Hofesh Shechter has been appointed as the next Guest Artistic Director of National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) for 2026/27

Award-winning choreographer and composer and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Hofesh Shechter has been appointed as the next Guest Artistic Director of National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) for 2026/27. 

National Youth Dance Company (NYDC), run by Sadler’s Wells, is England’s flagship company for young dancers. Since its inception, 393 dancers have joined the company, working intensively with renowned dance artists as Guest Artistic Directors including Alleyne Dance, Boy Blue, Oona Doherty, Wayne McGregor, Alesandra Seutin, Russell Maliphant, Botis Seva, Sharon Eyal, Damien Jalet, Michael Keegan Dolan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Akram Khan & Jasmin Vardimon.

NYDC has already started its search for the next intake of dancers to join the company from Autumn 2026. The company will come together over four residencies in the school holidays to work with Shechter and his team on a new production for NYDC which will premiere in April 2027.

To find these young dancers, NYDC Experience Workshops will be taking place across England from April to July in the following towns and cities: Ipswich, Leamington Spa, Manchester, Blackpool, Brighton, Swindon, Leeds, London, Exeter, Coventry, Durham, Falmouth, Nottingham and Leicester. The final audition will be held in London at Sadler’s Wells East on Saturday 18 July. 

Hannah Kirkpatrick Head of National Youth Dance Company said, “This is a huge year for NYDC, we have dreamed of working with Hofesh for a long time and cannot wait to see what will be created when our two companies meet in the middle. It’s especially exciting that there are going to be some NYDC alumni in his team. A full circle moment! We hope to see as many young dancers as possible in our recruitment workshops across the country- all dance styles and all experiences are very much welcome.”

Hofesh Shechter said, “I am delighted to be the next Guest Artistic Director for National Youth Dance Company for their 2026/27 cohort. Over the years, quite a few of my company dancers and Shechter II dancers have come to us from this incredible pool of young talent. It’s such a vital part of our dance ecology in this country – I’m excited to get started.”  

This year’s NYDC cohort premiered current Guest Artistic Director Alleyne Dance’s new work Memory Keepers at Dance East, Ipswich on Saturday 11 April and will embark on a nationwide tour with a performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre on Saturday 30 May as well as a performance at Sadler’s Wells East on Saturday 18 July as part of annual YFX Festival, which celebrates and showcases the exceptional range of youth dance work across the United Kingdom.

NYDC Experience Workshops 2026 

National Youth Dance Company Tour Dates 2026  Alleyne Dance X NYDC Memory Keepers 
 
London  
Sadler’s Wells Theatre
Saturday 30 May

Leeds 
Leeds Playhouse
Saturday 27 June 

Cornwall 
AMATA Falmouth
Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 July 

London  
Sadler’s Wells East
Saturday 18 July 

Coventry 
The Belgrade Theatre
Thursday 23 July  

Sign up for the workshops on the NYDC website here: How to Join NYDC – National Youth Dance Company