Do you wanna dance?

Holly Rush: "The CAT scheme has not just opened doors to dance, but many others doors that have challenged and matured me in ways I would never have predicted."

Aspiring young North West movers who are passionate about dance or possibly pursuing it as a career, are invited to an audition at the Lowry in Salford on June 11.

Aimed at young people aged 11-16, the audition is for potential entry into the intensive training scheme at The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training (CAT), part of the Department for Education's national Music and Dance scheme. In advance of the audition, youngsters are invited to open days and workshops on April 23 and May 14, to gain an insight into life in the scheme.

Matthew Rawcliffe: "CAT was such an important part of my development as a dance artist; it pushed me to develop my skills beyond technique and investigate further the possibilities of a career in dance."

Since its inception in 2004, the National Dance CATs have provided accessible and inspirational dance training for youing people. Successful applicants get specialised dance training in their area while still living at home.

The Lowry scheme offers weekly intensive training throughout the year in contemporary and ballet technique, choreography, health and wellbeing, and dancers get the chance also to work creatively to develop their artistic skills during the sessions and with visiting professional companies and in intensive workshops and courses.

Isaac Bowry: "At The Lowry CAT, I was taught many life lessons that I’ve applied to my career, my view on life and now pass on to the next generation of dancers I teach."

Alumni of the scheme – like Holly Rush (top) from Salford, Matthew Rawcliffe (above) from Manchester and Stockport's Isaac Bowry (left) have gone on to perform with companies including Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Motionhouse, Southpaw Dance Company, Jasmin Vardimon 2, Disneyland Paris, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre; VERVE Graduate Dance Company and more.

Application forms for auditions can be downloaded from The Lowry website from April 23 and will be available at the open days.

More info about the Lowry scheme here, and you can find out more about the national scheme here