On Friday 6 April, Leeds City Centre will host ‘COLLIDE’ – a free, one-day dance event specifically for boys.
Organised by NSCD, with funding from Leeds Inspired, the event features over 30 all-male dance performances happening at 7 different locations across the city centre from 11am-3pm, as well as free participatory workshops.
Members of the public will be able to witness and experience a range of different dance styles on the day, from hip hop to contemporary, and from ballet to street.
Performances will take place every 15-30 minutes at Victoria Leeds, Victoria Quarter, Trinity Leeds, Briggate, Lands Lane, Dortmund Square and Leeds’ award-winning Kirkgate Market. Kirkgate Market will also host a central information hub for the event, where visitors can go to find out more about the day, pick up a map and take part in dance workshops specifically for boys.
NSCD has invited professional dance companies from across the North to perform, including NSCD alumni Company Chameleon, Hawk Dance Theatre and Northern Rascals, as well as community and youth dance groups in Leeds including DAZL, Kick off Boys dance project and Northern Ballet Academy.
The event aims to highlight opportunities for male dancers in Leeds, from community dance classes through to professional training.
"Leeds is a dance-rich city with many opportunities for children, young people and adults alike to take part in classes within their local community. However we have noticed male dancers are underrepresented, across both our own and our partners’ provision. This event highlights the fact that boys can dance too, and we want them to know where they can find classes and performance opportunities in the dance styles they may be interested in." Tracy Witney, Head of Learning & Participation at Northern School of Contemporary Dance
A highlight of this event will be performances from Leeds’ own boys youth dance group ‘Kick Off’. The group meets once a week for free classes at Leeds City College and is a joint initiative between NSCD, Phoenix Dance Theatre, DAZL and Leeds City College for boys aged between 12 – 18 years.
