INTERVIEW: Osian Meilir

Introducing National Youth Dance Wales’s 2026 Guest Choreographer, Osian Meilir.

Kirsten McTernan Photography

1. What does it mean to you personally to return to NYDW this time as a choreographer? 

It means a great deal to me personally because it’s wonderful to be able to give back to an organisation that once gave me so much. But what’s much more important than that is what this organisation offers young people in the creative arts in Wales today and to be a part of that, to nurture and support opportunities for young dancers in Wales now is very important to me. It’s also great to be able to demonstrate to the dancers that you can have a career in dance in Wales and that someone who was once in the exact same position as them can return as a guest choreographer having carved out a career in that industry.

‍ ‍2. How has your relationship with NYDW evolved since your time as a dancer here? 

Since being a part of the company,  I’ve kept in touch over the years and they’ve always been supportive of my dancing, development and what I’ve achieved in my career so far.  Now I’ve returned as guest choreographer, which is an honour and I’m very excited about that. 

  3. Were you ever imagining yourself in this role when you were performing with the company? 

I never imagined as a young dancer with NYDW that I’d be invite back as guest choreographer 10 years later. At the time I was engrossed in learning and developing my skills as a dancer, soaking up every opportunity. I always knew I enjoyed making work and loved choreographing and creating movement. My approach to my career has always been one-step-at-a-time approach; applying myself to the task, job or moment in front of
me and seeing where that leads me. Now it’s led me right back
to where I started – it’s a full circle moment! 

4. What story or feeling are you hoping the dancers - and the audience - walk away with? 

I hope they are left feeling that dance can bring people together. Moving and dancing can be a celebration of who we are and our stories. I hope people feel moved in some way, in whichever direction that may be. I also hope they feel like they’ve experienced something that uniquely Welsh, but also belongs to the world. 

  5. Are there any specific memories of being a member that stand out to you? 

Meeting other people, other young dancers that were on the same journey and trajectory as me at that age. Coming from quite a rural area I often didn’t know any other dancers on the residency and feeling slightly like an outsider because I wasn’t involved in other programmes like NDCWales Associates, Rubicon Dance, or County Youth in Swansea. However, these barriers are quickly broken down as you begin to bond during the creative process, and I’ve made friends for life for NYDW residencies. I still bump into fellow members out there in the industry and what we gained from NYDW has gotten us all to where we are today. 

  6. What advice would you give to dancers in the company who might one day want to make the same transition into the professional world? 

Take each opportunity as it comes. Apply yourself to the moment and what you can learn there and then. Don’t think too far ahead, if you make the best of what you have in the moment then your commitment, curiosity and craft carve your path for you from there onwards… and don’t forget to have fun with it! 

  7. How has being a member, associate and now a choreographer with NYDW supported your career?  

My early experiences of working with industry leading choregraphers through NYDW shaped and inspired me to become a maker and performer without a doubt. Being exposed to such rigorous training and to be guided by top tier creatives set an example of how to work successfully and respectfully.

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National Youth Dance Wales will perform a new work by Welsh choreographer Osian Meilir as part of Ballet Cymru’s 40th birthday celebrations. 

Adfyw explores the profound connection between culture, nature, and our innate human needs to survive and belong. Rooted in the Welsh landscape and inspired by its many shifting micro-ecologies, the work imagines a world where the boundaries between human and natural environments are both dissolved and intertwined. 

The work forms part of BALLET CYMRU*40 Outstanding Dance Made in Newport, on 29 + 30 October. Tickets available here.