The Grand Final BBC Young Dancer

Over the past four weeks, we have showcased some of the U:K.'s most

promising than talent. We've seen some excellent performances and all

categories have been closely contested. For the five dancers who

have gone through to the Grand Final, one of the biggest stages in

the dance world awaits. It will be brilliant for them to dance at

Sadlers Wells. It is an amazing opportunity to shine on stage and

show their qualities, versatility, abilities. To be seen by so many

people in the dance world raises their game. It will change lives. It

is a huge opportunity to bring all the forms together, create more

audience and to let them find out more. Once in a lifetime opportunity

to showcase talents. What they are able to achieve is dead exciting.

All the arrows of rehearsal for those few minutes of time in front

of a global audience. I am so excited to see them. The winners of

South Asian, ballet, street and contemporary dance class a wild card

will perform again. All of them will be looking to impress a panel of

leading dance figures and at the end of the evening one of them will lift

the BBC Young dancer trophy. I am so honoured to be in this competition

at this stage. Performing on Sadlers Wells stage is going to be

incredible. I'm just going to swallow it up and do my thing and

have fun. It's incredible to go out on this stage and perform alongside

people who are driven and love the art form as much as I do. More than

winning this, it is about the experience, the journey. I'm really

nervous but if I'm honest, it is an honour and I want to do it again,

knowing that I will get this far. Enjoy it. I don't want to look back

and have any regrets. Welcome to the Grand Final of BBC Young Dancer

2017. Good evening. Very warm welcome to

Sadlers Wells for the Grand Final of BBC Young Dancer 2017. If you've

been following the series you will know that we are in for something

special. Absolutely. It is only the second time this competition has

been held and we are thrilled to be back in one of the great dance

houses in the world. Over the past couple of years we have had a taste

of what it is like to take part in a televised dance competition. We had

a couple of weeks of training but for them this is the result of years

of training. It is embarrassing that you brought that up considering the

level we will see tonight. This has the potential to change their lives

but first, it is a celebration of dance and a showcase for five

exciting new talent. 21-year-old Jodelle Douglas was first to book

his place after winning streak dance. It feels great to be given

the platform to dance and express myself. To be in the Grand Final is

the cherry on top, I guess. In his final year at English National

Ballet School, Rhys Antoni Yeomans is the winner of the ballet

category. I've worked my hardest and done my best so now I've got to go

and perform and enjoy the moment. Shyam Dattani one through from a

competitive South Asian dance final. I hope I can represent it in the

right light. Nafisah Baba Is 20 and from London. She won the

contemporary category. If you can take something valuable from the

competition that is much more valuable than having the title,

though that would be really nice. Completing the line-up is

John-William Watson, who's been selected as the wild card. Going to

be incredible because it has been such a long and wonderful journey.

So talented, so dedicated and so young. I'm sure they will all have

very exciting careers ahead of them. No doubt. Before we get started

there are some further introductions. One of the questions,

how do you choose a winner? Especially when the dancers are from

four different worlds. It is for the best that we have nothing to do with

that position. Tonight are some of the biggest names in dance. Marc

Brew is an award-winning choreographer and has been working

with companies as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. I know what it

takes to be a dancer and to have that drive and passion. I will be

looking for someone who is committed to what they do. All those elements.

Kate Prince is a pioneer of dance theatre. Any dance, no matter what

the style, as an audience member, how does it make you feel? Does it

make you want to dance, ring you joy, make you cry? It can make you

feel anything and everything. Kenneth Tharp is a leading figure on

the UK dance scene. He has worked as a choreographer. If it makes your

heart beat fast and hold your attention, when you don't want it to

end, when they've got you write with them, that is a top performance.

Nahid Siddiqui has received awards worldwide. Whether it is street

dancing or ballet, technique or precision, athletics, drama, that

magic that somebody carries. Jasmin Vardimon has been creating

challenging, exciting and visually stunning dance for 20 years. It is

important that it is only a tool to articulate the in a world who

communicates through that. Kevin O'Hare is director of the Royal

Ballet. As soon as somebody comes on stage we make an opinion about who

they are do they have that extra thing that grabs your attention. For

me it is about that person that just smashes it on the night. Welcome our

judges. Jasmin, for the young dancers taking

to the stage, the tests do not get much bigger. It is the final. There

is a TV audience. How do they content with it? It is a big night

for them, of course, being associate artist here, I present most of my

work here and I know how special it feels to perform on that stage.

