Birmingham Hippodrome is excited to announce auditions for young dancers from the region as part of our exceptional Curtain Raiser programme.

Curtain Raisers provide talented young people with the chance to audition, rehearse and choreograph with professional dance companies. Successful applicants work towards choreographing a new piece of dance, culminating in performances on our spectacular Main Stage.

In partnership with Dance Consortium, we are offering dancers the chance to work with the internationally renowned São Paulo Dance Company. With a repertoire fusing classical and contemporary styles, São Paulo Dance Company is recognised as one of the main dance companies in Latin America.

The project will include an intensive Summer School leading to a performance shared at Birmingham Weekender Festival from Tue 25 to Sat 29 Aug 2026. Dancers will continue the project throughout 2026, performing on Birmingham Hippodrome’s Main Stage on Sat 6 Feb 2027.

This is followed by an exciting Curtain Raiser in collaboration with ZooNation, one of the UK’s leading dance theatre companies. Known for combining powerful storytelling with dance styles influenced by hip-hop culture and music, ZooNation creates bold, dynamic productions that develop the next generation of artists.

As part of the project, dancers will wow audiences by performing on the Main Stage before a performance of electrifying hip-hop musical Sylvia on Thu 8 Oct 2026.

This Curtain Raiser will be led by ZooNation Associate Artistic Director, Dannielle “Rhimes” Lecointe, an acclaimed choreographer whose credits include Into the Hoods, StreetDance 3D and BBC Young Dancer.

In a wonderful full-circle moment, Wolverhampton-born Xsia Blair, who began her journey as a Creative Assistant on our 2021 Curtain Raiser, now returns as Assistant Choreographer for ZooNation after working with Boy Blue and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Mathilde Petford, Young People & Community Manager at Birmingham Hippodrome, spoke of the incredible scope and ambition of these projects: “This year’s Curtain Raiser programme is an incredibly exciting one!”

“With ZooNation and Sylvia, this is the first time in Birmingham Hippodrome‘s history that we are doing a Curtain Raiser performance on our Main Stage on opening night of a national touring musical.”

“Working with two very distinct, cutting-edge companies from two different continents is an exceptional opportunity for young dancers in our region. Knowing the quality of the talent we have here in Birmingham, I have no doubts these performances are going to be extraordinary.”

AUDITION INFO

ZOO NATION CURTAIN RAISER WITH SYLVIA

  • Auditions: Sat 25 July 2026
  • Rehearsals: Sat 19 Sept, Sun 20 Sept, Sat 26 Sept, Sun 27 Sept, Sat 3 Oct and Sun 4 Oct 2026
  • Performance: Thu 8 October 2026 at Birmingham Hippodrome

To apply, please visit here.

SAO PAULO DANCE COMPANY X BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME & DANCE CONSORTIUM RESIDENCY

  • Auditions: Sat 11 Jul 2026
  • Rehearsals: Full Schedule TBC
  • Performance 1: Exact Date TBC, in The Bullring as part of Birmingham Weekender which takes place from Sat 29 Aug to Mon 31 Aug 2026
  • Performance 2: Sat 6 Feb 2027 at Birmingham Hippodrome

To apply, please visit here.

To learn more about our opportunities for young people interested in dance, please visit our Take Part page.