Applying To A School

Why should I train?

Proper training will allow you to acquire the professional skills that will sustain a career in the demanding worlds of dance and musical theatre.

Choice of School

Read prospectuses carefully and do not be attracted to a school for reasons other than the quality of its provision. The school needs to offer training that suits your professional ambition. It is wise to look at a number of prospectuses and to target a number of schools.

Most vocational schools offer a three year full-time training programme. Classes usually start at 8.30am and continue until 6pm. Taught sessions are frequently followed by two or three hours of rehearsal for five days a week with additional rehearsals often scheduled for weekends.

Many vocational schools now also offer excellent degree programmes. On degree courses there is an academic element in addition to the practical dance training.

Preparing for Dance School

A dancer's career is uncertain, and it is therefore worth working hard to achieve a good grounding of academic qualifications whilst still at school. Dancers may often need to look for other careers as a result of injury, illness or other unforeseen circumstances. Formal academic qualifications will therefore help to widen the choice of alternatives. Full-time training for ballet dancers can begin as early as 10 or 11 years of age and full-time training in other disciplines can be undertaken from the age of 16 onwards.

Many children develop an interest in dance by attending part-time classes at dance schools throughout the country. These offer lessons in different dance forms and usually prepare students for the examinations of one or more of CDET’s Validated Dance Awarding Organisations.

Applying for Dance School

Entrance requirements to vocational schools vary and students should consult the prospectuses of CDET’s accredited schools to find out about the entry requirements for their desired courses of study. Academic qualifications are not always a pre-requisite but to have studied some aspect of the performing arts would be useful. However, dance potential, performance sensibility, physique and personality are likely to be more important.

As an introduction, students may wish to attend a Foundation Course or a Preparation Course before applying to a three-year programme. However these courses cannot replace a full-time professional training. Many vocational dance schools also have part-time, summer and short courses which will give an insight into life in the school.

If you require further information on vocational dance schools, applying to accredited dance courses, auditions and funding, do not hesitate to contact us at CDET on 020 7240 5703 or info@cdet.org.uk.