Our History

YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) was established in 1988 originally as the Scottish Youth Dance Festival, offering an annual week-long festival for local youth dance groups in Scotland. Over the years, YDance has grown into an annual operation working with thousands of young people each year. The company is respected in Scotland, across the UK and the world as a provider of high-quality work, both participatory and performance-based.   

Since establishing a year-round programme of work in the 1990’s YDance has developed a strategic approach to youth dance in Scotland operating across four distinct areas – PARTICIPATE, PERFORM, LEARN and CONNECT – which are designed to give children and young people across Scotland opportunities to participate in dance whatever their background, and at whatever level suits them, from initial participation through to higher level training and performance. 

The company takes a leading role in advocating dance for young people in formal education and in developing and nurturing youth dance opportunities at local level throughout Scotland. YDance works in partnership with a wide range of organisations and agencies, including Local Authorities, Cultural Trusts, Sportscotland, Health services, Historic Environment Scotland and the Active Schools network, and arts organisations, including the other National Youth Performing Arts Companies, the National Galleries of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. In the formal education sector, YDance has established links with Education Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Dance Colleges in Scotland. 

In addition to providing and championing youth dance in Scotland, YDance works with partners in other parts of the UK and internationally, seeking to raise the profile of young people’s dance globally and to give young dancers from Scotland the chance to work with their peers from other parts of the world. The National Youth Dance Company of Scotland has performed in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia, India, Belgium, France, and the Republic of Ireland, and Horizons inclusive youth dance company has taken part in exchanges and performances in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands.