Kick Off

About Kick Off

History and Context

• In 2014 Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) with funding from Breeze Arts Festival began a six-week partnership between with DAZL and Carr Manor High School to create a boys youth dance group. The culmination of this project was an all-male dance platform at The Riley Theatre.
• In 2015, with funding from the Conservatoires for Dance and Drama (CDD) a larger partnership was formed between NSCD (Higher Education Training), DAZL (Health Organisation) and Phoenix Dance Theatre (touring contemporary dance company) recognizing the need for male only focused dance provision in Leeds.
• In 2016 Leeds City College joined the partnership.

The main cohort is aged 11–18 years, with some older members from Leeds City College acting as mentors to the younger participants. Previous projects include:

• ‘Painted Faces’ – mental health in young men, with support from Space 2 Leeds.
• ‘#NoExit’ – collaboration with Health for All Leeds – Positive Futures.
• ‘Hoods’ – gang and knife crime

Project Aims

1. To support, nurture and retain male dance talent in Leeds
2. To provide clear progression routes for young male dancers from widening participation backgrounds to further dance training including HE setting
3. To offer young males the opportunity to participate, perform and watch dance

Pathways

Kick Off Boys Dance has a proven track record for progressing our participants into further dance opportunities and full time training, these include:

• DAZL Youth Dance Company
• Phoenix Academy
• Centre for Advanced Training, Northern School of Contemporary Dance
• Leeds City College
• CertHE & BA Degree Courses at Northern School of Contemporary Dance
• Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Dance & Drama
• Urdang Academy
• Irie Dance Theatre