HISTORY

Lee Smikle has been a pioneer in championing and platforming the work of youth dancers in the UK since 2010. After retiring from a celebrated performing career working with World Famous companies such as Matthew Bourne and New Adventures, Lee Smikle found that there was a lack of high-quality Contemporary Dance training and choreographic opportunities for Youth Dancers in London. Lee developed SYD Shoreditch Youth Dance Company to provide artistic opportunities for these pre-vocational dancers to work alongside and learn from professional Dance Artists and Choreographers. SYD created many thoughtful, conceptual and renowned dance works and films that were far ahead of their time. Be sure to check out our Historic Project Portfolio.

SYD has been a non-profit, independent, youth company since its conception in 2010. The program has been run on a voluntary basis since January 2010, with time donated by generous dance artists and collaborators such as Michaela Elis. Michaela was our Resident Rehearsal Director during the companies time in London. With no premises and no budget to work with, the SYD company relied on donated or low-cost spaces. However, when practice spaces were insecure, the company took to the streets and danced within their local communities.

Lee’s journey brought him to Brighton where he continued his work with youth dancers by developing SYD:B. Many of the Guest Dance Artists and Choreographers that the SYD:B Youth Dance Companies now learn from are alumni of Lee’s original SYD company, now professional Artists and industry experts.