Hal Smith
Hal Smith - a former member of Ludus Youth Dance Company - takes time out from a busy international tour of new works with Verve, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, to tell us how Ludus Youth Dance Company played a pivotal role in getting him to where he is now...
So how has being a member of LYDC helped you?
'Working with many different choreographers during my time with LYDC gave me a vast experience of different styles, along with the opportunity to perform what I had learnt, and it was good to meet other like-minded young dancers in the area.
'What's more, the experience of auditions for the youth company and in the performances helped in my auditions for professional schools, giving me confidence I wouldn't have otherwise had.'
How did your experience with LYDC influence you?
'It gave me experience of release technique which I hadn't done before (I did a lot of ballet when I was younger), which gave me a broader view of contemporary dance. Working in a company and learning together was inspiring, coupled with working with different choreographers and then performing alongside them.'
What have you done since leaving LYDC?
'I studied for 3 years at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, gaining a 1st Class BA (Hons) Degree. LYDC gave me solid foundations to begin my
professional training.
'When I left LYDC, I moved to London to train at Rambert School. Whilst training, I worked with DansConnect in Swindon. On completing my degree, I performed with Moving Visions Dance company, and I'm currently touring with Verve, the postgraduate performance company of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.'
Image by John Pridmore
LYDC application form 2012/13
