'Wild-card' 17-year-old Contemporary dancer wins first ever BBC Young Dancer

• Connor Scott announced the winner of BBC Young Dancer 2015 live on BBC Two
• Six world premieres by emerging choreographers broadcast live on BBC Two 
• Award presented by international ballet star Carlos Acosta
• Zoe Ball and Clemency Burton-Hill presented with ex-Royal Ballet Principal Darcey Bussell providing her dance expertise throughout the evening

Seventeen-year-old contemporary dancer Connor Scott, from Northumberland, has been named the first ever ‘BBC Young Dancer’. He was crowned the winner live on BBC Two at Sadler’s Wells after being judged by a panel of top names in dance. Although he didn't win the Contemporary Final, he was awarded one of two 'wild-card' places in the Grand Final of BBC Young Dancer, which went to two outstanding dancers from across all categories.

Shining the spotlight on the next generation of British dance talent, BBC Young Dancer 2015 was launched last year by BBC Director General, Tony Hall as part of his ‘greatest commitment to arts for a generation’. He announced this will be the first of many years of the award.

The inaugural winner, Connor Scott received his award from international ballet star and BBC Young Dancer ambassador Carlos Acosta. Broadcast at 7pm on BBC Two (and available for 30 days on iPlayer), the programme was presented by Zoe Ball and Clemency Burton-Hill with former Royal Ballet Principal Darcey Bussell providing her dance expertise throughout the evening.

The six finalists performed in front of a panel of leading dance experts: Artistic Director of New Adventures, Choreographer and Director Matthew Bourne; Artistic Director of ZFin Malta 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.

Competing for the title of BBC Young Dancer 2015, each finalist premiered a new piece created for them by emerging choreographers: Tony Adigun (for Kieran Lai), Alexander Whitley (for Jacob O'Connell), Kristen McNally (for Archie Sullivan), Brooke Milliner (for Harry Barnes), Patricia Okenwa (for Connor Scott) and Urja Desai Thakore (for Vidya Patel). They were judged on technical skill, creative expression and overall performance.

Connor Scott commented: "Just to share the stage with such talented dancers is one thing, but to win the competition is amazing!"

Connor Scott performed three pieces: Ride, a piece specially created for him by choreographer Patricia Okenwa; Get Up choreographed by Connor himself; and a duet, Blood Snow, performed and co-choreographed with Meshach Henry. Connor started dancing Latin and Ballroom when he was three but moved on to other styles including breakdancing, street, house and locking. He started training in ballet and contemporary four years ago after gaining a place on the Dance City CAT programme. Since then he has worked alongside choreographers such as Bawren Tavaziva, Renaud Wiser and this year Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui after gaining a place in the National Youth Dance Company. He has just auditioned successfully for a major London school and will start full-time training in September.

The BBC Young Dancer finalists were: Harry Barnes (18), Jacob O’Connell (17), Kieran Lai (18), Vidya Patel (19), Connor Scott (17) and Archie Sullivan (18).

Please see below for biographies of all finalists.

Four programmes documenting the determination of 20 of Britain’s most talented young dancers were broadcast this April and May on BBC Four and are available to watch on BBC iPlayer for 30 days. Cameras followed their journey as they competed for the chance to perform in the Grand Final in four categories: Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary and South Asian dance.

For more information on BBC Young Dancer visit bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/bbc-young-dancer
BBC Young Dancer 2015 is part of the BBC Year of Song and Dance and is also a key moment in Get Creative, a year-long BBC celebration of British arts, culture and creativity in partnership with What Next. To find out more ways of participating in the arts visit #bbcgetcreative/ bbc.co.uk/getcreative

HARRY BARNES - BIOGRAPHY
Harry comes from Wirral, Merseyside and he began attending street dance classes at the age of 12. Although he dances almost all of the styles in this genre, his passion is for popping and locking. Harry thrives on exploring and interpreting music through movement and enjoys exchanging with other dancers in training or in battle. Harry has won many titles in dance battles and competitions across the UK and hopes to progress in this area.

JACOB O’CONNELL - BIOGRAPHY
Jacob started contemporary dance at Swindon Dance CAT scheme when he was 11. He trained there for five years whilst also performing with Swindon Youth Dance Company. Jacob successfully auditioned for Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary at the age of 15 and he is currently in his second year. During his time at Rambert, Jacob has toured with Ross McKim’s Moving Vision company and has performed at Central St Martins, Royal Opera House and Lillian Baylis Studio Theatre.

KIERAN LAI – BIOGRAPHY
Kieran is from Essex and started learning to dance at the age of 13 from You Tube dance videos that inspired him. Since then he has been training with Kayzar Dance School and has achieved many great things such as starring in a movie called All Stars 2013 and becoming a Britain's Got Talent 2014 Semi-Finalist. Kieran’s future aims are high and he wishes to travel the world to perform and compete as a dancer.

VIDYA PATEL - BIOGRAPHY
Vidya comes from Birmingham, where she participated in classical Indian dance styles from an early age with the support of her parents and two older sisters. Vidya graduated last year from the Centre of Advanced Training at Birmingham DanceXchange. She is training under the guidance of Sujata Banerjee at the Sujata Banerjee Dance School based in London. Vidya is now committed to training further in Kathak; she intends to further her career by studying a dance degree at University. Ultimately, she aims to develop her career as a dancer, choreographer and producer in the performing arts.

CONNOR SCOTT – BIOGRAPHY
Connor started dancing Latin and Ballroom when he was three but moved on to other styles including breakdancing, street, house and locking. He started training in ballet and contemporary four years ago after gaining a place on the Dance City CAT programme. Since then he has worked alongside choreographers such as Bawren Tavaziva, Renaud Wiser and this year Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui after gaining a place in the National Youth Dance Company. He has just auditioned successfully for a major London school and will start full-time training in September.

ARCHIE SULLIVAN – BIOGRAPHY
Archie is from Streatham in London. He attended the Arts Educational School in London where he learned tap, modern/jazz, hip hop and musical theatre. Only towards the end of secondary school did he find his passion and love for ballet. Archie is now in his third and final year of training. Archie was in the original cast of Oliver in the West End as one of the gang members and had a fantastic experience performing alongside Rowan Atkinson. He was one of the youngest boys to perform with the London Children's Ballet. Last year Archie danced the role of Franz in English National Ballet 2, which toured around England. He also loves skateboarding and used to spend all his weekends at Brixton skate-park.

The Grand Final and each performance from the category Final is available to watch in full at bbc.co.uk/youngdancer and available to catch up on iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast.

Notes to Editors

The project is part of the BBC’s continuing commitment to the arts and support of new artists joining BBC Young Musician as a showcase for talented and dedicated young performers, and is also a part of BBC Four’s Year of Song and Dance, a year of programming exploring the extraordinary power of song and dance across a whole spectrum of eras and styles.

BBC Young Dancer is managed and produced by BBC Cymru Wales. The Series Editor is Paul Bullock and the Commissioning Editor Jan Younghusband (Head of Commissions, Music and Events TV) for Controller of BBC Two Kim Shillinglaw, and Editor of BBC Four Cassian Harrison.

BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Asian Network will also broadcast complementary programming around the time of the Grand Final.

KD 

Related BBC Links

• BBC Young Dancer
• BBC Get Creative