BLACKPOOL’S CAPITAL OF DANCE FESTIVAL DELIVERS LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES
Capital Of Dance, which took place from June 14th to July 14th this year in Blackpool, is off to a flying start with three local dancers securing places to join the prestigious National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) run by Sadler’s Wells.
This is a direct result of a workshop/audition by the country’s flagship youth dance company that was held in the resort for the first time as part of the new fringe festival. Pleasure Beach Resort provided a studio free of charge for the workshop, and NYDC held auditions across major cities in England to look for 25 new company members. It is a huge achievement that Blackpool has delivered three of those dancers, all of whom were trained and developed by House of Wingz, based in the resort.
Orson Crane and Blake Rainey, 18 years old, and Dylan Dennis, who is 17, all trained in Blackpool at House of Wingz from the age of eight. They will join NYDC Guest Artistic Directors for 2024/25 Boy Blue, and over the next twelve months, they will:
• Tour and perform in world-class venues, including Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London
• Learn, create and perform original work
• Develop skills in different dance styles
• Take part in intensive residencies over the school holidays, living and working as a company
• Collaborate with professional choreographers
• Find out about career pathways and opportunities
• Take part in dancers toolbox sessions to enhance learning and to prepare for the future
Over 80% of NYDC graduates pursue further dance training or careers in the dance field.
Orson and Blake were both born in Blackpool, and Dylan was born in Sweden but moved to Blackpool when he was eight years old. All three were trained by Aish Bell Docherty and Sam Bell, who run a dance movement and community where young people can learn about hip-hop and its culture. Dancers are given a deep understanding of the foundation of the dance genre, and this training enables them to experiment with movement while providing a safe space where dancers can freestyle and develop their own expression, style, and identity.
Aish Bell Docherty explains: “Sam and I are both so proud that three members of the House of Wingz crew have been invited to join NYDC. We have seen each of the boys’ individual journeys leading to this point, which is so exciting not just for us, but for them as individuals, and it’s inspiring for the crew as a whole. They are enthusiastic and have a positive energy that reflects their training so far, and we know they will learn so much from this amazing opportunity.”
The Capital of Dance festival is curated and produced by Lytham-based Fit The Bill Limited, and it is the world’s first fringe festival dedicated to dance and movement, celebrating and promoting Blackpool’s unrivalled heritage in dance. The month-long festival celebrates all genres, from Ballroom and break dance to ballet and musical theatre.
There were over 140 dance-related performances and workshops in 2024, and Capital of Dance will now become an annual event, thanks to seed funding from Blackpool Tourism BID and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (# UKSPF).
Marina Efstathiou Blore, Artistic Director for Capital of Dance said: “We launched this festival to promote the resorts dance heritage, to attract more engagement in dance, whether that is watching or participating, and we said that whatever we include in the festival, the local community needs to benefit as well as local businesses. To give three Blackpool boys the chance to launch a professional career in dance is just overwhelming. It will be life-changing for them all.”
On being accepted into NYDC:
“It’s an incredible feeling to be accepted in NYDC. I love teaching the next generation, I dream of a career in dance and making a living creating my own shows and touring the world.” Orson Crane
“When I got the call, it was an amazing feeling. It feels like this is going to push me into the world of performance, and it’s always been a dream of mine to work in the creative industry.” Blake Rainey
“It’s such a great feeling to be accepted in NYDC, it felt like a relief for all the hard work and training I’ve done up to this point of my journey. My dream is to be able to do this (dance) for a living and make my family and friends proud.” Dylan Dennis
Chief Executive Officer of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE said: “We have a wealth of talent on our doorstep here on the Fylde Coast, and we feel very proud that we were able to play our part in nurturing them and providing them with life-changing opportunities.
“Congratulations to Orson, Blake and Dylan – we can’t wait to follow your journey of continued success.”
Next year’s Capital of Dance will run from 1st July to 31st July 2025.
