Location: The Vyne School, Basingstoke

Dance Style/s: Hip Hop and Street

Age Group: 14-21 years

Company Size: 19

Practice Regime: 30 x weekly rehearsals, and 2 x 4-day intensive choreographic commissions with professional choreographers in October and February half-terms, plus performances at approximately 8-10 youth dance platform events across the region.

Entry Requirements: Acceptance through auditions held every July.

Experience and/or Qualifications Offered: 1 year’s place as a company member. This year NoCo are also looking for young people who are able to commit to the company for 2 years to include a summer project in 2009. NoCo is one of the leading county youth dance companies.

Dance History:

Performances 2008:

Cutting Through, Youth Dance England – Sat 23rd February

Bedales Dance Platform, Hampshire – Sun 2nd March

Chances for Change, Southampton FC – Tues 8th March

Battle, Farnham Maltings – Sat 8th March

Shake the Room, Basingstoke – Sat 29th March

Dance For Life, Red Cross Event – Sat 26th April

Hothouse, The Point – Sun 15th June

Performers:

Amy Black: Hey I'm Amy and i've been part of NoCo for 4 years now. I have learnt so much and it has widened my understanding of hip hop history so much. I'm really excited for getting through to the festival and think it will be a great experience.

Luannsa Goodman: I have been dancing for 8 years doing a variety of styles and a couple of years ago became interested in Hip Hop. I did a couple of workshops before i found NoCo and since joining have learned so much about different styles like popping, locking and breaking.

Chris Lewin: I have been a member of Noco since it began 3 years ago. I have found the being a member of Noco is very beneficial to me because in the October and February half terms a professional Choreographer works with us and we learn a new piece of repertiore. This is a great experience because any questions we have can be answered and we learn new styles and hone our previous skills

Jorden Maney: Hi my name is Jorden and i go to Cranbourne School. In my spare time i enjoy doing drama and lots of different dance styles. I joined NoCo this year and love Hip Hop dance styles because they are so expressive.

Jamie Morris: As well as NoCo i also dance latin, ballroom, disco and rock 'n' roll. NoCo has given me a chances to dance with many different people, learn from fantastic choreographers and perform in events such as Breakin' Convention. This year i will be doing a course so that i can teach dancing too!

Mia Pearce: NoCo has given me a fantastic opportunity to learn a new and varied dance style that is hugely recognised throughout the world. I have gained a better knowledge and understanding of the different elements of Hip Hop and hope to continue learning for many years to come!

Jess Robinson: I love to dance and i've done loads of different styles since i was 3. My favourite style is street because i can do it with attitude!

Simone Such: I'm 15 years old and only joined NoCo this year. It has taught me so much and has inspired me so much, dancing is my passion.

Clare Neave: Hi my name’s Clare and I have been dancing since I was 6, experiencing many different styles. My personal favourite being street, and now I’ve been a company member of NoCo for 2 years. I am hoping to progress in this style and to go onto do something in dance as a career.

Azariah: I have been in noco for 3 years. Noco has given me such enthusiasm for street and hip hop dance. Being part of noco has encouraged me to follow a career in dance, i will be attending dance college in september!

Tasha: I'm Tasha and i'm 17 years old. I have been dancing since i was 3 years old and found out about hip hop and noco through friends a couple of years of years ago. I have really enjoyed working with fantastic choreographers to make our dance pieces and performing them at many different great venues and events like youth dance england .

Ollie De Lisle: I'm Ollie and i started noco last year and since then have enjoyed it so much. I have learnt a lot from our professional choreographers and weekly training sessions. I have made a lot of new friends and learned a lot about hip hop, i can't wait till youth dance england !

Hannah Jubin: Hip hop has really inspired me, not just as a dancer but also with my fashion design work at college. Recently i designed the new NoCo logo which is now used in all our publicity. I feel very proud to have been part noco.

Ella Teasedale: Hi i'm ella! I have been doing tap, ballet, modern and acro since i was 9 years old. I have been doing street and hip hop dance for 2 years and have really improved. I even use my acro skills when freestyling!

Lisa: I'm Lisa and I'm the youngest in NoCo! I have had a great time over the last couple of years and feel that i have grown as a dancer and freestyler. With NoCo it feels like a big family and i love it when we perform.

NoCo is Hampshire Dance's hip hop youth dance company. Please refer to HYDC (Hampshire Youth Dance Company) for full interview.

A few extra words from NoCo...

How does your dance group come up with ideas and choreography?

We try to see as much hip hop and street dance as we can, whether it be live performances or videos. We also learn about Hip Hop history and culture with Vikkie Steege, or rehearsal director, and this influences us a lot in what we do.

HYDC (Hampshire Youth Dance Company)