TPD Young Artists
Collaborate Create Perform
TPD Young Artists is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of dance artists by fostering a collaborative, creative, and inclusive community for young people across Oxfordshire. Founded in 2018, with the support of Company Wayne McGregor, TPD YA brings together dancers aged 12–18, every Sunday during term time, to co-create original contemporary work, empowering them to find their artistic voice and build confidence through shared practice. Through regular rehearsals and performances at festivals and arts venues, the programme offers meaningful opportunities for young artists to develop their skills, connect with others, and imagine future pathways in dance and the creative industries.
Being part of TPD Young Artists gives you the opportunity to:
Develop choreographic, performance, and creative skills
Work with professional dance artists
Have regular public performance experiences
Discover pathways into advanced training or careers
For more information and audition details please contact: education@thomaspagedances.org
See what we get up to on Instagram: @TPDYoungArtists
TPD Young Artists 2025-26
FAQs
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TPD Young Artists consists of three terms per year and company members usually join September following a successful audition in the summer. Dancer remain part of the company from the age they join until they are 18 years old.
For example, if a dancer joins us at 14 years old, they will be on the programme for 4 years
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Yes, you can do both!
The TPD Training Programme is structured as an advanced training programme, focusing on honing contemporary dance techniques and building creative practice skills. The emphasis is on the learning process, taking class, and developing skill sets, without the pressure of performative outputs.
TPD Young Artists functions as the youth company of our professional company, Thomas Page Dances, emphasising collaboration, creation, and performance. The focus here is more on rehearsal setting, experience in a company, and regular performance opportunities.
Students from both the TPD Training Programme and TPD Young Artists come together termly for the Guest Workshops and other external projects throughout the year as/when they arise.
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TPD Young Artists are dancers aged 12–18 years old, mainly from Oxfordshire, with a few from neighbouring areas. During the audition we look for dancers who can collaborate, have strong performance skills, and have potential to be a well-rounded young artist.
Some of our dancers are looking to pursue dance in higher education with the aim of auditioning for full-time contemporary dance training. Others are experienced dancers looking to develop their contemporary dance skills in a supportive environment. Some are just beginning their dancing journey with us - there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to our students, and we love that!
Cohort sizes are deliberately kept small to ensure high-quality, individualised attention - a full cohort would be around 10 dancers.
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To join at the beginning of the academic year, you will need register for our annual auditions in the Summer Term via EventBrite (a link will be available closer to the date and will be posted here, across our socials, and if you have contacted us we can share it directly with you)
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To be part of TPD Young Artists it currently costs £105.00 per term*
We have discounts available for Siblings and Low Income Families. Fees are payable in instalments, and we also have scholarship Places are also available.
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TPD Young Artists meet every Sunday during term time at The Pegasus Theatre in Oxford.
Our rehearsals at 14:30-16:30.
Autumn Term 2026: September 13 - December 6
In the studio with TPD YA
Images by Oxford Atelier
On Stage with TPD YA
Images by Maya Cheung and David Fisher
Alumni
Our Alumni have gone on to study at amazing institutions for Performing Arts such as Northern School of Contemporary Dance, London Contemporary Dance School, LIPA, Italia Conti, Trinity Laban, Chichester University, Goldsmiths University and Central School of Ballet.
Beyond dance, some students decide to take different progression pathways (and that’s okay!) taking their studies further in different subjects at incredible higher education institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Bournemouth University, Sussex University, and The University of East Anglia.
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Ana
2026 Graduate
Currently Studying politics and international relations at Sheffield
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“Chaotically beautiful! Having joined at 15 TPD YA has given me the space to grow as a dancer supporting me along the (less than linear) journey.”
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Sima
2026 Graduate
Currently Studying at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS)
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“I had the best time learning from the friends I’ve made along the way, and I will always cherish the memories we shared together as a company.”
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Ruby
2026 Graduate
Currently on a gap year and performing with OYMT.
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“TPDYA gave me a safe space to develop as a dancer both in my skills and confidence when performing and choreographing. The people are genuinely the most talented and creative people and the atmosphere is collaborative and exciting. TPDYA is a group that allows you to create, share and grow, surrounded my friends and the best dance teacher; Thomas Page.”
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Florence
2025 Graduate
Currently at Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“TPDYA has the most welcoming environment and has given me the opportunity to create original pieces in a judgement free zone.”
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Maya
2025 Graduate
Currently at University of Southampton studying Audiology
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“The sense of community and having the opportunity to create and be experimental with our work was the best part of TPDYA. Of course, it was amazing to see all our hard work paying off at our end of year showcase.”
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Tiffany
2024 Graduate
Currently at Goldsmiths, University of London studying Popular Music and working as a music artist: Indini
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“Being in TPDYA was a massive highlight of my time in 6th form. I was studying music and had been dancing on and off prior - I found TPD through fellow alum Ellie and I didn’t expect to get into dance — needless to say I’m incredibly grateful I did!
During the training programme and Youth Company, I gained so many skills in dance and Tom really helped me believe in myself as a capable dancer.
A big learning curve was creating a music video and coming up with choreography. It taught me a lot about leadership, and helped me grow as an artist communicating creative visions. I learned a lot about myself as a performer throughout my 2 years with TPD. The endless laughs and lovely warm community was a highlight for me! 🌺”
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Ellie
2024 Graduate
Currently at university.
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“Absolutely loved this experience! I joined for my GCSE and A Level years, and it was one of the best things I did during this time. Sunday afternoons became a place to laugh, explore, have fun, and just play with movement. The welcoming and gentle atmosphere that quietly pushes you to go out of your comfort zone at this company is rare, and greatly missed.”
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Grace
2024 Graduate
Currently at university studying Media Production
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“Best five years ever. The collaborations and creating a family have been my fave moments.”
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Anna
2020 Graudate
Currently working professionally in a full time marketing role.
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
"I joined TPD YA when it first started. Tom was an incredible, down to earth teacher and I used to love our Sunday sessions! It’s always been such a lovely, talented group of individuals.”
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Isabel
2019 Graduate
Currently reading English Literature at The University of Oxford
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“Being a part of TPD YA was nothing short of magical! As an artistic collective, it offers so much more than just the opportunity to dance - it's a space in which the participants are pushed to consider what movement as a medium can do, how it can tell stories, how it might enable us to think about the world in different ways. Tom's teaching has so much of the mind in it as well, beyond what just the body can do. That was massive for me - I don't have a typical dancer's body, and never felt fully at home in a studio until I encountered TPD YA. But Tom, alongside my incredibly talented cohort, showed me it was my creativity that made me a dancer, not what I looked like or how flexible I was. By encouraging me to harness my understanding of dance as an art form, they empowered me as an individual.”
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Alex
2018 Graduate
Currently working professionally as an actor and writer, working as a freelancer with various companies as well as staging his own work.
How would you describe your time with TPD YA?
“A wonderfully open and explorative space, where I was able to broaden my artistic horizons and develop my movement in a space free of judgement. Meaning through movement, specificity and expanding the possibilities of my body. Favourite learning experience was working with text and discovering how powerful a storytelling tool that non-verbal expression can be.”
TPD Young Artists 2024-25
TPD Young Artists 2023-24
