Epistemology of the weekend: youth dance theatre

In this chapter Romans, Akinleye and Joseph remember their experiences in early Youth Dance Companies in Britain. For many young people dancing was a distraction from the turmoil of being a Black teenager in Britain in 1970s and 1980s. Dance also introduced the exciting new voices that were emerging around us in trans-Atlantic contemporary dance arts. Marginalized from auditioning for performing arts schools by cost and lack of access, as well as the openly racist aesthetic criteria for entry, their dance training comprised intense weekends of technique classes and rehearsals. Many young people from these early youth companies went on to have distinguished careers in dance internationally.