Beside that there is the process that brought them here. Through the

mentoring, the sessions that they had, the feedback, the exposure,

that journey is something they will have to reflect on and reflect on

the experiences they got and carried into their professional life.

Kenneth, if I can come to you next, I love the blazer. These guys are on

the stage, if you could give them some words of advice. Forget the

judges, forget us, remember to breathe every now and then. It does

help when you're nervous. They've worked so hard to get to this

moment. One that stage, now the huge pleasure you are bringing to the

people here. All looking forward to it. Judges, you are not off the

hook. We will be speaking to you throughout the programme. Our

judges. I would like to introduce you to

someone else. She knows about judging dance competitions. She was

the principal at the Royal Ballet and is the president of the Royal

Academy, please welcome Darcey Bussell.

Always an absolute pleasure to see you. You are on this stage two years

ago for the inaugural competition. We've seen these guys rehearsing and

I know that you are excited. It is so great to be back. I've had the

chance to meet them, see them in rehearsal, beautiful dancers, very

talented, very mature. What an opportunity for them, to be

performing here. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for them. It will be

a wonderful showcase. For the audience, it is quite a unique

showcase because we have these dance styles coming together on one night

on the stage. Yes. I love it. To see these disciplines performing

together. To see the relationships and the things that bring them

together. They are here for the same goal. They've worked incredibly

hard. They are inspired by each other and they are here to perform

together. This is what it is about. Performing to a great public that

cannot wait to see them perform. It's a dream come true. What a

performance we are going to see. You get to sit back and relax. We are

looking forward to it. Thank you very much. Off she goes. My

co-presenter has gone. Anita is very thing -- is in one of the best seats

in the house. And she is with one of them right now. Thank you. I look to

think of this as my post-match then. Welcome. You cheered the judging

panel. You hand-picked the finalists. Put into perspective the

level of talent we will see. We had an amazing and difficult claim. We

look at five brilliant dancers and choose one. Despite the fact only

one person walked away with the trophy I kind of feel they were all

winners. To make it to that stage, especially here, it is an amazing

challenge. How do you charge for such different dance styles?

Specially choreographed for them. Let's meet the first answer in this

young dancer grand final. John-William Watson. John-William

Watson started dancing ages 14, joining Phoenix dance Academy youth

academy a few years later. He is now in his first year of dance studies

at the Royal Conservatory in Belgium. Having impressed the judges

of the Contemporary final with his strong storytelling skills and

ability to connect with the audience, John William was selected

as the wild card for this grand final. Darcey Bussell spoke to him

between rehearsals. Congratulations. On being the wild card entry. Was

that the surprise? I was so excited to receive the news. I see it as

another chance to perform again and a great opportunity I have been

given so I'm going to embrace it. How have you found getting to know

the other disciplines, has it been inspiring? We are all passionate

about using our bodies to tell a story and that is what connects us.

There is a common thread between everything and that is what is

wonderful about this competition. Tell is the bit about your first

piece that you will be performing. It is entitled if not now then when.

I was inspired by nostalgia and how it can be a contrasting experience,

it can be beautiful and also quite sad. Thinking about things or people

you have lost so I channelled back into creating this solo and I am

excited to perform it. What a way to kick off the

competition. Amazing. Think of the pressure on that young man with the

John-William Watson opening up this BBC Young Dancer grand final with

herself choreographed piece. Next up 21-year-old Jodelle Douglas is the

winner of the street dance final. Jodelle Douglas grew up in Bristol

and developed his passion for Street Dance there. Now he lives in Cardiff

where a youth representative of jukebox collective company.

