With just a fortnight to get to know each other, take part in daily classes, work with two new choreographers and gel as a company, the participants of Project Y Evolution can’t hang around. This well-established summer holiday programme from YDance always produces interesting results, and this year is no different. Although contemporary dance sits at the core of YDance, Evolution 2024 had a distinctly urban feel, thanks to choreographers Kemono L Riot, and Paul and Pauline Joseph. 

As well as giving the eight young dancers a loose-limbed swagger, the Josephs also challenged them emotionally, with new work ‘The Need’. Alongside some interesting group dynamics, with constantly evolving connections broken and forged, the piece called for soul-searching that felt considered and genuine. Likewise, with his new work, ‘Reflection’ (main picture), Riot had clearly figured out, in double-quick time, exactly how to get the best out of this newly formed group (or should that be crew?). Slick and pacey, with some exciting moments of unison, the piece felt squarely in the dancers’ comfort zone stylistically. Fuelled by snappy and engaging choreography, this year’s Project Y cohort rose to the occasion in fine style.

But that’s not all the evening had to offer. Demonstrating what can be achieved with more time and consolidation, three other youth dance groups gave the evening a national and international feel. Two companies from YDance’s exchange programme, Jugendtanzensemble from Germany and the junior company of Luxembourg’s Confederation Nationale De Danse had also made the journey to Glasgow. 

Filling the stage with brightly coloured costumes and some thought-provoking movement exploring human-rights issues, Jugendtanzensemble delivered an impressive piece of complex choreography in ‘Off Balance’. Perfectly attuned to the work’s soundtrack, which jumped from Björk to the beautiful piano music of Federico Albanese and fast-paced strings of Ran Bagno, 16 dancers approached the piece with the gravitas it deserved.

Conversely, the Luxembourg contingent brought a healthy dollop of wit to the evening, unafraid to slip into the most ridiculous of outfits (one dressed as a fish, two as fried eggs), bringing a fever dream to life on stage. Choreographed by Elisabeth Schilling (whose thoughtful work has graced Scotland’s stages on a number of occasions), ‘The Dream’ forced this spirited group of young dancers to set their cosmetic ego aside and embrace the surrealism; which they did, with gusto. 

Finally, a talented crop of dancers that make up the current iteration of the National Youth Dance Company Of Scotland closed this show. Again, exhibiting an urban vibe, ‘Made Verbal’ (choreographed by YDance’s artistic director Anna Kenrick) used text displayed on the wall to back up the work’s powerful message about the potential harm of staying silent. If some of the performers shining brightly on the Tramway stage tonight aren’t working in professional companies in a few years, I’d be very surprised. 

Project Y Evolution reviewed at Tramway, Glasgow.