CAT – Get Involved!
Do you know a 10-16 year old that LOVES to dance?
Dance City’s Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) inspires and empowers young people in the North East to fulfil their dance potential.
Dance City’s Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) is part of the Department for Education’s Music and Dance Scheme.
We offer a professional standard, holistic training programme and grants are available to cover some or all of the tuition costs for families with a household income under £70,000. No prior dance experience is required – just a passion for moving!
Find out about our Contemporary and Street Dance opportunities below!
CAT Contemporary (Newcastle)
Picture © Tom Banks 2022
Image description: Three female CAT students dressed in white are stood in a triangle formation, holding hands and looking upwards.
Taster Workshops
Attending a FREE CAT Taster Workshop will help you find out more about what it is like to be a student on the CAT, help you decide whether or not you are ready for the commitment of the programme and if you want to apply for one of the open auditions.
The Taster Workshop will consist of a half an hour observation of current CAT students taking class, a 1½ hour contemporary class followed by a short break and then a 30-minute presentation about the CAT for both parents and students to attend.
Our FREE contemporary workshops happen in Spring 2024. Dates will be available very soon. Stay tuned for more information!
Boys Workshop
Dance City is offering a one-off amazing experience aimed at boys* who are aged 10-16. A dance workshop led by teachers from the Dance City Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) to give participants an insight into the wonderful world of dance and some of the training involved in becoming a first-class performer.
We welcome participants who are both beginners and those with experience.
*We welcome all participants who identify as male.
The day is about sharing practice and ideas with experienced dance teachers who will be delivering a mixture of dance styles. At the end of each workshop there is a question-and-answer session for participants and their parents or guardians to attend.
Our FREE Boys workshops happen in Spring 2024. Dates will be available very soon. Stay tuned for more information!
First Stage Open Auditions
Open auditions are held in the summer each year for entry in September to both of our CAT programmes. Applicants must complete and return a CAT Audition Application Form (click to download) to reserve a place on their preferred audition date.
You will receive confirmation of your First Stage Audition place when we have received your audition application form.
You will then be sent a link to access a video of a movement phrase which will be taught at the audition. You are welcome to learn this phrase in advance of the day however, this phrase will also be taught and broken down within the audition session as well.
It is not a requirement to learn this phrase in advance.
Successful applicants will be invited to a Second Stage audition on a later date.
Our FREE first stage open auditions for the Contemporary programme happen in May and June. Dates will be available very soon. Stay tuned for more information!
CAT Street Dance (Sunderland)
Picture © Tom Banks 2022
Image description: A male CAT student is posed in a headstand with his legs flared apart. A group of 5 CAT students are posed in a group in the background with their arms crossed.
Taster Workshops
Attending a FREE CAT Taster Workshop will help you find out more about what it is like to be a student on the CAT, help you decide whether or not you are ready for the commitment of the programme and if you want to apply for one of the open auditions.
The Taster Workshop will consist of a half an hour observation of current CAT students taking class, a 1 hour class followed by a short break and then a 30-minute presentation about the CAT for both parents and students to attend.
Our FREE workshops for the Street Dance programme happen in Spring 2024. Dates will be available very soon. Stay tuned for more information!
First Stage Open Auditions
Open auditions are held in the summer each year for entry in September to both of our CAT programmes. Applicants must complete and return a CAT Audition Application Form (click to download) to reserve a place on their preferred audition date.
You will receive confirmation of your First Stage Audition place when we have received your audition application form.
You will then be sent a link to access a video of a movement phrase which will be taught at the audition. You are welcome to learn this phrase in advance of the day however, this phrase will also be taught and broken down within the audition session as well.
It is not a requirement to learn this phrase in advance.
Successful applicants will be invited to a Second Stage audition on a later date.
Our FREE First Stage Auditions for the Street Dance Programme (Sunderland) happen in May and June. Dates will be available very soon. Stay tuned for more information!
