Eden's journey began at age 12 when he first entered DanceEast to dance with an all-boys group called Boyz United, having heard about them from a family friend. However, he admits he "didn't enter with an overwhelming confidence in my dance ability, nor was I certain that I was a dancer".
Finding his confidence and identity within dance has been a gradual process that DanceEast has supported, from Year 6 to Year 13. When his mother first proposed that he join the Centre for Advanced Training at the age of 13, Eden was reluctant.
"I was sat in the front room, reluctant to move let alone say yes to joining," he recalls. "Deciding whether I wanted to put that much effort into dance or if I was even good enough seemed too daunting, however, I decided to give it a go and told my mum that I would try it, not realising how much of a home the CAT would become to me."
The CAT programme, based at the Jerwood DanceHouse on Ipswich's Waterfront, provides high-quality dance training for young people aged 10-18 years. It is part of a national network of just ten dance CATs nationwide. Students attend from across the East of England, with classes held in Ipswich, Norwich, and Cambridge.
Eden's weekly routine demonstrates the programme's comprehensive approach. He attends contemporary class on Tuesdays, focusing on spatial awareness and movement articulation, followed by ballet on Thursdays, where he works on "precision, timing, and expressing my movement aided by the notes played from the pianist".
Sundays involve a full day at DanceEast from 10:00 to 17:00, combining contemporary and ballet skills with creative and hip-hop classes that allow for artistic freedom. The programme also includes health classes designed to support students' physical and mental wellbeing.
"These have really enabled me to move in a way which is mine," Eden explains.
The training has taught Eden valuable life lessons beyond dance technique. "My main takeaway is that I am only human, as is everyone else, and this means that when I feel not enough or just plain exhausted, I remember that this is who I am; and all that I can give, and that must be enough."
One standout moment for Eden was the CAT breaking day, where students shared hip-hop phrases they had created. "When we shared ours, I remember how supportive and hyped the audience was – it was a moment that I will never forget," he says.
The sense of community at DanceEast is particularly important to Eden. "Upon every visit to DanceEast I always enter the building with an overwhelming sense of security," he reflects. "Meeting and speaking to people who I know get me for who I am has led me to make so many strong friendships."
The CAT has significantly shaped Eden's future prospects. Through the programme's support, including visits to dance schools during the Toolkit trip, he has been accepted into his chosen institutions and plans to continue his dance journey at Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
"I fully believe that CAT has granted me opportunities for my future that otherwise would have been almost impossible to access," Eden says. "Without their help, the options for my future would have been much different."
The programme also provides extensive academic support, helping students manage the balance between dance training and A-level examinations, ensuring they have options for both dance conservatoires and academic universities.
For prospective students worried about their abilities, Eden's advice is clear: "Don't miss out on the experience this scheme can give you because you don't think you are good enough, the scheme is here to get you there."
The CAT is part of a national network supported by the Department for Education's Music and Dance scheme. Means-tested grants are available to cover the £4,193 annual fee, ensuring the programme remains accessible regardless of financial circumstances.
Over its 16-year history, the DanceEast CAT has trained hundreds of talented young people who are now working professionally across the performing arts sector. Alumni include performers with English National Ballet, Russell Maliphant Dance Company, and various West End productions.
Auditions for the programme are held annually, with the next round expected to be announced around March 2026. The two-stage audition process is designed to be accessible and fun, regardless of previous experience, as the programme looks for potential rather than existing capability.
Eden's transformation from a reluctant teenager to a confident performer heading for professional dance training exemplifies how DanceEast's Centre for Advanced Training continues to nurture exceptional talent whilst building personal confidence and community connections.
