It has been amazing to learn new styles, be inspired by the people around me and dance in the beautiful Scottish Ballet studios. I feel that the group as a whole really bonded in New York and became a family. I think it was everyone’s equal efforts which allowed this to happen.’
Christopher Hampson, 2016
Previous Youth Exchange Programmes
Previous Youth Exchanges – Partner Organisations
Throughout the years, Youth Exchange Dancers have had the amazing opportunity to encounter numerous dancers, choreographers, performing artists, and teams from an array of countries and communities. Here is a short selection of past and current partners:
- 2022/23 – Partnered with Move NYC. Presenting work at Scottish Ballet and at U.Dance National Festival.
- 2020/21 – Move NYC. This was primarily a digital partnership due to the pandemic.
- 2018/19 – Partnered with Compagnia Egribiancodanza and dancers from Turin, northern Italy, and performed at Torino Danza Festival.
- 2016/18 – Partnered with first year students from TISCH, New York University and Joyce Theater Education team. Presenting work at The Joyce Theater and the Generation Dance Festival.
Below are two blogs written by Youth Exchange dancers Cat and Shannen. To read their first hand perceptive click on the green boxes.
Cat
Young Professional tells us about her experience of the collaboration and how it impacted her.
Scottish Ballet Youth Exchange collaborates with Move|NYC|
Shannen
One of the participating young dancers took the time to share her experience of the programme and their time in the USA.
How the SB Youth Exchange changed my outlook on danceThis project taught me so much that I’m going to take into my future career. I think it came at a pivotal moment in my training and prepared me so well for my move to London. Not only did it refine my class etiquette but gave me an insight into professional work and how to work within it. I learned that no matter what you are doing to always work at 150%, as you never know what is around the corner.’
Youth Exchange Participant, 18/19
We underestimated how much Jennifer would get out of the Youth Exchange. It has provided more than just dance, it has given her positive role models and a focus on what she wants to do. We will be ever grateful for all the work that the Education department do.’
Participant Parent, 18/19
MOVE|NYC| Youth Exchange Member Cat, who travelled from New York to the UK for the programme expressed:
…there was an instant connection on a more unconventional level: our shared work ethic and love of dance made dancing together feel natural as we built a new repertory together. I realised how our dedication to dance created a truly unspoken bond. There was a sense of mutual fulfilment amongst us when the work we’d been developing first in New York, and then in Scotland, exploded onstage! It was great to know that we’ve cultivated a forever connection with Scottish Ballet, and have somewhere we could revisit upon finding ourselves dancing in Europe again.’
Cat, MOVE | NYC | Young Professional
Previous Youth Exchanges – Choreographers
- Sophie Laplane
- Chanel da Silva
- Sara Kemal
- Lorraine Jamieson
Previous Youth Exchanges – Education Dance Artist
- Sophie Laplane
- Lewis Normand
- Thomas Edwards
- Evan Loudon
- Kerry Nicolls
- Thomas Edwards
- Constance Devernay
- Jesse Obremski
- Laja Field
- Sara Kemal
- Taylor Han
