U.DANCE EAST 2025

Applications are now open for U.Dance East 2025! DanceEast would love to invite you and your group to make an application for the event – please see further information and details below.

WHAT IS U.DANCE?

U.Dance is a national programme of events co-ordinated by One Dance UK offering high quality dance opportunities to young people. Each year, our nation’s young dancers can experience the thrill and sense of achievement of performing!

U.Dance Regional Platforms, which take place across the UK, offer exciting performance and workshop opportunities to thousands of young dancers each year. Regional Platforms are hosted by a network of partner organisations and take place each spring, showcasing the talents of the regions young dancers. The platform is a wonderful celebration of young talent, and provides a chance for young dancers to connect, take part in workshops, learn more about the dance sector and above all showcase their love of dance!

Groups and individual dancers aged 11-19, or up to 25 for disabled dancers, can enter. The platform is open to all dance styles, and we would love to see another year of diverse and creative performances. A group can have up to 30 members and must be from the East of England region.

This year, DanceEast will be hosting a showcase of dance from youth dance groups, companies and schools from across the region, presented across one weekend. This weekend of activities, workshops and digital interaction will provide an opportunity for the region’s finest dance groups to come together and celebrate dance.

U.Dance East will take place at DanceEast, Ipswich on Saturday 22 March 2025.

All groups within the region are warmly encouraged to apply for U.Dance East. This year there will be one platform, held at the Jerwood DanceHouse in Ipswich, providing an opportunity for groups across the region to unite for a memorable day filled with creativity, inspiration and unforgettable performances.

We acknowledge the additional cost of travelling for groups that may have previously applied to the Bedfordshire platform and have allocated some modest travel subsidies this year, to support successful groups from that side of the region.

U.Dance is a fantastic experience: it is a wonderful celebration of young talent and also provides a chance for young dancers to connect, to take part in workshops, to learn more about the dance sector and above all to showcase their love of dance! We are working hard behind the scenes to put together the most exciting regional platform yet!

APPLICATION PROCESS

U.Dance welcomes dancers performing any style or genre and actively encourages inclusive groups to apply to dance at the festival. U.Dance is for everyone! Group leaders should fill in an application form, which you can access by scrolling further down this page.

This year, there will be two application routes:

U.Dance on Stage (for groups who wish to submit a live performance that will be performed at the regional platform)

U.Dance on Screen (for groups who wish to submit a dance film to be screened at the regional platforms)

Please note, you can apply to both if you wish to.

Groups must submit 2 minutes of footage (rehearsal footage that clearly demonstrates the style and intention is acceptable) of the piece to be performed, or film to be screened, as part of the application process. Film footage should be supplied in a format which can be shared internally for shortlisting and programming purposes and saved into an online Dropbox folder. The link for your personal Dropbox folder will be sent to you via email following the receipt of a completed application form. Please be aware this process is manual and you will receive the link in typical office hours (Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm).

The closing date for applications is 12.00pm on Friday 15 November 2024.

Please note that all dancers must be UK based and aged 11-19 (or up to the age of 25 for dancers with disabilities/additional needs) at the time of the platform’s delivery date.

For further information surrounding the application process for U.Dance Regional and National Festivals, please see the One Dance UK U.Dance 2025 Application Pack here.

DanceEast are hosting two online Zoom meetings on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 October, 4.00pm – 5.30pm for Group Leaders to find out more about the platform and ask questions regarding U.Dance East 2025. Please email u.dance@danceeast.co.uk stating your preferred date to book your space.

If you have any queries or would like any help with your application, please contact us by emailing u.dance@danceeast.co.uk

Good luck!

#U.DanceEast2025 #EastYouthDance #DanceEast

3 dancers on stage standing on their left foot mid movement. One dancer jumping in the air amid pieces of white paper falling. A group of dancers move around in the background. A group of young people in a dance studio taking part in a Latin workshop. A group of young people in the theatre space facing the front. A Dance Artist leads some movement.

Photo credit: Rachel Cherry

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