Learning & Participation at Northern School of Contemporary Dance

This term we have been having an amazing time working with one of our NSCD+ partner schools, Hillcrest Academy, as part of our Kaleidoscope project.

To help us celebrate 40 years of Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Hillcrest have welcomed us into the school, to reflect on the NSCD Library photo archive and local Chapeltown creativity, through drawing, model making and clay!

The school is full of budding dancers, visual artists and creatives, so we can't wait to unveil their newly created sculpture, created with local artist at our Party in the Park on Saturday 11th July.

'Party in the Park' is free to attend, family-friendly, and everyone is welcome.

Find out more over on and on our website - nscd.ac.uk

📢NSCD Learning and Participation Annual Showcase 2026

Date: Saturday 27th June 2026
Venue:

Dancers of all ages take to the Riley Theatre stage for an evening of celebration. Witness work created by talented children, young people and adults from across NSCD’s Learning & Participation programmes.

The L&P Annual Showcase 2026 will be split into 3 shows. Groups in each show are:

🌟Matinee 1: 14:00 pm - 14:45 pm
Saturday School Early Years / Reception
Saturday School Ages 6-7
Saturday School Ages 8-9
CAT Group B
CAT Group C

🌟Matinee 2: 15:30 pm - 16:30 pm
NSCD Youth Dance Company
Kick Off Boys Dance Project
CAT Group A
CAT Group C
Saturday School Ages 10-11
Saturday School Boys

🌟Evening: 19:30 pm - 21:00 pm
CAT Group A
CAT Group B
CAT Group C
Kick Off Boys Dance Project
NSCD Youth Dance Company
Adult Creative
Adult Technique, Choreography and Performance
Collide Dance Company

Learning & Participation at NSCD provides an inclusive environment for participants of all ages and abilities to engage in and learn through dance.

We look forward to welcoming friends, families and community members to Riley Theatre to support and celebrate all the amazing dancers.

Tickets: £12 (£10)
https://www.nscd.ac.uk/events/nscd-lp-annual-showcase-2026/

📢 NSCD SUMMER SCHOOL 2026 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT

🌟 Introducing Tom Roden - our Strand 3 (ages 18+) Creative Artist

✨Tom Roden is a theatre maker, director and performer whose work sits at the intersection of dance, comedy and storytelling. He co-directs New Art Club, an internationally touring company known for its distinctive blend of movement and humour, and Anatomical, which creates imaginative, family-facing performances. Alongside this, Tom works as an independent director and movement specialist, collaborating across theatre, dance and opera.

His practice is rooted in play, curiosity and connection, often using simple ideas to unlock expressive, surprising physicality. As a workshop leader, he creates relaxed, inclusive spaces where participants can explore their own movement language, take creative risks and find joy in the unexpected. His sessions invite people to think, move and make work together.✨

https://newartclub.org/

For further information, please contact [email protected]

As part of our Kaleidoscope project, celebrating 40 years of NSCD, we're so excited to be working with Leeds Black Elders Association to create a new sculpture.

With design and making support by local artists .mclean.studio and , the artwork will reflect the group members lives and memories.

You'll get to see it first at our Party in the Park family festival on Saturday 11th July - Everyone is invited!

Find out more at and on our website.

If you'd like to know more about LBEA, drop them a line at [email protected]

And find out more about Kaleidoscope at [email protected]

📢 NSCD SUMMER SCHOOL 2026 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT

🌟 Introducing Shirley Lok - our Strand 2 (ages 15-17) Creative Artist

✨Hong Kong-based dance artist Shirley Lok is a performer, choreographer, educator, and Rehearsal Mistress with City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC). Trained in ballet at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and holding a Master’s in Cultural Studies, she brings a rich, interdisciplinary perspective to her work.
Shirley has collaborated with renowned international choreographers and performed across Asia and Europe in contemporary dance, theatre, and touring productions. Alongside her performance career, she is a passionate educator, working with young people, pre-professional dancers, and communities through workshops, residencies, and training programmes locally and internationally.

Her choreographic work explores themes of memory, identity, and human connection, with works including Imprisoned, Human Research Lab, Rebug: Re-Gene, and Sliding into Heart.

