The Story of NYDC
How do you make a socially distanced dance work?
In 2020, the dancers of National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) and Russell Maliphant, discovered new ways of working together on a project like no other.
When the UK went into lockdown in March, NYDC was halfway through the process of creating new work with Guest Artistic Director Russell Maliphant. With activity brought to a sudden halt and the company’s upcoming residency, world premiere and national tour all cancelled, NYDC had to radically rethink how its 39 young dancers would complete their experience.
The company went online, delivering over 60 hours of Zoom sessions to stay connected. At the end of the summer, NYDC became the first dancers to return to the historic Sadler's Wells Theatre in London since lockdown. Working in small socially distanced groups, they rehearsed and performed a new dance work to an intimate audience of friends and family, to complete their year.
This documentary charts the highs, the lows and everything in between, as told by the rising stars of a new generation of dance.
Film by Ben Williams
Dancers: Mareih Belocura, Mathilde Anderson Mellor, Philippa Brewis, Lauryn Bryan, Harvey Burke-Hamilton, Amelia Clarke, Sonny Connor-Bell, Zac Crowe, Sonny Cwynarski, Sekou Diaby, Karim Dime, Steffi Fashokun, Maia Faulkner, Willow Fenner, Aaliyah Francis, Mia Grote, Mirabelle Haddon, Mark Halton, Charlotte Hoyle, Haydn Hull, Ethan Hurip, Dylan Jones, Hannah Joseph, Spike King, Lewis Logie, Faye McLoughlin, Chiara Moore, Elisabeth Mulenga, Jacob Phillips, Joshua Pilgrim, Eve Shorten, Kenan Smith, Millie Smith-Hashim, Tom Sutton, Wil Trash, Leo Udvarlaky, Meghan Warburton, Jack Ward, Renette Wesley
Director and choreographer:
Russell Maliphant
Sound Design:
Dana Fouras
Costume Design
Stevie Stewart
Filming:
Sarah Vaughan-Jones and Ben Williams