Unanimous 2024 on International Dance Day
29th April 2024
Today is International Dance Day and so it feels apt to reflect back on our annual Unanimous platform held earlier this month.
Unanimous brings together some of the best youth dance groups from across the island of Ireland in a non-competitive arena. This year we were delighted that the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland performed as part of their UK touring schedule. We were also joined by Dublin Youth Dance Company, FYI Dance Club (Wicklow), Laois Youth Dance Ensemble, Youth Action’s Monday Night Club (Belfast), Ohr Dance Company (Laois) and High Points Youth Ballet (Belfast). Of course our Youth Engagement Programmes Sutemos Youth Dance and Belfast Boys took to the stage too.
It was a fantastic evening compered by members of the Youth Steering Group. Thank you to everyone involved; the commitment of every single young dancer – and the team behind each group – is just inspiring.
The feedback was really positive and the audience clearly enjoyed the evening:
“Gathering youth from different parts of the UK and Ireland to share their passion for dancing is so much more than just an event.”
“Wonderful to see the planning, practice, creativity, and collaboration that went into it.”
Unanimous continues to demonstrate how dance is a tool for facilitating personal and social development. When asked why youth dance is so important, audience members were keen to share:
“For friendship, expression, being themselves, exercise, and being involved in the arts.”
“It offers so many positive experiences from self expression, feeling good about oneself and getting good at something and feeling pride and new skills.”
“It gives them confidence, strength, ability and comaraderie amongst their peers. Our boy has completely blossomed since beginning with his dance troupe.”
Until next year!
Top left to right: Youth Action’s Monday Night Club; National Youth Dance Company of Scotland; Sutemos
Middle left to right: Dublin Youth Dance Company; Belfast Boys; Ohr Dance Company
Bottom left to right: FYI Dance Club; Laois Youth Dance Ensemble; High Points Ballet
Photo credit: Jim Corr Photography