Three 2025 Graduates Join National Youth Dance Wales
8 Jul `25
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After completing successful company tours, three London Studio Centre 2025 graduates are now embarking on a very exciting placement.
Following a rigorous audition process in February, BA (Hons) Professional Dance Performance students Carlie Harris, Tabitha Walby-Kettle and Tia O’Sullivan were selected to join a company of exceptional young dancers from across the country in National Youth Dance Wales (NYDW) 2025.
This summer, they will embark on an intensive creative period under the guidance of award-winning choreographer Yukiko Masui at the prestigious Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD).
Throughout the residency, the company will engage in daily technique classes, creative rehearsals, and choreographic exploration to develop a brand-new performance work. This new work will premiere on 25 July at Sadler’s Wells East, London, as part of the Youth Dance Festival (YXF), at U.Dance 2025 and finally at The Riverfront in Newport, bringing the company back home to Wales.
This year marks a special milestone for NYDW, as they are currently producing a documentary to celebrate their 25-year anniversary.
Carlie Harris
Carlie Harris completed her degree as a member of Seedtime Musical Theatre Company, playing Jennifer in the company’s production of The Witches of Eastwick.
Carlie says “NYDW means a lot to me, as it has formed me into the performer I am today. The company allows me to work with established contemporary choreographers, whilst being able to train with other young dancers from across the country, representing Wales together. NYDW has also taught me professional rehearsal etiquette, whilst having the most enjoyable time. I am very grateful to NYDW for growing my skill set as a contemporary artist, as well as making me more versatile for the Musical Theatre and dance industry.”
Reflecting on her time with LSC, she says “Despite being a musical theatre student, LSC provided me the opportunity to take Contemporary classes e.g, contact improvisation and Graham-based technique, which definitely developed my technique and confidence within Contemporary Dance, which made an impact in my success in the audition for NYDW. LSC’s options system enabled me to grow my contemporary training alongside my musical theatre training, which I believe I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do in other vocational schools to this extent.”
Tabitha Walby-Kettle
Tabitha Walby-Kettle completed her degree as a member of INTOTO Dance, the resident Contemporary Dance company at LSC, whose tour included venues such as The Place, artsdepot and Corn Exchange.
She is very excited to be working with NYDW, saying “Being part of NYDW means so much to me. It’s a supportive and inspiring environment where I feel happy, challenged, and free to express myself. I’m proud to be part of a community that shares the same passion for dance.”
Tabitha says the following about her studies at LSC: “Training at London Studio Centre has played a pivotal role in shaping me into a versatile, grounded, and expressive artist. LSC provided me with a strong technical foundation across a range of disciplines. Being a part of INTOTO Dance allowed me to have strong improvisational skills as well as a strong technical foundation which I carry with me to opportunities like NYDW.”
Tia O’Sullivan
As a student on the Jazz & Commercial Dance pathway, Tia O’Sullivan completed her degree as a member of Jazz Co, appearing in their ‘Myths & Legends’ tour in various pieces including Troy and Corvus Rising.
Tia said the following about her residency with NYDW and her time at LSC:
“NYDW holds a very special place in my heart, it’s moulded me as a dancer and pushed my growth alongside my full time training at LSC, and It’s steered me in the right direction of professionalism.
LSC has helped re-enforce all my technical training in outside residencies such as NYDW. It has given me the confidence to utilise all styles during any audition or rehearsal process especially hip hop, which has complimented and aided me well in past years of working with various choreographers on the residency, as they offer various styles of movement to each works they create on the company.”
We are very proud of this recent graduate success and incredibly excited to see the great work they will produce with NYDW. If you would like a sneak peak, have a look at the behind the scenes video below.
