UK boarding schools offer fantastic opportunities for those passionate about dancing, with industry-standard facilities and ideal environments for aspiring dancers to improve their skills. To help you in your search, we’ve put together a list of the 10 best UK boarding schools for dance. All these schools have excellent facilities and exceptional dance programmes, but it is important to find the best school for you that aligns with your individual needs and preferences. Finding the best UK boarding school for you is our top priority – contact us to find out more about what the schools have to offer.
Bede’s School is a co-educational school in East Sussex, England. Bede’s is renowned for its outstanding dance facilities. The school has its own Legat Dance Academy where students are taught by world-class dance professionals. Students are given intensive training in the core subjects of Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz, with supplementary training in Creative, Strength and Conditioning, Tap and Musical Theatre. There are regular opportunities to perform at academy showcases or Bede’s Cabaret show.
Take the stage at Bede’s School.
Badminton School is an all-girls school located in Bristol, England. The school is known for its impressive arts programme that sees students going on to top music and art schools – such as Slade School of Fine Art and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Furthermore, they have an extensive GCSE and A Level Dance programme which allows students to develop their technical skills in a range of styles and performances. A weekly Dance Club is held and covers a wide range of genres. The facilities in the school are very impressive and well-equipped to support all performing arts.
Unleash your inner dancer at Badminton School.
Culford School is a co-educational school in Suffolk, England. It’s one of the best schools in the UK for sports, excelling particularly in dance. Students are taught a variety of genres, along with classes on artistry, performance, creativity and choreography. Classes are held in Culford Hall – which has beautiful and impressive Georgian architecture, but with all the modern facilities any dance student could need.
Choreograph your success at Culford School.
Eastbourne College is a co-educational school in East Sussex, England. With a recent £33 million development, the school has new first-class facilities including a fantastic dance studio. Alongside the GCSE and A Level dance course that students can take, there are also plenty of opportunities to connect with renowned dance companies during workshops and external projects. Eastbourne also offers Arts Awards as a qualification for Sixth formers looking to pursue a professional career in dance – where students are supported by an advisor and creative mentor.
Find your rhythm at Eastbourne College.
Mayfield School is an all-girls school in East Sussex, England. Mayfield has the reputation of being one of the best Catholic independent boarding schools for girls, and students have extensive opportunities in dance, music and drama. These opportunities include the school’s Dance Programme, which provides girls with the opportunity to learn and practise various dance styles including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Classical. Extra-curricular dance classes take place several times a week and girls can participate in the yearly dance show, as well as represent the school in local festivals and compete nationally.
Perfect your moves at Mayfield School.
Queen Anne’s School is an all-girls school in Berkshire, England. Queen Anne’s has a strong reputation for its performing arts, particularly in dance. The school has as many as 9 dance clubs, 3 dance spaces and also successfully prepares girls for LAMDA exams. Queen Anne’s even has its own successful dance company – Twilight Dance Company. Members rehearse weekly and perform at multiple shows and competitions a year. Annual masterclasses with industry professionals are held each year – with Strictly Come Dancing dancers as some of the teachers.
Refine your technique at Queen Anne’s School.
Queenswood School is an all-girls school in Hertfordshire, England. Dance is very popular at Queenswood, and the school holds around eight productions per year for dance and drama students to partake in. Lessons take place in the school’s in-house Dance Studio and are arranged around individual girls’ timetables. There are five contemporary dance clubs for girls of all ages. Visits to the Royal Ballet Company, The Royal Opera House and West End shows are also regularly arranged.
Step into the spotlight at Queenswood School.
The Royal Ballet School is a co-educational school in London, England. The school is one of the world’s best dance schools, and its international reputation ensures students receive an unparalleled dance education. The school offers state-of-the-art rehearsal and performance spaces including six dance studios, changing and shower rooms, a common room, a healthcare suite and gym, a Pilates studio and a physiotherapy treatment space. Students have multiple opportunities to perform in some of the UK’s best dance venues, such as Opera Holland Park and the Royal Opera House. The school offers a Healthy Dancer Programme to ensure resilient, strong and nourished students. Students are also provided career planning for a future career in dance in partnership with Dancers’ Career Development.
Elevate your performance at Royal Ballet School.
Strathallan School is a co-educational school in Perthshire, Scotland. The school has a newly built drama and dance studio. Dancers are taught by a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) qualified teacher and pupils can pursue lessons in a great variety of dancing styles – Highland, Scottish Country, Ballet, Jazz and Commercial. Strathallan caters to students whatever their level of interest in dance is – with excellent facilities for both students who want to pursue dance professionally and for those who want an enjoyable extracurricular.
Discover your potential at Strathallan School.
Tring Park School is a co-educational school in Hertfordshire, England. The school has a reputation for providing a high-quality specialised education which combines the performing arts with more traditional academic subjects. This coaching gives aspiring and talented young performers an advantage when auditioning for performing arts roles at a professional level after school. From Year 7 onwards, the school allows students to specialise in a Performance Foundation course before being given the option to take Dance in Sixth Form. Their facilities include an onsite theatre and five large studios – which are available for students to practise in their own free time.
They have several well-known and highly successful alumni, one example being the actress Lily James who recently received a nomination for an Emmy Award in 2022.
Dance your way to excellence at Tring Park School.
Keep an eye out for the next blog post in our ‘Best UK boarding schools for…’ series!
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