ARTISTIC DIRECTION
YOUNG AMICI
Young Amici was founded in 2016 from the need to provide Amici’s inclusive methods to the younger community. Amici Dance Theatre Company is a unique company integrating disabled and non-disabled artists and performers. Founded by Wolfgang Stange in 1980, its productions and workshops have had a major impact worldwide, challenging conventional attitudes about disability and the arts. Led by Amici members, Young Amici shares the same ethos as its parent company, providing a safe space where individual creativity can develop.
Young Amici runs a weekly class for dancers 11-25 years old of all abilities, bringing them an opportunity to learn contemporary dance technique and improvisation and meet other young dancers to create new work. It also provides personal mentorship for university students and those conducting research.
Since its start, Young Amici has grown from strength to strength, performing at various venues in London and regularly being commissioned to create new choreographic work. In December 2019 the company was invited to Lithuania to devise and deliver their first artist lab with sponsorship from Kaunas 2022.
March 2020 saw Young Amici performing at Laban after being shortlisted for the London regionals of U.Dance, the UK's leading platform for young people in dance.
When the pandemic hit, all the activities moved online allowing the company to connect with young people both nationally and internationally. As a part of the pandemic response, the Summer School program was developed, providing dancers with opportunities to learn from top industry professionals such as Federico Bonelli, Tom Whitehead and Eric Underwood from the Royal Ballet, Andrius Gâucas from The Globe delivering voice and drama training, and Caroline Scott leading Feldenkrais sessions. Our unique summer program received further funding to continue as an in-person and online blended training on the summer of 2021.
Young Amici returned to the studio in September 2021 and in March 2022 the LEVEL Centre provided the company with a residency to explore ideas for the creation of a new piece in their Derbyshire venue.
Young Amici has also created a bespoke development program to provide its members creative and leadership tools to continue their journeys beyond their company years.
As the artistic director, I am passionate to create and deliver experiences for young dancers who would be otherwise excluded and that are equivalent to those exclusively available to non-disabled dancers.