If you looks familiar it is because he made it to the category final

back in 2015. This time around his unique style and energy made him the

winner of the street dance final. What drew you back to come and

perform again in this competition? Just the fun that I had and the

experience, I wanted to do it again. And it will be my last time doing it

so I want to give it one more blow. You seem relaxed but the nerves must

be there. How do you work with that? I'm a freestyle dancer and it is

just on the spot. That is where it gets rid of my nerves but if I have

to think about something I get nervous. So I have just been going

over it in my head and I'm more comfortable when I do it. And

hopefully the nerves will just wash away. When I'm on the stage I will

fine. Tell us about this with your first piece. It is called art

within. That is just my own kind of brand, I'm constantly evolving and

learning so work I have previously done I look back on and think I wish

I'd done that. But in the meantime I'm just constantly wanting to tweak

and evolve to make it the best. What about that for storytelling.

Let alone all those body contortions, it gives you shivers.

Jodelle Douglas there. Art within. Next up for body popping to belly,

category winner Rhys Antoni Yeomans, aged 19. From Manchester, risk was

introduced to belly aged ten when he saw the musical Billy Elliot. In

less than two years he was performing the lead role in the

show. Rhys is now in his third and final year at the English National

Ballet School in London. He was the winner of the Ballet

final with a well chosen programme showing off his broad range, his

stage charm and presence. On the stage at Sadler's Wells there has

been so many great dancers performing here and now it is your

turn. Could you ever believe you would be here? I cannot believe I'm

performing by myself on the stage at Sadler's Wells, but many people can

say they are there just for them so I'm ecstatic to have been given the

opportunity. Obviously you have performed before but this is a

different pressure being part of a competition. I've had that challenge

of becoming a character and portraying that role but here I am

kind of expressing myself as a dancer. I just have to take that on

board and revised it is a competition. A very different

pressure. Your first piece, tell us about that. It is very technically

demanding. A lot of jumps and battery. But I want to get across

the sense of freedom and passion. And the kind of playful character

behind it. APPLAUSE. Beautifully done. This

final is well and truly under way. That is one man who knows how to use

a kilt. Performed by Rhys Antoni Yeomans. Next up it is the winner of

the contemporary category, 20-year-old Nafisah Baba. Nafisah

started ballet classes when she was three years old, going on to other

styles including contemporary, jazz and. She is preparing for a career

in dance, training with Chrysalis London. In the contemporary final,

Nafisah gave a performance to win the title. I felt amazing hearing my

name. I kept replaying it, thinking, that is actually me. Your experience

watching these other dances and talent, has inspired you?

Definitely. Especially the street dance. It is something I would love

to do. I love to incorporate things like that into my contemporary.

Could you tell us a bit about what it means to you. It is called in its

capable. When I was younger I was part of the netball Association so

it was between doing that at weekends and then my mum said it is

either that or you dance. When I was doing it, I was trying to imagine

it, I do still miss it. Absolutely captivating by Nafisah

there. Sportswoman turned dancer. You can see where the athleticism

comes from. That is a piece called Inescapable. We now turn to South

Asian dance with 19-year-old category winner Shyam Dattani. Shyam

began his journey at the age of two and his love of performing led him

to take up full-time training. It was his passion for dance and

technique that shone through in the South Asian dance final and won him

the title. I'm really excited to present my dance on the stage but

also it makes me mindful because I've watched some of my inspirations

in dance perform on this stage and to be able to perform on the same

turf is something I never imagined. It gives meet singles. What is

wonderful as how you tell a story. Tell us about that. My first solo is

a descriptive piece. Kathak is a storytelling art that uses

expression with hand gestures and in this piece I will be surrendering to

a Lord, the elephant headed god, who is a remover of obstacles. Kathak

grew from this as a temple art, so I want to share my devotion through

this piece. Captivating, absolutely captivating.

Delicate and thorough fully equal measure. The first round of solos is

brought to a close. I'm sure you will all want to give Shyam and all

the five finalists a massive round of applause.

