Local talent included in national company’s tour finale
A dancer from Solihull has been selected to perform with the National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) in the final date of its current tour at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry on Thursday 23 July. The company, run by Sadler’s Wells, brings together 32 young performers from across England for intensive creation and public performance.
The Solihull representative, Zachary Turner-Powell, was chosen from applicants nationwide to join NYDC for the season. The company’s present production, Memory Keepers, was created by Alleyne Dance, the award-winning company led by East London twins Sadé and Kristina Alleyne, who have worked with the company throughout the academic year.
Tour and local significance
Memory Keepers has already visited several venues on a short tour prior to the Coventry date. The tour has included appearances in Ipswich, Leeds, Falmouth and London before closing at The Belgrade. For a dancer from Solihull, the final performance being close to home carries particular resonance.
“I could not have imagined doing something like this just a few years ago. Touring with NYDC has been amazing and I’m really excited about performing our last show so close to home.”
The company aims to reflect a broad range of backgrounds and dance disciplines. According to NYDC, 24% of its members come from among the 30% most deprived postcodes in the country. Most participants go on to further training or careers in the arts: the company states that nine out of ten young people who join NYDC progress into further dance or performing-arts education or employment, though some move into different fields.
Opportunities and qualifications
NYDC provides participating dancers with additional accreditation: all company members have the opportunity to gain a Gold Arts Award, a nationally recognised qualification for young artists and arts leaders. For local audiences, the appearance of a Solihull dancer in a national company highlights pathways from community training to professional-standard opportunities.
- Performer: Zachary Turner-Powell (Solihull)
- Company: National Youth Dance Company (Sadler’s Wells)
- Production: Memory Keepers by Alleyne Dance
- Final tour date: 23 July at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
| Tour stops | Included venues |
|---|---|
| Earlier dates | Ipswich, Leeds, Falmouth, London |
| Final date | The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (23 July) |
The appearance is also a reminder of the role national arts organisations play in nurturing regional talent and of the cultural links between Solihull and nearby Coventry. Local supporters of dance and families of young performers may find the final performance an accessible opportunity to see the outcomes of a year’s disciplined training and creative collaboration.
