2004 – The National Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) established

The National Centres for Advanced Training, known as CATs, were established in 2004 by Tony Blair’s Labour government. Using funds from the Department of Education’s Music and Dance Scheme, the centres exist to identify and assist children with exceptional potential within music and dance. Currently there are 12 CATs in England that provide world-class specialist training to young people. Each centre focuses on a particular discipline, for example classical ballet, contemporary dance, circus arts or South Asian dance, whilst still affording the young person a broad and balanced education. This approach means the centres enable the selected young people to proceed towards a self-sustaining career in music and dance. The centres are: the Academy of Northern Ballet; DanceEast; DanceXchange; Dance4; Dance City; London Youth Circus; The Lowry; Northern School of Contemporary Dance; The Place; Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; Swindon Dance Exeter Contemporary Programme; Swindon Dance Swindon Contemporary and Urban Programmes.