We've seen them all perform once and whilst we give them a couple of

minutes to catch their breath let's handover to Anita who is with the

judges. Beauty, brains, footwork, enough about you. Let's talk to the

dance experts. We've seen the first performances. Initial thoughts? It

is their focus, how they engage with the public. Telling that story

through their movements. The strength of skill was outstanding. I

could not take my eyes off any of them. I suppose one of the

surprising ones was the street dancer, because it is such a

different forum, to be in the theatre, the lighting, the stage,

playing with that. It is so unusual for young dancers to be so exposed

on a stage performing. Have they risen to the occasion? The

absolutely have. Must be incredibly challenging to be on the stage. You

have the production values, the wonderful set and the lighting. What

I found really touching is each one of them was incredibly emotional.

Most of the solos they choreographed themselves, and there was a real

attempt to have a story, the narrative, use lyrics. I phoned it

incredibly moving. You feel incredibly supportive. Let's talk

about the commitment. They are incredibly young to perform their

artform to this level. Yes, the time that would have gone into rehearsing

this. They've been doing this since the beginning of the competition,

perfecting these solos. It is ours and aisles of training. -- it is

lots of training. I know exactly what they've been under, the

pressure they've been under. It is something they would not want to

miss. It is televised and are therefore a life. There is a lot

more dancing to come. Let's bring in the judges before we

move on to the duets. And for a dancer like Jodelle Douglas in

Street Dance we are more likely to see the guys doing battle but right

here on stage we are going to see them doing the Gillette. How

difficult will that be. It is a different skill and different

mentality vote up the brilliant thing about Street Dance, it has

evolved so much especially in the last 15 years. You're just as likely

to see Street Dance on stage in the Sadler's Wells as in a battle and

the good things about being a straight answer is that you can

choose. You can battle against each other, you can do a duet with each

other or do both. We are finding out so much and I think when we see

these dancers doing the Gillette we will find out even more. What is the

different skill set with a partnership dance. Doing the duet

work and the partnership is about to people instead of one and it is

about the connections they make between each other. They need to

build trust, and there is commitment between them. Sensitivity and also

the timing. How the weight is shared between them and also the chemistry

that they can have an share with us as the audience. Thank you both. So

first to dance is John-William Watson joined by Beth Emerson. They

choreographed the peace together. Oh, my goodness. The level of

maturity by these young dancers is astounding. John-William Watson with

dance partner Beth Emerson. Next to perform Jodelle Douglas and someone

that you may recognise. This guy was the winner of the street dance final

two years ago but he lost out this time around. To prove there are no

hard feelings he's except the invitation to be Jodelle Douglas's

partner here. Channing rivalry into friendship. They have created a

brand new piece. Mass effect. You can see the camaraderie between

the dancers. Jodelle Douglas and Harry Barnes. You would almost say

they are enjoying it! Next Rhys Antoni Yeomans partnered by Masato

is a Grammy. They are dancing a pas de deux.

Oh, my goodness. They make it look so easy. That beautiful display of

control and strength was the pas de deux performed by Rhys Antoni

Youmans with his partner Masato. Now we return to the Contemporary dance.

Deliverance is the title of this piece.

You cannot help but be impressed by these young performers. You're

watching the stars of the future. Incredible synergy. To bring this

duet section to a close we bring you Shyam Dattani.

Yes. Shyam Dattani bringing the duet section to a close. Two down, one to

go. We will give them one more round of applause.

Fen-3-mac impressive stuff. We are about to have a dance battle. To my

left I have a ballet heavyweight. To my right, we have one of the leading

figures in the world of street dance. I think street dance in this

competition is a renegade. It is always evolving and it is one of the

newest dance forms. It is amazing to see Jodelle Douglas and Harry dance

together. What did you make of that? It was very humorous and

entertaining. I grew by three key rules, education, entertainment and

enlightenment. I felt that showed all three things. You are right. We

did feel those things. How difficult is it to work as a couple? It is

that trust. You've got to be as good as each other. That enjoyment that

they have. It is about trust and strength, the skills being matched.

