NSCD CAT Students Perform Alongside VERVE at Leeds Playhouse

NSCD CAT students recently enjoyed a truly special evening at the Leeds Playhouse, where Group C had the exciting opportunity to support VERVE during their latest performance. As part of the evening, Group C performed À la Babalade, a brand-new work by Anna Cabré-Verdiell Bosch, in a curtain raiser performance before VERVE took to the stage.

The piece invites audiences into a surreal dreamscape where uncanny individuals drift through streams of subconsciousness, creating a world suspended between the strange and the poetic.

Performing at the Leeds Playhouse gave students the valuable opportunity to experience a professional theatre environment and share their work with a live audience. Students from Groups A and B were also there to support their peers, filling the audience with encouragement and energy throughout the evening while enjoying VERVE’s inspiring performance. VERVE, the international touring postgraduate company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance, features 18 exceptional dancers from nine different countries, all on the cusp of launching their professional careers. Their 2026 tour presents a bold and captivating triple bill of contemporary dance works by internationally acclaimed choreographers Alethia Antonia, Andrea Costanzo Martini and Oona Doherty. Through powerful choreography and boundary-pushing performance, the programme challenges and inspires audiences while exploring the ever-evolving nature of contemporary dance.

The experience held even greater significance following VERVE’s visit to CAT earlier this year. Back in January, the company dancers worked with all CAT groups in a series of technique and creative workshops before beginning their tour. Students also had the chance to learn repertoire from VERVE’s triple bill, helping to deepen their connection to the company and the performance experience.

Opportunities like this are invaluable for young artists, offering insight into the professional dance world while building confidence, creativity and inspiration for the future. From everyone at NSCD CAT, a huge thank you to VERVE for such a memorable and inspiring experience.