What is the Take Flight Graduate Programme?

Take Flight is an innovative graduate training programme specifically designed for emerging choreographers and teaching artists aged 21-25. This unique opportunity supports participants in exploring and refining their choreographic and teaching practices. It aims to build skills for working effectively with dancers, expand professional networks, and enhance teaching and choreographic methodologies.

Participants in the programme will engage in intensive choreographic labs and practical and theoretical sessions that delve into questions about choreographic practices and teaching methodologies. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to observe YDance staff in various settings, participate in mentoring sessions with the YDance artistic director, and have the space to reflect on their teaching or choreographic practices critically.

The programme runs once a year, lasting 3-6 months, and is open to 1 or 2 artists. Fidelio Charitable Trust and Garrick Charitable Trust currently support it.

Take Flight offers an unparalleled opportunity for growth and development as a choreographer and teaching artist, with comprehensive support throughout the journey.

This year's latest Take Flight programme

September 2025

An education development project between YDance, Scotland and JugendTanzEnsemble, Germany.

The aim of this initiative was to equip emerging dance artists with essential skills and knowledge for a successful career in dance, with their peers across the globe.

Scottish and German dance artists engaged in workshops focused on methodologies and techniques vital for developing effective teaching practices.

Each participant acquired valuable practical skills applicable in various settings, fostering the growth of community and youth dance in both countries.

The project involved four dancers and 1 teaching artist from YDance’s National Youth Dance Company Scotland (NYDCS), 20 dancers and 2 teaching artists from Jugend Tanz Ensemble (JTE).

“Going back to Germany through the take flight international project was an utterly invaluable experience that has really given me confidence that there is a space for me in the dance world, solidifying connections with people who are at different stages in their career was inspiring, aspirational and genuinely filled me with so much joy. I feel like after going back to Nuremberg it has become a space I will always feel welcome in, opening up so many opportunities for my life going forwards. Taking workshops and getting to move and perform, with other dancers and dance facilitators felt like the first proper step into the industry and really confirmed for me that it is a route I’d like to follow, at every step my input was valued and in every way I’m excited to be more than just a participant in a project but a person being supported by said project. Continuously learning from new and different people is always the most valuable thing and in take flight international, I was included the circle, learning with very wonderful humans. It was also beautiful getting to reconnect with all of the JTE dancers we met before, getting to see how they have all progressed and feed off their excitement for movement”

Esther Silverton, NYDCS company member from Glasgow

“I left feeling so inspired to work alongside other young dancers who are also aspiring to be artists who will leave a positive mark on the dance community. We learned so much from each other by merging the two cultures and different dance backgrounds and look forward to working with them again in the future to strengthen these new connections and networks.”

Claire McLaughlin, NYDCS company member from Glasgow

"I gained insight into the needs of the emerging artists, had a beneficial international teaching experience, strengthened ties with JTE, and experienced Nuremberg’s culture first-hand. Alumni dancers gained experience of movement tasks they can use within community settings, practical teaching tools, insight into YDance methodology in action, stronger cross‑border friendships, and international stage time. They left with enhanced knowledge, feeling inspired and connected.”

Amy Park, YDance Teaching Artist

Previous graduate programmes

Dorine Mwesiga worked with YDance from January to July 2025.
Dorine is a performer, teacher, choreographer, retreat leader and projects manager. Of Tanzanian heritage, born and raised in France, based in Glasgow where she has been building Whacking Scotland, Body Movement and her solo choreographic work. She is inspired by an array of cultures having travelled over 30 countries and speaks 4 languages; this informs a lot of her work and is passionate about seeing more representation of plus sized bodies, and people of colour.
The aims of the FST bursary programme were:
- To develop knowledge and skills around choreographic practices with young dancers including task development, co creation methods, idea development and choreographic knowledge.
- To have time and space to reflect on practice, learning and progression, personal processes and methods.
- To develop teaching practice in community settings, developing teaching pedagogy, creative tasks development and methodology.
“A key goal for me was to expand my choreographic tools and understanding, particularly as someone from a non-traditional dance background. Observing Anna Kenrick’s collaborative approach with NYDCS was invaluable. I saw how she held space for young dancers’ ideas while also making strong, intuitive decisions that elevated the work — reinforcing that collaboration and artistic leadership can co-exist. It inspired me to trust my own creative instincts more. This placement gave me insight into how a national organisation operates — from planning to delivery. As a freelancer, these structures helped me understand how to scale and sustain my own projects more strategically. I now feel clearer and more confident in the kind of artist I want to be: inclusive, collaborative, and youth-focused.”