CAT – The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training in Dance
Are you aged 11-16 and love to dance? Then check out our Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) scheme.
Part of a family of National CAT Schemes across the country, The Lowry CAT is a part-time, pre-vocational course that gives young people access to high quality dance training.
CATS help identify, and assist, young people with exceptional potential, regardless of their personal circumstances, to benefit from world-class specialist training as part of a broad and balanced education.
Students train in the disciplines of contemporary, ballet, contextual, creative and performance studies. The programme provides them with a clear training foundation supporting them to be versatile technicians and artists, whilst giving them an understanding of what a dance career may look like.
The CAT is funded by the Music and Dance Scheme through the Department of Education, providing financial support for families through means-tested grants.
For more information about our training, visit our useful FAQs below or drop us an email at CAT@thelowry.com
How To Apply
We are recruiting for Autumn 2023 entry!
The Lowry CAT Audition is on Sunday June 11th 2023 at The Lowry!
Our Open Days are Sunday 23rd April 2023 & Sunday 14th May 2023 at The Lowry and Saturday 20th May Newbiggin, Cumbria
Any further questions, drop us an email CAT@thelowry.com
Or visit us on our social media:
Instagram: @northwestdance
Facebook: North West Dance
Twitter: @TheLowryCAT_NW
Weekly Open Classes
Looking for your first dance class or wishing to improve and build on a pre-existing foundation in dance with Contemporary Technique and creative exploration? Why not join our Open Class?
Open Contemporary Dance Classes for 11–17 year-olds will be held at The Lowry on Thursdays (16:45-17:45). £3 per class.
Our Open Contemporary Dance Classes allow young people to develop knowledge and skills in contemporary technique and the creative process, whether they are considering applying for the CAT at some point in the future, or simply love to dance. Email should you have any questions at CAT@thelowry.com
The Lowry CAT Taster Dance Workshops for Schools/Venues 2022
FAQs and stories
What is CAT?
North West Dance (Lowry CAT) aims to communicate and share youth opportunities from all across the region, utilising our social media platforms to showcase youth talent, educational experiences and artistic work. We are all about voice and connecting up organisations through a social platform, lifting each other up and developing long lasting networks, both digitally and in person. If you have workshops, performances or job opportunities you would like shared across our networks in the Northwest, please drop us an email at northwestdance@thelowry.com
CAT – FAQs
U.Dance at The Lowry
U.Dance is a national framework run by One Dance Uk which helps to improve and inspire dance performance opportunities for young people across the United Kingdom. There are 3 tiers to the framework, Local, Regional and National.
U.Dance North West is the annual Regional Festival for the North West, delivered by The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays. Our annual regional platform brings together some of the finest youth dance companies and young people’s choreography from across the region.
We’re excited to be holding our Regional festival at The Lowry on Saturday March 25th & Sunday March 26th 2023.
Who Can Apply?
UDance NW welcomes applications from dance groups, schools & youth groups from across the North West Region. We welcome groups who work in all genres and styles of dance/dance for film, working with young people aged between 6-19 (or up to 25 for dancers with disabilities).
U.Dance is for everybody and everyone!
Interested in applying?
Before applying, please read through our Regional Guidelines and Information: https://the-lowry-site.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2022/10/U.Dance-2023-Guidelines-PDF.pdf
For further information about the National Festival, please read here: https://www.onedanceuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/U.Dance-Application-Pack-2023.pdf
Once you have read through, please fill in our Expression of Interest Form by Monday December 5th: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdG0cFmcSgwuWrfQKf6K7PXLHUC4VaJurL_5bfPQqcfMc8BFQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Once you have registered interest, an U.Dance NW Application and video submission form will be sent to you. Return date for your U.Dance NW Application is by January 15th 2023
Successful selections will be informed after a panel review in January 2023.
If you have any questions or queries, please drop us a line at northwestdance@thelowry.com or call 0161 876 2104
You can also visit us at:
Instagram: @northwestdance /Facebook: NorthWestDance
