@yorksdancefest
Interested in taking part?
Here's the answer to some frequently asked questions about the Festival.
HOW DO SCHOOLS & GROUPS TAKE PART?
Registration for the Festival normally opens in March/April.
To make sure you're the first to hear about future festivals and events sign up to our mailing list and following us on social media @YorksDanceFest
WHEN IS THE FESTIVAL STAGED?
Dates for the 2023 Festival are yet to be confirmed. Please join our mailing list to be the first to know when dates are set.
WHERE IS THE FESTIVAL STAGED?
Our venue is Central Hall, the University of York. A glorious 1200 capacity venue that perfectly accommodates the Festival and allows performers to see the entire event. Find out more.
WHO CAN TAKE PART?
The Festival is open to primary, secondary and specialist schools, colleges/FE providers as well as community dance settings that have an inclusive admissions policy (ie no audition or requirement for previous experience). All ages and abilities are welcome.
Our youngest dancer has been 4 years old and our oldest 19. The minimum group size is 8 performers. We recommend a maximum performance company of around 50.
IS IT A COMPETITION?
Definitely not! This is an opportunity for children and young people to share their creative talents and have the opportunity to understand how they might progress their skills/interest in dance. Primaries get to see secondaries, secondaries get to see FE provision and FE get to learn about University/HE options. It's all about progression!
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Schools and groups that take part in the Festival pay a registration fee, For 2022 this was £145. The fee for 2023 is yet to be confirmed.
The fee includes:
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Participation in the Festival
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Free places on a professional development training session for teachers/coordinators
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Online support in the run up to the event
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Free tickets for supervising staff at the event
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Free tickets for performers
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Access to news and special offers from our partners (Yorkshire Dance, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and One Dance UK)
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A certificate of appreciation to mark your school/group's involvement in the event
Some primary schools utilise their PE & Sport Premium Funding to cover costs. Read more.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY?
TECHNICAL & DRESS REHEARSALS
8.30AM TO 2.30PM
Schools will be allocated a 20 minute technical and dress rehearsal in the auditorium.
Depending on travel arrangements and availability, schools/groups will either have the opportunity to 1. ask families to take their young dancer home between rehearsals and the Festival, 2. Rehearse and stay to take part in workshops/activities or 3. simply arrive for rehearsals and then perform.
FINALE REHEARSAL AND WARM-UP
2.45PM
FESTIVAL BEGINS
4.00PM
FESTIVAL ENDS
6.00PM
Groups will have the opportunity to see the entire festival on each day and enjoy the other groups' interpretation of our theme.
WHAT KIND OF PERFORMANCE?
We place no restriction on performance content (other than it being suitable for a family audience in terms of:
content, costume and music choice.
The content and style will more often than not be determined by the ages and ability of your group.
Each performance should last no longer than 5 minutes.
We are unable to monitor the content of the performance ahead of the day but, if during rehearsals, we feel that changes need to be made, we'll ask you to make necessary alterations.
IS THERE A THEME?
We set an annual theme to shape choreographic content. Where you take it is entirely up to you - all we ask for you to consider the appropriateness of content to a family audience. Our theme for 2022 is 'Picture This' - an opportunity to use visual images as a starting point for work.
We arrange an online session for coordinators to offer some ideas on how the theme might be approached.
