BBC Young Dancer - Episode Guide

The BBC turns the spotlight on the UK's best young dancers with a nationwide talent search to find the first BBC Young Dancer. Dancers aged 16-20 were invited to enter one of four categories - ballet, contemporary, hip hop and south Asian dance. In the first of these finals, five dancers compete for the contemporary category title and a place in the grand final at Sadler's Wells.

With behind-the-scenes access to workshops with mentors, rehearsals and an introduction to the world of contemporary dance, we follow the finalists as they prepare two solos and a duet for performance at the Riverfront Arts Centre in Newport. They must impress an expert judging panel - Kenneth Tharp, chief executive of The Place, a leading UK centre for contemporary dance, Jasmin Vardimon, artistic director of the Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company and Mark Baldwin, artistic director of Rambert Dance Company.

Finalists: Kai Tomioka, Kasichana Okene-Jameson, Jacob O'Connell, Diana Patience and Connor Scott.

In the second category final, it's the turn of the hip hop dancers to impress a panel of judges and win a place in the Grand Final at Sadler's Wells.

We follow them popping, locking, krumping and freestyling their way through mentoring workshops and rehearsals, on their way to present two solos and a hip hop battle on stage at the Riverfront Arts Centre in Newport. The task of choosing the winner goes to DJ Renegade, choreographer and artistic director of Indahouse Clara Bajado and, judging across all four categories, Kenneth Tharp, chief executive of The Place, a leading centre for contemporary dance.

Finalists: Harry Barnes, Jonadette Carpio, Jodelle Douglas, Sharifa Tonkmor and Kieran Lai.

The third category final sees five South Asian dancers perform two solos and a duet for a place in the Grand Final at Sadler's Wells on 9th May.

With an introduction to the two forms of South Asian dance represented in the final (Kathak and Bharatanatyam), and behind-the-scenes access to mentors' workshops and rehearsals, we see the dancers prepare for their performances at the Riverfront Arts Centre in Newport.

They face a panel of distinguished judges - Padmashri Pratap Pawar, a leading exponent of Kathak dance, and teacher of many students, including Akram Khan; Mira Balchandran Gokul, teacher, performer and co-artistic director of SANKALPAM, a national touring dance company; and, judging across all four categories, Kenneth Tharp, chief executive of The Place, a leading centre for contemporary dance.

Finalists are: Lakshmi Ranjan, Jaina Modasia, Sivani Balachandran, Vidya Patel, Anaya Bolar.

Five talented ballet dancers compete in the last of the category finals, hoping to win a place on the main stage in the grand final at Sadler's Wells.

Mentors are enlisted to help the finalists prepare two contrasting solos and a pas de deux, and there's behind-the-scenes to their preparations in workshops and rehearsals in the run up to the performance at the Riverfront Arts Centre, Newport.

They face a panel of distinguished judges - Dominic Antonucci, ballet master at Birmingham Royal Ballet, Christopher Hampson, artistic director of Scottish Ballet, and judging across all four categories, Kenneth Tharp, chief executive of The Place, a leading centre for contemporary dance.

The ballet category finalists are: Paris Fitzpatrick, Jenny Hackwell, Sayaka Ishibashi, Hamish Scott and Archie Sullivan.

Dance is in the spotlight as Zoe Ball and Darcey Bussell host the first ever grand final of BBC Young Dancer.

A nationwide search was launched last year when dedicated dancers aged 16-20 were invited to enter in one of four categories - the grand finalists will represent ballet, contemporary, hip hop and South Asian dance. Following two preliminary rounds and the four category finals, six dancers have been selected to perform on the main stage at Sadler's Wells in London.

As part of their performance in the grand final, each dancer will premiere a brand new solo created for them by some of the UK's leading choreographers, alongside a solo from their repertoire and a pas de deux, or in the case of hip hop a battle. At the end of the grand final, one will be named BBC Young Dancer 2015.

The series has already featured some of the leading names in UK dance both as contributors and judges. The grand final will be judged by a formidable panel of dance experts: artistic director of New Adventures, choreographer and director Matthew Bourne; artistic director of ZFin Malta dance ensemble Mavin Khoo; choreographer and director Wayne McGregor; English National Ballet artistic director Tamara Rojo; dancer and choreographer Kenrick Sandy; and Alistair Spalding, chief executive and artistic director of Sadler's Wells.

The series begins with the poppers and lockers of Street Dance as five hopefuls compete for the category title at The Lowry in Salford. Judging them are a panel of leading dance experts - Shobana Jeyasingh, critically acclaimed choreographer and founder of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance

company; Tony Adigun, founder and artistic director of Avant Garde Dance Company; and Clara Bajado a dancer, choreographer and lecturer, specialising in house dance and hip hop.

