, Ipswich, IP4 1DW
Box Office: 01473 295230 | DANCEEAST.CO.UK
Dates: Saturday 13 February | 5.00pm & 7.30pm

Ticket Prices: £10, £7 concessions

U.Dance East

DanceEast, Jerwood DanceHouse, Foundry Lane, Ipswich, IP4 1DW
Box Office: 01473 295230 | DANCEEAST.CO.UK
Dates: Sunday 14 February | 7.30pm

Ticket Prices: £10, £7 concessions