We're delighted to announce our new choreographer for NYDCS 2026/27 - Charlotte Mclean

Charlotte is a transdisciplinary artist, choreographer, performer, and educator whose practice explores anti-capitalist, cyclical ways of working through movement, voice, and collaboration. A graduate of London Contemporary Dance School and recipient of the 2025 Arts Foundation Dance Fellowship, her choreographic practice draws from tradition having competed in Scottish Highland Dance throughout her childhood. She is currently undergoing a year-long anthropological research project 'my body is my home' to continue to imagine Highland Dance as a living, evolving practice capable of holding multiple bodies, stories, and futures.

Charlotte co-founded two contemporary movement bands: badbodychaoscode and Die Berner Band. The bands have performed internationally at London's V&A museum, TANZhAUS Bern, Alte Münze Berlin, Pete the Monkey Normandy and Brainchild Festival to name a few.

Charlotte’s first solo show, And (2022), was received to critical acclaim at The Place London after a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It has since toured the UK as part of the Rural Touring Dance Initiative as well as to FITS Romania, Black Box Teater Oslo, Krakow Dance Festival and Tojo Theater Bern.

Her last work, Futuristic Folktales (2024) was co-commissioned by The Place London and Tojo Theatre Bern and toured Tramway Glasgow, The Space Dundee and Southbank Centre, before joining the Made In Scotland Showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (2024).

The upcoming work, not for glory (2026) is a co-creation with Irish / contemporary dancer Jack Anderson and bagpiper / composer Malin Lewis. The work will World Premiere at Dance Base during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 11 - 23rd August 2026, and tour Scotland in 2027.

Charlotte has also performed for independent companies including Eva Recacha Productions, Barrowland Ballet and Curious Seed. She teaches at London Contemporary Dance School, Barbara Bortoli Ballet Schule and worked as an associate centre assistant at the Royal Ballet School.

See more of Charlotte's work here.

Working with YDance and Charlotte this year is an opportunity not to be missed!