Explain the ballet duet. It was a complete contrast. That was a

traditional pure classic. Even though Rhys is the one we're meant

to be viewing, it is showing her off and that is the tradition in

classical ballet where the male supporter is making sure she looks

best. The one that is unusual in classical ballet is a male dancer at

the top of his game is not always a great partner. It did show that

skill. They had no problem there. How exciting is it for street dance

to be here on the stage? It is not just this thing that you do on the

streets. It is something that you work hard for. You've got to put

blood, sweat and tears into it. It is something we push our bodies to

do. To have that respect and appreciation and affirmation is very

good. From a duet points of view, it is how classical ballet works. With

all the solos that we seem today, I've seen these variants. Only one

more dance. It is the final round from the final five coming. It is a

rare opportunity for a dancer to have a new work created especially

for them. Are finalists are going to premiere the solos on the stage. To

begin it is John-William Watson. He's been working with Caroline

Finnan. They've created a solo. At the first meeting, Caroline was

keen to draw on a variety of experiences. Some paintings from

Francis Bacon inspired me. There are ideas of assumed identities that you

try to break out of. Thoughts about the subconscious. More delicate.

There is something similar with our styles and approaches so it is nice

to work with someone on the same wavelength. He's very good to give

ideas. I would love for him to take it somewhere I've not thought of. It

feels like a lovely collaboration. A few days later and with the

structure and choreography taking place, they start to focus on the

detail of the solo. I want to push him to find new ways of finding the

weight and the bones for that momentum. He has a lot of strength

in his body and what interests me is that as much as vulnerable moment so

you can be passive and then explode again. You can see contrast with

these small, intricate movements. Big, contrasting physicality. It

would be nice if the audience went away. You can push outside

boundaries. APPLAUSE.

How impressive was that! Choreographed by Caroline

Flint and premiered by John-William Watson. Incredible. Catch your

breath. You were the wild card. Just one week ago we knew that you would

be competing. How are you feeling now having performed three dancers?

It is hard to put into words. It has been such a wonderful experience. It

is just over so quickly. You have done everything you can. I'm sure

you have enjoyed it. Congratulations, go and relax.

Outstanding. Our next performer has given him the kudos and well done to

that men. Next up we have Jodelle Douglas who has been war working

alongside Nicolas Marvel. Unknown is the name of this piece.

We were listening to music first and trying to get a feel of a story we

could build together. Just trying to get him to adapt to my style of

choreography. You're just kind of moving, just looking at it, really.

I always get worried when I am creating a piece. I always find that

is the hardest. When we were rehearsing we were trying to build a

story and came up with a few options. We were going down the

theme of someone walking and they are lost and a bit scared and not

sure where they are. They get into contact with something and it

changes their perspective. We stormed through the start. Just

started connecting and licking and understanding each other. I feel he

took on board what I wanted to get out of this piece. After several

days work shopping, they're excited by the way the pieces developing and

the willingness to incorporate different styles into the dance.

Jodelle Douglas is much more liquid and flexible with his movements

whereas I'm more robotic so it is combining these styles together that

makes it such an interesting performance. He pushed me in styles

are not so comfortable with. His animation is perfect, so replicating

that was so hard. It was physical and mental, a challenge. Just to be

able to see our collaboration on the stage with the lighting and

everything, I'm really excited to see that.

Absolute magic. Choreography by Nicolas Marvel and premiered by this

guy, Jodelle Douglas. So cool, unbelievable. It is all a front. As

we know you applied in 2015 and got to the category finals. Can you

describe what the experience has been like to be in the final. Last

time I just missed out but it was still an honour to be able to

express myself on that platform. But to win the category and perform at

the grand final, I do not know, just overwhelming. We all enjoyed that.

Not a bead of sweat on the guy. Wait until I take my hat off! Well done,

all three performances complete. Give him a round of applause. Next

to perform is Rhys Antoni Yeomans. Rees was teamed with Morgan and she

has chosen music by John Adams. Short ride in a fast machine. I

first played it to him and he was, I love it and really exciting. Then as

we started to work with it, it was one, two, three, four, five. Very

complex phrasing. The dynamics constantly changed so it is dynamic

for my body to keep maintaining the power. I've got to balance out and

be clever. A lot of the movement and the coordination is different from

the work he normally does training. So he is learning new movement

pathways. Then he is able to play with that which is nice. Taking on

the material himself. It is looking good but we still need to put in the

correction of the timings because of such a confusing piece. You think

you've done it all because all the corn coffee is made to the music and

you realise there is a whole new layer of work starting. That is

putting in the light and shade to make it interesting to watch.