💫 Through both her artistic and teaching practice, Shirley creates meaningful, inclusive experiences that connect movement with contemporary life.
✨

For further information, please contact [email protected]

📢 NSCD SUMMER SCHOOL 2026 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT

🌟 Introducing Sandrine Monin - our Strand 2 (ages 15-17) Creative Artist

✨Sandrine Monin has been a professional dancer for over 15 years and has worked with internationally renowned companies, including Gartnerplatz Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre, as well as with choreographers such as Forsythe, McGregor, Galili, and Christopher Bruce.

After graduating from the CNSMD Lyon in France, Sandrine pursued her training in Germany as part of the European programme D.A.N.C.E. and graduated with a Master’s in Dance Practice at Palucca Schule Dresden, and an MA in Choreography from the Central School of Ballet.

Throughout her career, she has also been developing her own choreographic work, supported by Arts Council England. She has created work for dance and theatre companies, youth groups and the screen.

She shares her practice teaching classes and workshops in companies such as New Adventures, Scottish Dance Theatre and NDCWales, as well as vocational training at Elmhurst Ballet School, Northern Ballet and NSCD.

She is the Artistic Director of Unbound Dance Theatre, an inclusive dance company whose focus is on making dance more accessible for blind and visually impaired people who recently advised BBC‘s Strictly Come Dancing. ✨





www.sandrinemonin.com

For further information, please contact [email protected]

📢 NSCD SUMMER SCHOOL 2026 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT

🌟 Introducing Mayowa Ogunnaike - our Strand 1 (ages 12-14) Creative Artist

✨Mayowa Ogunnaike is a British-Nigerian contemporary dance artist based in Leeds. Her name means ‘brings joy,’ and she aims to embody and encourage that sentiment throughout her practice.

In 2017, she graduated from Trinity Laban with a first-class honours degree and an award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Choreological Studies’. After graduating, she joined Phoenix Dance Theatre as an apprentice dancer and has continued to work as a performer for several dance companies and choreographers, including Uchenna Dance, Ace Dance and Music, and Seke Chimuntengwende. Currently, she is touring new productions with Gary Clarke Company and Léa Tirabasso.

Alongside performing, Mayowa delivers creative and technique classes across the UK, using this practice as an opportunity to share a wide-ranging movement vocabulary, experiment, collaborate with artists, and facilitate cultural exchange.✨



For further information, please contact [email protected]

📸 -

☀️ NSCD SUMMER SCHOOL 2026 ☀️

Monday 27th July 2026 - Friday 31st July 2026
10am – 4pm

Our five-day NSCD Summer School is a practical, creative and challenging experience for young dancers aged 12-17 (open level) and adults aged 18+ (dance students, graduates & professionals).

Delivered by NSCD lecturing staff, alumni and associate artists, the NSCD Summer School gives dancers an insight into life at NSCD, through the opportunity to:

- Take daily technique classes and creative sessions
- Meet and work with other keen like-minded dancers
- Perform at our on-site venue, Riley Theatre
- Engage with staff, students and artists at NSCD

Keep an eye out on our social media pages this week for our NSCD Summer School 2026 Artist Announcements.

To find out more about the NSCD Summer School 2026 head over to our website ⭐

Tickets: £215

📢 Masterclass Announcement

NSCD x Ekleido Masterclass

Saturday 9th May 2026
10:30am-12pm

Ekleido’s master class draws from their backgrounds, combining contemporary dance with underground club dance styles. The class involves a mixture of guided improvisation and short travelling phrases, both standing and floorwork, and finishes with a phrase that combines the movement elements you will have explored.

The class aims to work on strength, coordination, dynamics and creativity whilst getting a taste for Ekleido’s choreographic language.

In this open-level class, participants would benefit from some experience with contemporary technique and urban styles. Open to everyone aged 13+, including: young people, pre-vocational students, students in full-time training and adult participants.

Find our more about the company:
Instagram -
Facebook - Ekleido
Website - https://www.ekleido.co.uk/

For further information or to ask questions, please contact [email protected]

Tickets: £15 (£8)

Happy International Dance Day! 💃 🕺 🌟

A huge thank you to our incredible Learning & Participation and CAT team for all the behind the scenes magic you make happen every day. Your dedication keeps everything moving and makes these opportunities possible.

And to our wonderful artists - thank you for bringing such energy, creativity, and passion to every class. You truly make them what they are.

Without the support behind the scenes, there would be no dancing for our participants to enjoy. Today, we celebrate every single one of you. Happy Dancing!