Free street dance sessions to be held at Sunderland's Dance City to mark launch of new training centre

Free street dance sessions will be held in Sunderland this weekend to mark the launch of a new training centre in the city.
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Dance City is launching its first Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) outside of Newcastle at the dance studios at Sunderland’s Fire Station.

To mark the new centre, Dance City is looking for young dancers aged 10-16 to take part in some free taster sessions where they can tap into their dance talent.

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The sessions will be available to boys on Saturday, May 29, and all young people on Sunday, May 30, and will be hosted by internationally-renowned street dancers Rob Anderson of Bad Taste Cru, and award-winning choreographer Robby Graham of Southpaw Dance Company.

Dance City Sunderland launch at The Engine Room. Street dancer Robby Graham. Dance City Sunderland launch at The Engine Room. Street dancer Robby Graham.
Dance City Sunderland launch at The Engine Room. Street dancer Robby Graham.

Instructors will give an insight into the world of street dance and some of the training involved to become a world-class performer. Beginners are just as welcome as those with experience of dance.

The new CAT is aimed at increasing access to formal dance training to gifted and talented youngsters on Wearside, without the need to travel to Newcastle.

Dance City, the North East’s leading development organisation for dance, opened its dance studios in Sunderland in 2018, and already hosts MA Dance students as well as a series of classes for the local community.

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Anand Bhatt, artistic director & CEO at Dance City, said: “At Dance City we are all really excited to give young people in Sunderland and the surrounding area this incredible opportunity to realise their creative potential. Like our existing CAT programmes in Newcastle and Darlington, the CAT Street Dance is supported by the Department for Education meaning financial support in means-tested grants are available - so access to funds should not a barrier to young people realising their dreams.

Dance City Sunderland launch at The Engine Room. Street dancer Robby Graham with CAT Recruitment Manager Emma Elliott and Artistic Director and CEO of Dance City Anand Bhatt.Dance City Sunderland launch at The Engine Room. Street dancer Robby Graham with CAT Recruitment Manager Emma Elliott and Artistic Director and CEO of Dance City Anand Bhatt.
Dance City Sunderland launch at The Engine Room. Street dancer Robby Graham with CAT Recruitment Manager Emma Elliott and Artistic Director and CEO of Dance City Anand Bhatt.

“This is also a great opportunity for us to mean more to more people in Sunderland. Since we opened our studios in The Fire Station in 2019, we have offered a range of public classes and our MA Advanced Dance Performance students are based there."

Places at all the workshops are free but booking is essential as covid-secure procedures will be in place and numbers are limited.

Book online at https://www.dancecity.co.uk/catsunderland/ or call 0191 261 0505.

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Dance City Sunderland launch at The Engine Room. Artistic Director and CEO of Dance City Anand Bhatt.Dance City Sunderland launch at The Engine Room. Artistic Director and CEO of Dance City Anand Bhatt.
Dance City Sunderland launch at The Engine Room. Artistic Director and CEO of Dance City Anand Bhatt.

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