For one of the dancers a place in the Grand Final awaits with the opportunity to dance on the main stage at Sadler's Wells.

Street dance finalists are: Harry Barnes, Tom Hughes Lloyd, Jodelle Douglas, Kate Morris and Darren Hamilton.

The series continues with the ballet final as five more hopefuls compete for the category title at The Lowry in Salford. Presented by Anita Rani, the competition is open to dancers aged 16-21 across four categories - ballet, contemporary, street dance and South Asian dance.

Judging the final is a panel of leading dance experts - Deborah Bull, former principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, Matz Skoog, former artistic director of English National Ballet, and Shobana Jeyasingh, critically acclaimed choreographer and founder of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance company.

For one of the dancers a place in the grand final awaits, with the opportunity to dance on the main stage at Sadler's Wells.

The finalists are: Ryan Felix, Jade Wallace, Rhys Antoni Yeomans, Uyu Hiromoto and Oscar Ward.

The series continues with the South Asian dance final, as another five aspiring dancers compete for the category title at The Lowry, Salford, presented by Anita Rani.

The finalists in this category showcase two of the most popular classical Indian dance styles - Kathak and Bhatanatyam. Judging them is a panel of three of the UK's top dance experts: the choreographer, performer and academic, Chitra Sundaram; performer, teacher and leading exponent of Kathak dance, Kajal Sharma; and general adjudicator - judging across all four BBC Young Dancer categories - the critically acclaimed choreographer and dance producer, Shobana Jeyasingh. For one of the dancers a place in the Grand Final awaits, with the opportunity to dance on the main stage at Sadler's Wells.

The finalists are: Akshay Prakash, Jaina Modasia, Anaya Bolar, Shyam Dattani and Anjelli Wignakumar.

With the grand final of BBC Young Dancer just a week away, Anita Rani presents the last of the category finals, with the spotlight firmly on contemporary dance. Connor Scott, the first ever winner of this biennial competition, won through this category two years ago as a wildcard and the line-up promises to be just as strong this year.

London's Sadler's Wells hosts the grand final of BBC Young Dancer 2017, as five outstanding young performers compete for the overall title.

Presented by Anita Rani and Ore Oduba with legendary ballerina Darcey Bussell, the evening is a unique opportunity for these young dancers to perform in front many of the UK's leading dance figures. To reach the final, all of them have already won through three selection rounds in either ballet, contemporary, South Asian or street dance. Alongside the winners of those four categories, there is also a place for an additional wildcard.

Judging the final are a formidable panel of dance experts - Kevin O'Hare, director of The Royal Ballet, Jasmin Vardimon, choreographer and artistic director of the Jasmin Vardimon Company, Marc Brew, artistic director and choreographer, Kate Prince, choreographer and director of ZooNation, Kenneth Tharp, choreographer, director and former chief executive of The Place, and Nahid Siddiqui, one of the world's finest Kathak dancers and choreographers.

For the grand final, each of the dancers has been teamed up with a leading choreographer who has created a brand new solo for them for the occasion. They will also dance a solo from their repertoire and a duet or pas de deux. At the end of the final, one will be named BBC Young Dancer 2017. To date, only one person knows exactly how that feels and he is back to perform a new solo - BBC Young Dancer 2015 Connor Scott.

Special guests joining Anita and Darcey for the evening include artistic director of New Adventures, Matthew Bourne, Kenrick Sandy, artistic director of Boy Blue Entertainment, and Shobana Jeyasingh, artistic director of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, who was also the chair of the judging panels for the category finals.

Five contestants compete in the South Asian Dance Final of BBC Young Dancer 2019.

Five contestants compete in the Contemporary Dance Final of BBC Young Dancer 2019.

Five contestants compete in the Ballet Final of BBC Young Dancer 2019.

In the last of the category finals the focus is on Street Dance. At the end of the programme, the winner of the Street Dance category will be announced, together with the ‘wildcard' contestant selected from across the four categories. They will join the winners from the South Asian, Contemporary and Ballet finals to complete the line-up for the Grand Final. Presented by Anita Rani and Ore Oduba, the Street Dance Final will feature Hip Hop, Popping, Freestyle and Contemporary Fusion styles.

Five exceptional dancers compete for the overall title as BBC Young Dancer 2019 reaches its finale. Anita Rani and Ore Oduba present full coverage of the Grand Final as Birmingham Hippodrome plays host to this prestigious competition for the first time. The finalists perform in front of packed house including a judging panel made up some of the UK's leading dance figures. Competing for the title are the winners from the South Asian Dance, Contemporary, Ballet and Street Dance Finals together with one dancer awarded the judges 'wildcard' place.

