Last Sunday evening, dancers from around the county took to the stage at Bridlington Spa Theatre for a roof-raising celebration of creativity expressed through choreography.

The annual East Riding Youth Dance (ERYD) platform event marked the culmination of a ten-week programme of dance classes held in Beverley, Bridlington and Withernsea.

Open to young people aged 8-18, this inspiring community dance initiative provided a platform for dancers of all abilities, including those with little or no previous background experience, to join together for a series of fun and energetic evening classes.

Led by a team of professional performers, the weekly sessions encouraged participants to develop their skills and techniques in a range of styles, from Contemporary to Street Dance. Involvement also helped to boost confidence and social interaction, whilst providing those taking part with a creative outlet and an opportunity to gain a recognised Arts Award qualification.  

After a successful run of classes, the unquestionable highlight of the programme was Sunday’s platform event which saw participants showcase the skills learnt through their weekly sessions in front of a live audience at a professional performance venue.

Performers from all three branches of the Youth Dance project took part alongside guest performers from Fusion Dance, Freedom Road Creative Arts, Kings Mill School and Riverside Special School.

Also appearing were members of Withernsea High School’s professional dance troupe AttenDANCE who performed a routine from the school’s up-coming Dance Show ‘A Seussified Christmas Carol’.

Commenting on Withernsea’s involvement in the programme, Head of Creative Arts Jamie Hughes said: “We were delighted to have been invited to take part in the Youth Dance platform event, both with the school’s AttenDANCE group and with the young people who have been attending the weekly dance sessions.

I would like to congratulate our performers who, as always, were excellent representatives for Withernsea. We had some of the oldest performers there, with all of our dancers being positive backstage, showing their trademark kindness and warmth towards other performers. They were excellent role models and I am very proud of them all.

On their behalf I would like to thank Nicola at the East Riding for her help, support and encouragement of our talented young performers.”

 Commenting on the success of the Youth Dance project, Nicola Dixon, Arts Development Officer at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We were delighted to invite Withernsea High School to be part of our Youth Dance platform, meaning that two out of the eight dance groups featured were from Withernsea. 

The quality of both groups’ dances was extraordinary, with Withernsea Youth Dance choreographing their dance to music from Queen, and Withernsea High School’s AttenDANCE group displaying an infectious explosion of festive-themed street dance.

The East Riding Youth Dance platform was the culmination of the performance work from our weekly sessions, and this year we took the opportunity to invite other dance groups to join them for a large-scale celebration of dance.”

Withernsea’s Youth Dance sessions launched back in September as part of a new partnership with the High School. Commenting at the time of the launch, Nicola said: "It has been great to see so many young people from Withernsea High School taking part in the dance sessions, some of whom are embarking upon their dance qualifications. 

Anything they can do dance-wise outside of school will support their learning within school. We're really grateful to Withernsea High School for working with us on these sessions - the town is really lucky to have such a great Creative Arts Faculty.”

For anyone wishing to join East Riding Youth Dance, please visit www.eryd.co.uk for further information. 

ABOVE: ERYD Withernsea Youth Dance members Faith Grant, Maddison Fletcher, Romey Holland-Wallace and Marianne Campbell performed at the platform event.  

ABOVE: Withernsea High School’s AttenDANCE group showcased a routine from the school’s up-coming dance show.




ABOVE: Withernsea High School’s AttenDANCE group. Students audition for a place in this select group at the start of each year. Its members regularly represent the school at community and county events.