Oldham Sixth Form college partners with Phoenix Dance Academy

Oldham Sixth Form College has announced a new partnership with Phoenix Youth Dance Academy.

This new satellite academy will provide young dancers aged 13-18 in the region with exceptional contemporary dance training and performance opportunities.

The first session took place at the college recently.

Phoenix Youth Academy was founded in Leeds in 2009 and since then graduates have gone on to successfully audition for numerous leading conservatoires.

Two Phoenix Youth Academy graduates have succeeded in being category finalists in the BBC Young Dancer competition.

This year 18 academy students are graduating, with 15 going on to study dance or performing arts at undergraduate level from September 2023, and three going on to study STEM subjects at university.

The academy includes access to a 90-minute lesson each week with current and former Phoenix Dance Theatre dancers and internationally acclaimed choreographers.

Dance pieces are created during intensive courses that take place during school holidays and are showcased at various platforms across the UK.

Extending the Youth Academy to Oldham continues a goal of delivering high-quality education and performance experiences to young people across the north of England in an accessible and inclusive way, providing excellent dance training while introducing students to the sector and the professional opportunities available.

Staff highly value collaborations with other organisations, and this partnership with Phoenix Dance Academy exemplifies commitment to working collectively.

By joining forces, Phoenix has greater capacity to offer more enhanced and accessible opportunities.

Antonio Borriello, Professional Training Manager, said: "I am very excited for the launch of our Youth Academy cohort in Oldham in September 2023, which is the seventh in our academy portfolio.

"The programme’s expansion reflects young’s people passion for dance and performing arts across the North West of England, and their hunger for dance training and performance opportunities. 

"We are excited to share Phoenix Dance Theatre’s training, vision and values with young people, communities and peers in Oldham and we look forward to collaborating with Oldham Sixth Form College to extend the dance training offer at the college and wider local dance community and ecology."

Corisse Ledward, Tutor for Dance, said: "I am so excited that we have been selected to partner with Phoenix Dance Theatre for the new Youth Academy.

"This will not only bring many benefits to students who study with us at OSFC, but also to the Oldham community.

"Antonio, Jennifer and the entire team at Phoenix Dance Theatre are dedicated to ensuring that young people in Oldham and the surrounding areas are provided with an opportunity to access high quality dance training.

"OSFC students will access exclusive workshops and talks with industry professionals in addition to the opportunity to audition for the youth academy, all of which will be advantageous and complementary to their studies in A Level Dance."

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