BBC Young Dancer is back! Presented this year by Radio 1's Clara Amfo, it's looking for the very best young dance talent from across the UK. This time round, the competition is open to anyone aged 16-24 whose passion is dance. Performers from nearly every corner of the dance world have thrown their hat in the ring for a chance at the title and this life-changing opportunity.

Seventy-two hopefuls compete in face-to-face auditions – in ballet, street dance, contemporary, South Asian, tap and even clog dancing – for the chance to make it through to the final ten who will go on to a brand new dance residency in Dartington Hall in Devon. Across the series, the finalists will be put through their paces by leading choreographers to prepare new works for the BBC Young Dancer final in London's Roundhouse where the winner will be crowned.

The auditions are overseen by an impressive judging team with a host of accolades between them. Head judge Emma Gladstone OBE, former artistic director of London's international festival Dance Umbrella is joined by some of the industry's best talent. They are:

Award-winning choreographer and contemporary/hip-hop dancer Dickson Mbi, who has worked with the likes of Robbie Williams and The Black Eyed Peas.

English National Ballet's former principal ballerina Begona Cao.

South Asian teacher, choreographer and dancer Geetha Sridhar, with 30 years' experience behind her.

Gianna Gi, a commercial and hip-hop dance phenomenon.

Independent dance artist Annie Hanauer, a specialist in bringing disabled and non-disabled artists together.

Seeta Patel, a leading South Asian and contemporary choreographer and film-maker.

Award-winning multi-disciplinary artist Ivan Blackstock, who includes Beyonce in the list of names he has collaborated with.

Between them, they're looking for the ten most exciting dancers. And with a phenomenal standard this year, it's not going to be an easy challenge.

This week, the ten dancers selected at the auditions arrive in Dartington, Devon, for a week-long intensive dance academy. Awaiting them are Clara Amfo and the BBC Young Dancer team, which includes some of the best professional dancers and choreographers in the business. With time at a premium, the dancers will be under pressure as they're put through their paces in preparation for the Grand Final. As well as working on their solos, they also have brand new choreography to learn. And there's a surprise challenge in store for them too. Who will have what it takes to shine through?

The BBC Young Dancer team will expect dedication and commitment. They are:

Dancer, choreographer and multi-discipline artist Ivan Blackstock

Australian-born street dancer and freestyler Gianna Gi, in demand as a choreographer and movement director

Award-winning dancer, choreographer and artistic director Dickson MBI

Bharatanatyam and contemporary dancer and choreographer Seeta Patel

Former principal ballerina with the English National Ballet, Begoña Cao

Dancer, choreographer and designer Theo Clinkard

Movement director and choreographer Ingrid Mackinnon

Dancer and choreographer Ricky Jinks

BBC Young Dancer's artistic director Emma Gladstone OBE, former chief executive and artistic director of Dance Umbrella – London's international dance festival

Between them they bring a wealth of experience to the academy.

In the penultimate programme of the series, the ten dancers selected at the auditions continue to be put through their paces at the BBC Young Dancer academy at Dartington in Devon. With the clock ticking down to the end of the week, the pressure is mounting. Ivan Blackstock demands that the competitors focus fully on the task ahead as he races to complete the group dance, work begins on some brand-new duets and trios, and the dancers face the second of their Dartington Challenges.

Clara Amfo is on hand to see how everyone has coped with the demands of the week and to find out how things are progressing. The dance academy draws to a close as everyone's attention turns to the final where one of the dancers will be crowned BBC Young Dancer 2022.

The BBC Young Dancer team are:

Dancer, choreographer and multi-discipline artist Ivan Blackstock

Australian-born street dancer and freestyler Gianna Gi, in demand as a choreographer and movement director

Award-winning dancer, choreographer and artistic director Dickson MBI

Bharatanatyam and contemporary dancer and choreographer Seeta Patel

Former principal ballerina with the English National Ballet, Begoña Cao

Dancer, choreographer and designer Theo Clinkard

Dancers, choreographers and educators Sade and Kristina Alleyne

BBC Young Dancer's artistic director Emma Gladstone OBE, former chief executive and artistic director of Dance Umbrella – London's international dance festival

Clara Amfo presents the final of BBC Young Dancer 2022, as ten talented dancers compete for the coveted title at London's iconic Roundhouse.

As well as perfoming their own solos, the dancers will also premiere brand new duets and trios, and the final will culminate with a high-octane new group work for the whole company created by dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Ivan Blackstock.

The final also sees the return of 2019 winner Max Revell for a very special performance. Max is currently dancing for the Akram Khan Company in the new production of Jungle Book.