AUDITIONS will be held for Phoenix Dance Theatre’s highly acclaimed Youth Academy this June.

Phoenix Youth Academy offers a high-quality training programme for talented young dancers (aged 13-19 years) interested in pursuing dance as a career. Students meet twice per week, developing their contemporary dance technique through working with recognised choreographers and Phoenix Dance Theatre’s company dancers.

Phoenix Youth Academy is dedicated to providing a place for first-class dance training in the north, and entry to the Academy is by application and audition only. This year’s auditions for the junior (13 to 15) and senior (16 to 19) Academy will be held at Phoenix Dance Theatre’s studios at Quarry Hill in Leeds on Sunday, June 26.

Of this year’s graduates, nine Youth Academy members were awarded places at some of the best conservatoires in the UK, including Royal Academy of Dance, London Contemporary Dance School, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. One dancer has also gained international success by securing a place at The Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp in Belgium.

Youth Academy Coordinator Antonio Borriello said: "Phoenix Youth Academy is the perfect place for young dancers to gain valuable training in contemporary dance. This year our academy students have been involved in numerous high profile events this year including performing in front of ten thousand people at the O2 Arena for BBC Radio 1 Extra Live and in July they represent Yorkshire at the National U.DANCE festival. We can’t wait to discover the next generation of professional dancers from the North and welcome anyone with a passion for dance to get in touch."

Young dancers wishing to apply should visit the Phoenix Dance Theatre website and complete an application form. Completed application forms should be emailed to youthacademy@phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk or sent by post to Phoenix Dance Theatre, St Cecilia Street, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7PA.