We’re very excited to announce that Walker Youth Dance festival will return for it’s 4th year this July. The annual ritual is a joyful celebration of the talent, power and creativity of young people in our community.
Now in it’s fourth year, WYDF takes place in Walker Park and is completely free to attend and take part in. The festival aims to give young people a platform in their own community to shine as well as reclaim public spaces for positive cultural activity. It offers our community an opportunity to celebrate and uplift its youth.
The day includes brilliant performances from our very own Walker Youth Dance Project dancers, as well as from local dance groups, guest workshops, community connection, and an ice cream van!
Save the date and put it in your diary! The festival returns Saturday 19th July 2025.
Check out this video from last year’s festival to get a feel for what it’s all about:
Get involved
If you or your group would like to perform, or if your company would like to sponsor the festival, drop us a line at community@companyofothers.org.uk.
At Company of Others, we believe in giving artists time to play, discover, and dream. While we’re not an artist development agency, we understand the importance of space and support without the pressure of output. That’s why Rooted in Movement was created. An artist development programme for movement artists who have lived experience of being Othered by the society we live in, are based in the North of England, with a primarily movement-based practise, who want to invest time in their practice on their own terms.
Last year, thanks to our partnership with Kala Sangam, we were thrilled to have been able to expand our offer and support even more brilliant artists through residencies at The Bricks (our home in Walker) and at Kala Sangam in Bradford, alongside travel bursaries, which provide resources for artists whose personal ancestry has roots beyond the borders of the UK. To support them in nurturing and nourishing their relationship with that place, land and culture.
In the words of our Artistic Director & CEO, Nadia Iftkhar:
“Our Rooted in Movement programme tries to remove as many barriers as possible for artists to build a stronger relationship with their practise and themselves. It’s been an honour to be able to witness this year’s artists’ interests, growth and practise, and has cemented my belief in the need for a programme like this. I can’t wait to meet next year’s recipients.”
We’re proud to celebrate the 2024 Rooted in Movement recipients, whose practices are bold, thoughtful and community-centred.
Mahshid Alavi
Travel Bursary Recipient 2024
Mahshid is a live performance artist, filmmaker, and facilitator from Tehran. With roots in Iranian dance and a growing multidisciplinary practice spanning live performance and film, Mahshid’s work explores emotional landscapes of migration, identity, and connection. Her travel bursary supported the next chapter of her artistic journey, creating space to deepen her exploration of performance and movement across borders and experiences.
In Mahshid’s words:
“The travel bursary gave me the opportunity to reflect on my practice. I returned to England with renewed energy and a clearer vision for the future of my journey. It was an incredibly nourishing experience.”
Yuvel is a Bolivian-British dance artist whose practice weaves together traditional Bolivian, Latin, and contemporary movement with an emphasis on collaboration and sensory participation. Through AJAYU Transitorio – a project inspired by Bolivia’s Day of the Dead – Yuvel uses ritual and performance to explore identity, ancestry, and the shared human experience. The residency provided time and space to reimagine the future of this long-term project and to collaborate with new voices.
In Yuvel’s words:
“It was a very enriching process. The residency sparked a few things for me that I am continuing to explore, and it feels like I’ve found the beginning of something.”
Megan is a Newcastle-based movement artist, performer, and screendance maker. Her work is deeply rooted in her lived experiences as a queer woman and mother and focuses on storytelling that centres care, honesty, and human connection. During her residency, Megan began exploring new screendance practices and continued to develop work that blends her community-focused approach with a growing interest in radical, research-led film work.
In Megan’s words:
“I was able to tailor my residency to my needs as an artist and mother, discovering a new model of working that I am taking with me into my future work. I collaborated with local dancers to develop my work ‘it’s a boy’ and we were met by friendly staff and a beautiful space every residency day making this experience really special.”
Residency Recipient 2024 – Kala Sangam Arts Centre, Bradford
Pietro is a Leeds-based dance artist originally from Italy, with a rich background in performance across Europe and Asia. Through his residency at Kala Sangam, Pietro began developing a collaborative piece with artist Xiaoyi Tong. Together, they explored cultural exchange, identity, and authenticity, using movement to reflect on what it means to hold and honour multiple cultural identities.
In Pietro’s words: “This residency was a chance to explore and play with dance with no pressure at all — just pure research. It felt like the first step of a really beautiful journey.”
We’re incredibly proud to have supported all four artists and grateful to have been a small part of their development.
Rooted in Movement Artist Support 2025
Our Rooted in Movement programme is back for another year and applications are open now! If you’re a movement artist in the North of England with lived experience of being Othered, find out more about the offer and how to apply. We can’t wait to hear from you.