Nice and relaxed, that was good. I've had to not remove the classical

training but have it in the background and the four grand needs

to be something new and just more organic as a way of moving. --

foreground. Commanding the stage, Rhys Antoni

Yeomans. Created by Morgann Runacre-Temple. You have done it!

You can take a breather. It will may not be lost on you that some of the

greatest names in Ballet are in this room. Did that come into your

thinking on stage? Slightly! It must've been a little bit

intimidating but it did not show at all. Just being on stage is what I

love to do. I just had to forget about what was happening, who was

watching and just do me. Beautifully done. Well done, have a breeder. Get

this guy some water! Waiting in the wings is Nafisah

Baba. The first thing we did was falling,

not catching yourself but letting your body fault. You will see me

letting my body fall, letting my head go.

I'm being pushed out of my comfort zone, trying things I've not done

before. I'm pushing through with it rather than being like, I will do it

later. We can go before we fall. That is what we are partly trained

to do. She said, don't go to a position you know, don't analyse

things, it was difficult to just let my head go and let my body fall and

not get in a position. When they meet again a few days later the

piece had started to take shape. I could not have asked for more in

terms of the commitment and the readiness to try things which were

outside her habitual patterns of moving. It was incredible.

Just the way that she holds herself takes your breath away. Performed by

Nafisah Baba. Glad you did not leave your shoes behind. They will be

relief. You said there were no regrets. Surely you cannot have any

after that. S I don't. It is an honour to dance on that stage. Look

at the smile. You are phenomenal. Your job is done. Great effort. Just

one more dance in this Grand Final. To begin the process, Shyam is

trained to think outside his training. She gave me this piece of

paper and put it in front of me and said to make a shape with it. At

first I was quite thrown back and she said, take all the Kathak out of

yourself. He struggled with understanding what I wanted until he

could see for real but he needs to replicate that or use that to inform

the way my body is on the ground. She taught me to remove each

movement. Every limb seemed to be engaged in this movement. A week

later and things have moved on. The piece has evolved and changed. My

body has been manipulated into forming this piece and it is quite

amazing. He has embraced it and I respect that. He is likely, you can

mould him into shapes and he's ready for it. I'm excited for him. She's

focused on the technique of Kathak, but also will be moulding it in this

contemporary, more urban aspect. It is quite eccentric and I can feel

the buzz when I'm performing it. That is how you do it. Five

finalists. I know you've brought a huge contingent with you tonight. We

can hear them, we've been hearing them all night. What is the

overriding emotion for you? I feel like all my hard work, the

dedication of all those who put so much into my dance, I hope I

showcased it well on stage. I feel so grateful to be part of the

atmosphere. Well done. You take your place. Time to take a bow. Didn't

they do well? Give it up for John-William Watson, Jodelle

Douglas, Rhys Antoni Yeomans, Nafisah Baba, and Shyam Dattani.

Sadly, we cannot have everyone because she is actually performing,

but they deserve our applause. APPLAUSE. Well done. That brings us

to the end of the competition. Before the judges head off and make

a difficult decision, some difficult questions. Just before we talk about

this night as a whole, 15 premiers. How exciting to see brand-new work

by such dances on the stage. It is brilliant and energising and

beautiful. I congratulate the BBC for introducing this. It is so

heartening. It is great to be part of this. I think everybody would

echo this in the theatre. You've got to make a big decision. Sum up what

we've seen. It is wonderful to see them giving their best and having

the opportunity to perform on this stage. Be fascinating to see what we

come up with. Close competition. Let us see who wins. Before you make

that call, I'm sure you have some final thoughts. Yes. We've been

joined by a choreographer and director described as the world's

most popular living dance maker. Sir Matthew. You are a huge

supporter of this competition and a huge promoter of dance. What did you

make of what you've seeing this evening. I was adjudged to years ago

and thought it was something that the dance world should support. And

we all did. And we continue to do that. It is wonderful to see young

dancers promoted in this way. And having an audience they could not

dream of in the theatre, a television audience with so many

more people. An incredible thing for them and also in terms of the

choreography, we are seeing new choreography, I find that exciting.

