Dorset Youth Dance (DYD) is a county-wide youth dance company offering high quality dance experiences for young people who have a real passion and enthusiasm for dance and want to take that extra leap in training.

Focusing on contemporary dance, the company offers classes at three levels.

Junior members (aged 7-11) can expect to learn contemporary dance through creative exercises, preparing the young people for the more technical training of the Seniors class.

Senior members (aged 12-18) can expect to be supported and nurtured through creative and technical contemporary training to become a more confident performer, ready for the next stage.

Company members (aged 14-25) can expect to be challenged at an advanced level, demonstrating professionalism in performance in preparation for further stages of dance training. Company is by invite only.

We’re delighted to welcome Emily Thompson-Smith to Dorset Youth Dance Company, as our new Rehearsal Director this Autumn!

Emily is a freelance dance artist based in Dorset. She trained at London Contemporary Dance School and her career spanning 12 years has led her to work with many renowned contemporary dance theatre companies and organisations.

Emily is an experienced facilitator within community, educational and professional settings. She believes in the transformative power of movement within mental health and well-being and the role expression and creativity can play in young people’s lives. As a facilitator Emily has led workshops and creative outreach programmes for Protein Dance, Gary Clarke Company, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, Big Dance Festival, Greenwich Dance, Young Film Academy, Angel Shed Theatre, Corey Baker Dance and Shaper/Caper. She has worked with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre and Joli Vyann Company, delivering and assisting movement workshops and long courses to groups of adults with experience of addiction and homelessness and is currently the new lead dance artist on Mind Dorset and Pavilion Dance South West’s collaborative community project; Shift (previously Dance n Chat).

As a performer Emily has danced professionally for Gary Clarke Company, Luca Silvestrini’s Protein, Shobana Jeyasingh, Aletta Collins, Royal Shakespeare Company, Rhiannon Faith Company and James Cousins Company. She has worked extensively in opera, performing and creating productions at The Royal Opera House, Berlin State Opera, Glyndebourne and Opera North, and has worked as a movement director on productions at The National Theatre and assistant movement director for Oxford Playhouse, Alexandra Palace Theatre and Unicorn Theatre.

This is a small introduction to Emily’s extensive work, which continues in Dorset and nationally.