AYD100 is back at London Studio Centre, North Finchley, 26 to 30 October: five days of dance for young Black dancers aged 12 to 19, with scholarship auditions.
A five-day dance programme for young Black dancers that handed out more than £210,000 of training last year returns to North Finchley over half term. AYD100 runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October at London Studio Centre on Nether Street, by Tally Ho Corner.
It is run by Artistry Youth Dance and is open to dancers of African and Caribbean heritage aged 12 to 19. This is its seventh year. The week ends in a chance at scholarships to eight vocational schools and conservatoires, London Studio Centre among them.
What happens across the five days
Days run from 9.30am to 5pm, according to the organisation’s press release of 21 October. Dancers train in seven styles: Commercial, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Ballet and African Dance.
2 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: Hannah Eldridge for Artistry Youth Dance
The organisation describes the week as “an inclusive space where young dancers can develop their skills, build confidence and explore their potential.”
3 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: Hannah Eldridge for Artistry Youth Dance
There are masterclasses with New Adventures, Disney Theatrical and Tavaziva Dance. Panel discussions cover, in the release’s words, “professional training, career pathways and life in the dance industry.”
4 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: Hannah Eldridge for Artistry Youth Dance; supplied by Artistry Youth Dance
The scholarship audition
The audition class is the centre of the week. Dancers who take part can be awarded scholarships for training at these schools:
- Bird Conservatoire
- Central School of Ballet
- Laine Theatre Arts
- Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA)
- London Contemporary Dance School at The Place
- London Studio Centre
- Performers College
- Trinity Laban
Artistry Youth Dance gives these figures for the last two years:
- 2024: more than 50 young people took part, and over £142,000 worth of scholarships were awarded.
- 2025: 75 dancers took part, and 52 scholarships were awarded, worth more than £210,000 in training.
Why the organisers run it
The organisation says AYD100 exists “to address barriers to training and progression in the dance industry by connecting young dancers with leading vocational schools, conservatoires and industry professionals.”
“Despite the significant contributions of Black artists to dance and the wider performing arts, barriers to access and progression remain,” its release says. “Young dancers may have limited opportunities to build industry connections, access specialist training or learn about the pathways available to them.”
It says the programme “has helped young Black dancers access training opportunities that might otherwise be beyond their reach”, and calls it part of its wider aim of “supporting a more representative performing arts sector.”
What it means for you
- Who can go: young Black dancers of African and Caribbean heritage, aged 12 to 19. The event page says it is for those “just starting out or already on your way.”
- When: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, which is Barnet’s half term week.
- Where: London Studio Centre, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA.
- Cost: £100 for all five days, plus a £2.50 booking fee. The early bird price of £85 ended on 6 September. The bursary deadline was 11 September, so it has passed.
- How to book: through the AYD100 event page, which sells places through Ticket Tailor. When we checked on 21 October the page said “spaces are limited.”
The event page gives the daily hours as 9am to 5pm, while the 21 October release says 9.30am to 5pm. Families should check the start time when they book.
The photographs in this story are from a previous AYD100 programme, not this year’s week at London Studio Centre.
More half term ideas are in our What’s On in Barnet guide.
Have your say