Where we are based:

Newcastle Upon Tyne – Covering Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Teesside. 

Age Range:

For young people aged between 10–16 years. Although students should be no more than 16 years of age when they join, once registered they can continue training until they are 18 years of age.

Core Curriculum:

Dance City CAT Contemporary Dance
A specialist training programme that enables students to embark on an intensive study of dance alongside their academic education. Classes take place at Dance City in Newcastle with weekday provision for students living in the south of the region, taking place in Darlington.

Students training for a minimum of 7 hours per week and attend classes on weeknights and weekends during term times. Each student has a minimum of one ballet class, one contemporary class and one creative class per week to support their contemporary dance training. Students have the choice to attend their two week-night technique classes in either Newcastle or Darlington and all students attend weekend creative classes at Dance City in Newcastle.

Students are also offered two intensive choreographic periods per year, during school holidays, creating work with nationally renowned choreographers and guest artists. Students perform in the Dance City Theatre for their shows and have the opportunity to attend professional theatre performances at various points in the year.

A Dance City CAT student can expect to work hard and be challenged, both technically and creatively, to ensure that they are making the most of their innate talent and to give them a strong base of knowledge to support them if they choose to go on to vocational dance training. Upon enrolment students are supported by an allocated mentor, and have access to an on site physiotherapist and a student counsellor, who work as a team to ensure that all students are supported both physically and emotionally during their time with the CAT.

Taster Days

A Dance City CAT Taster Session is an opportunity to find out more about what it is like to be a student at the CAT, help you decide whether or not you are ready for the commitment of the programme and if you want to apply for one of the open auditions, although you don’t need to attend a taster session in order to apply for an audition.  A Taster Session consists of a half an hour observation of current CAT students taking class, a 1hour contemporary followed by a short break and then a 30 minute presentation about the CAT for both parents and students to attend. 

We hold FREE Taster Days each year during the February Half Term and the Easter Holidays.  Please visit the Dance City CAT Website for the available dates and times.

Audition:

The Dance City CAT holds open 1st Stage Auditions each year in the summer for entry into the CAT in September of that year.  Applicants successful at 1st Stage will be invited back to attend a 2nd Stage Audition.  To apply for a FREE audition place at the Dance City CAT we require a completed Audition Application form.  For further information about Auditions, to download an Application Form and for the available Audition dates and times please visit the Dance City CAT Website.