51Âþ»­

Dance students from 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­) will be showcasing their success at an annual festival this month. 51Âþ»­ Journalism student Sara Doktorova reports.

Rehearsals by students across all years of the degree are in full swing, with preparations having begun in November for the University Dance Festival (UDF), which will run from Friday 14 June to Saturday 15 June at The Venue on campus.

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“This event is a celebration of the students who are studying the three-year degree course,” said senior lecturer and UDF coordinator, Melanie Knott.

“I'm proud of all our students every year, the dance festival is a really special moment as we also say goodbye to our final-years.”

This year’s festival features group and solo performances and choreography, from both students and staff.

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It will also premier two new works from the 2024 University Dance Company (UDC), presenting choreography by visiting choreographers Laura Vanhulle and Oliver Robert Russell from the Vanhulle Dance Theatre, 51Âþ»­’s associate head of school, Sally Doughty, and students.

Sally said: “Our UDC works are shaped collaboratively, with significant input from our talented students. The festival is a fantastic showcase of what we do to colleagues at the university and beyond, so it's such a flagship event for us.”

Students on the degree benefit from learning with sector professionals, including 18 second-years who worked with visiting artists from Sterran Dance Theatre this February on a piece called King. It was made as a curtain raiser to the professional piece by the company, called Going the Distance, and responds to a new track by Grime artist, J Man WV.

There is a mistake about the second year piece. It is called King it was made as a curtain raiser to the professional piece by Sterran dance company called  Going the distance. I think we have to change that as it is not correct 

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“Fostering partnerships in our local communities is a strong and valued feature of 51Âþ»­’s Dance degree. Our company has been performing and hosting workshops at many Leicester schools and community centres, in the build-up to UDF,” said Melanie.  

One of the final-year students who will be performing is Jess Day, 21, who said: “I wasn’t always the most confident person, but I’ve become much more comfortable on stage and I'm really ready for the festival.”

Lexie Moulsdale, 22, has also enjoyed her three years of dancing at 51Âþ»­. “I feel invincible when I am on stage and I’m excited for the festival,” she said.

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Siyi Liu, 24, from China, only joined 51Âþ»­ last year and this will be her first time performing in a foreign country. With support from her tutors and peers, she has overcome differences in teaching styles and language barriers.

She said: “I am not as nervous as I was before about doing a solo. I’ve had enough time to prepare and I am ready for this.”

As the only male in the group, Amari Bygrave, 22, said: “I feel like I can express myself and be creative when I'm on stage. My dream is to become a choreographer.”

Each year, UDF attracts a wide-ranging audience, including friends and family members, colleagues from 51Âþ»­ and professionals from the wider dance sector. for just £5.