We had a wonderful conversation with National Youth Dance Company Dancer Sonia about her experience being a part of the company.
Sonia grew up in Colchester and started dancing aged 7. She enjoys a range of dance styles including contemporary and African dance techniques as she comes from an Africanbackground. Being in NYDC has helped Sonia to step out of her comfort zone, opening up new experiences and life skills that she hopes to take into her future. Though she hopes to pursue a career in IT, she intends to keep dancing as it brings her joy.
What was it like stepping into the world of NYDC – did it feel like joining a dance company or suddenly being part of a big, creative family?
Stepping into the world of NYDC was a new and interesting experience for me as I have never danced in this style of dance before. When I first joined it felt like joining a dance company but over time as I got to know more people it felt like a family where I could go to different people and they would give me tips on things I needed to work on or just give me praise for things that I do well. It felt really nice to get someone else’s opinions on what they think I need to improve on, and it stills does because everyone makes sure that they help each other when they can.
You’ve been working with Boy Blue on Gravity – how would you describe the energy and style of that piece, and what’s it been like learning from such iconic hip hop artists?
I think the main energy of this piece is very much grounded and earthy and involves us as a collective to work together as when we do I think it helps to elevate the piece and brings the true meaning of the performance to life which is about how we as young people connect and create relationships between us. For me, I would say that the main style for Gravity is very much hip hop based as most of the movements are quite grounded and involve a lot from us as dancers. This includes making sure that we work together as a team. However, there is a contrast of softness in some parts which I think helps to balance out the intensity of the movements and performance as a whole.
From Leeds to London and beyond – what’s it like touring the country (and even Berlin!) with a bunch of other young dancers? Any standout moments on the road so far?
Touring with other young people who have the same passion and love for dance as I do has been really fun and exciting as I have learnt a lot from other people but also about myself. However, I feel like it does come with its pros and cons as it can be quite overwhelming having to spend a lot of time with the same people, but I feel like at the same time it allows us to be able to take accountability for when us as dancers requirecertain things such as space which is why as a collective we make sure to highlight the importance of communicating to one another. One of the main stand-out moments that I think will forever stick with me will be the fist time that we performed Gravity on a stage to a paying audience in Leeds. This is because I feel like as a collective, we came together more and were able to feed off of others energy and therefore it enabled us to be able to make the performance the best it could be for both the audience but also us as dancers/performers.
What’s surprised you most about being part of NYDC – either in rehearsals, performing, or just living and learning with everyone else during residencies?
I think the main thing that surprised me is that even though we all come from different places around the country we aren’t as different as we think because at the end of the day we all have the same drive and determination to do well both for the company and legacy of Boy Blue but also to do well for ourselves and I think that this is something I have learnt over the journey. However, I think what else has surprised me about being a part of NYDC is that even though we come from different dance backgrounds we are all starting at the same point in our dance journey once we join NYDC, because we all do not know what to expect from the experience.
NYDC isn’t just about performance – it’s about growing as a person too. What’s one way the experience has changed you outside of dance?
I think being a part of a company like NYDC has given me more confidence in myself which I feel I lacked when I first joined. I also feel like it has made me take more accountability for certain things that I do. NYDC has also given me a voice that I can use on the outside because when I first joined I feel like I was more shy than I am now and I am truly grateful for the members of staff who have been there helping me along the way. Apart from this it has also helped me to be more attentive to other people’s needs and making sure that I am making decisions that will help to benefit everyone in the scenario.
For anyone thinking “that sounds amazing, but I’m not sure I’m good enough” – what would you say to someone who dreams of joining NYDC but doubts themselves?
I would say to go for it and enjoy every second of it because it will go fast, but I would also say to not restrict yourself in anyway and be very much open to the opportunity of growth as an individual but also as a dancer. I feel if you restrict yourself and only stay in the element that you are comfortable with you will only restrict the amount that you can learn from the experience. The same thing applies to doubting yourself. Being a person that criticizes their self a lot over every mistake and thinking “oh I didn’t do well in that” or “what if”. I feel like in some ways it has stopped me from enjoying thewhole experience so my piece of advise for upcoming dancers who are struggling with doubting themselves is if you were brave enough to take the opportunity to show up to an experience workshop and brave enough to continue taking the risk then there is no need to doubt yourself because you can do anything as long as you put your mind to it and truly believe that that is what you deserve because truth be told you most definitely do deserve to be. A final piece of advice would also be to make new connections with people throughout the journey and also remind yourself that you chose to be here for a reason.
National Youth Dance Company run by Sadler’s Wells perform Boy Blue’s Gravity on Saturday 19 July at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, this is part of YFX Festival across Sadler’s Wells and Sadler’s Wells East from Saturday 19 July – Sunday 27 July.
Grab your tickets here!
https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/national-youth-dance-company-25