About CAT

Funded by the Department for Education Music and Dance Scheme, the Centre for Advanced Training is a partnership project between dx and sampad, South Asian Arts, which was launched in January 2009. The partnership is supported by a Steering Group consisting of the citys leading dance organisations Birmingham Royal Ballet, Elmhurst School for Dance, Birmingham City Council and Arts Council England, West Midlands.

“to help identify, and assist, children with exceptional potential, regardless of their personal circumstances, to benefit from world-class specialist training as part of a broad and balanced education, which will enable them, if they choose, to proceed towards self-sustaining careers in music and dance.”
Music and Dance Scheme Advisory Group’s Report 2000/01

Offering an innovative progression route for young people (aged 11-18) with exceptional talent and potential in dance, the programme contains two strands: one focusing on Contemporary dance (recruiting students from across the West Midlands); and the other on the South Asian dance styles of Kathak and Bharatanatyam (recruiting students from across the country).

The programme is designed to ensure that students have access to high quality training in their particular strand, and develop opportunities for students on the different strands to join together. It also provides opportunities related to dance health, choreography and performance skills.

The main aims of the CAT are:

• To provide access to specialist dance provision for students with talent and potential, without their having to attend boarding school;
• To select students solely on the basis of talent, potential and commitment, providing clarity about the means-tested grants available for the programme;
• To provide appropriate promotional materials and profile-raising opportunities in order to inform young people, their parents/guardians and their teachers about the programme and raise the profile of dance as a career option;
• To provide opportunities for students involved in the programme to engage with professionals working in the world of dance and providers of vocational training, so that they can make informed and appropriate decisions regarding their future.