There is another whole element to the competition. Completely and the

final performance, choreographed by someone else. I think we saw a

different side to them. I think what we want is to see the versatility of

these artists. Where they're going to go now. They are busy young and

raw talent and they're suddenly worked on and being tested out of

their comfort zone and whether they are capable of taking back on board.

Some of them really achieved that. It is interesting, certainly we saw

it with Shyam Dattani, pushing the boundaries of his dance form. This

is something you have done, to tear up the rule book. Is this the

future? I think is the job of a dancer to interpret the work of a

choreographer. I love to see them do their own work and you get a bonus

in some ways thing that come from them. But to work with the

choreographer is as Darcey Bussell will tell you, you must interpret

their work. And that is a challenge. It is a test. And that was a

challenge for him, a different style. To put you on the spot, or

would you give a job in your company. I was very drawn to

John-William Watson. I was drawn to the musicality and character, the

completeness of each piece. As a choreographer I was drawn to someone

doing their own work in that way. He's a talent to watch. Thank you

both. I have my fingers crossed for all of them.

While the judges are busy trying to choose a winner from those five

wonderful dancers we have a special treat just for you. Two years ago

17-year-old Connor Scott made quite an impression performing on this

very stage and he was named as the first-ever BBC Young Dancer

champion. Since then he is moved down to London from Northumberland

and he's in his second year of training at the School Ballet and

Contemporary dance. We are delighted to welcome them back here to perform

for you right now. Here is Connor Scott with an extract from a new

piece. Brave E is the title. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2015 BBC

Young Dancer, Connor Scott. The man they are all aspiring to tonight.

I'm just hearing that the judges have made their decision. The

anticipation, I know. I reckon we just have enough time for one more

performance. We have had solos and duets already this evening but

shoppers see all of our finalists on stage one more time? Performing from

Vivaldi 's four seasons, your 2017 BBC Young Dancer finalists.

I can speak I think on behalf of everyone in this room, we are in all

of your talent. Thank you to those wonderful dancers and their

dedication to their art. Truly an inspiring night. They are at the top

of their game and we have been mesmerised. But there can be only

one winner and that moment has arrived. Time to find out who will

be named the BBC Young Dancer 2017. John-William Watson. Jodelle

Douglas. Rhys Antoni Yeomans. Nafisah Baba. Shyam Dattani.

Please welcome to the stage the judges. Nahid Siddiqui, Kevin

O'Hare, Jasmin Vardimon, Kate Prince, Marc Brew and Kenneth Tharp.

And were joined onstage by Darcey Bussell who will make presentation.

But before she does they have had a very difficult decision to make.

Kenneth I'm sure would like to say word. Thank you very much. First I'm

sure all the audience here and those watching at home would like to join

myself and my fellow judges in thanking these astonishing young

dancers for an amazing evening of dancing. Thank you so much.

We also wanted to say what a brilliant opportunity this has been

and thank the BBC for giving these young dancers such a fantastic

opportunity to share their talent and their expertise and discipline.

We have had an interesting discussion but in the fight that we

thought something is cut through regardless. How a dancer makes you

feel. How they connect with the audience. And so even though we had

a lively discussion, from the discussions and scoring, one clear

winner emerged. It is down to me. It is inspiring to see such expressive

and dynamic performances from such young, talented British dancers. It

makes me so proud to be British. I am excited about this. The winner of

the BBC Young dancer 2017 is... Nafisah Baba.

Take it in. This is your moment. What is going through your mind? I

just want to say thank you so much to every single one of you. To my

friends and family for a never-ending support and making me

feel like I can be on top of the world. On behalf of everyone in the

audience, thank you for making us feel something wonderful.

Congratulations. All the hard work paid off. Please enjoy it. The

winner of BBC Young dancer 2017, Nafisah Baba.

I'm sure you will agree they were all phenomenal. Please welcome back

our fantastic finalists. That brings to an end our Grand

Final of the programme. A huge thank you to all our judges who have been

involved in every stage of the competition. Thank you to everybody

who looked after the dancers. Until next time, from all of us, good

night. Our crack team of experts

use pioneering research