Introduced in 2021, Dance completes Ardingly’s golden triangle of Performing Arts alongside Music and Drama. The department has grown rapidly, with over 150 students now participating in a dynamic programme that combines both academic and co-curricular opportunities.
Our beautifully designed Dance Studio provides a creative sanctuary where students develop confidence, artistry and self-expression. Weekly classes in Ballet (Royal Academy of Dance) and Contemporary (Rambert Grades) follow exam-based syllabuses, with Grade 6+ qualifications contributing to university credits. All classes and examinations are held onsite.
As part of our Games and Enrichment Programme, students can explore a range of styles including Hip Hop, Commercial, Jazz and AcroDance, ensuring a diverse and inclusive dance education. Lunchtime clubs such as the Lower School Dance Club and Boys Only Dance Session further enhance participation, encouraging all students to discover new skills in a supportive and welcoming environment.
For those demonstrating exceptional dedication and ambition, the Performance Pathway offers a weekly audition or invitation-only session designed for students eager to pursue dance as a career or at an advanced level beyond hobby participation. These students work intensively to refine their technical and performance skills and benefit from exclusive performance opportunities, including the chance to perform at Sadler’s Wells.
Performance opportunities form a vibrant part of the Dance calendar. The annual Lost in Motion Senior Dance Show showcases dancers from Year 7 to Upper Sixth, celebrating creativity, individuality and technical excellence across a range of styles. In addition, The Art of Dance — a collaborative showcase with the Art Department — brings visual artworks to life through movement, offering a unique fusion of artistic disciplines.
The department also offers enriching cultural experiences, including trips to Sadler’s Wells and New York, where students witness world-class dance at its very best.
Dance at Ardingly nurtures talent, inspires ambition, and empowers every student to move with confidence — both on and off the stage.
Co-Curricular Dance & Productions
Dance is offered as part of our extensive games and enrichment programme, as well as offering multiple lunchtime and after-school sessions. Contemporary styles are the focus of weekly games sessions, with our Enrichment Programme allowing students to experience a rich variety of more urban styles such as Hip Hop, Breaking and Commercial dance.
We also encourage the diverse cultural background of our students who take leadership in sharing their knowledge, and teach cultural or traditional styles of 'World' Dance.
Royal Academy of Dance & National Contemporary Classes
The department offers weekly Royal Academy of Dance Ballet and Rambert Grades Contemporary classes that follow exam-based syllabuses. The exams are designed to provide stepping stones for each dancers’ training, preparing them not only for potential careers within the dance industry, but also providing them with additional credits for university.
With Contemporary Dance leading the way for all educational dance programmes it is the perfect genre of dance for any pupil with an avid interest in the arts. Sessions will give pupil’s an insight into the technical and physical skills needed to work within the professional dance sector and well as develop their own choreographic and performance skills in this art form. Classes will include the learning of Graham, Cunningham and Release techniques, floor and travelling exercises. Once embedded within the co-curricular programme, pupil’s will also be offered Rambert Grades examinations in this style too.
Street & Commercial Dance
Street Dance now features within the educational syllabus and has become increasingly popular over the past decade. Breaking, Locking, House, Hip Hop and Waacking are just some of the styles that pupils will explore as well as being encouraged to embrace the urban culture of individuality, positivity, socialisation and unity.
Other styles of dance that may be offered include Acro Dance / Skills, Jazz, Musical Theatre
Strength, Fitness and Flexibility
The studio is often buzzing at the weekends, holding workshops with leading industry professionals as well as providing extra training and support for students in their external endeavours such as auditions and exam preparations.
Performance and Creativity at the Heart
Our annual ‘Lost in Motion’ Dance Show, held during the Lent Term, is a standout event in the College calendar. Entirely inclusive, this show celebrates a wide range of styles—from classical ballet to contemporary and hip hop—and features original student choreographies, often accompanied by live music.
Alongside this, The Art of Dance is another key annual event, showcasing an exciting interdisciplinary collaboration between the Dance and Art Departments. Here, students create original dance works in direct response to artwork on display, using visual art as a stimulus for movement and storytelling. This performance highlights the creative synergy between art forms and allows students to explore choreography through a fresh and inspiring lens.
For those seeking further challenge and performance opportunities, our Dance Performance Pathway offers weekly advanced sessions for successful auditionees to develop their skills, deepen their creativity, and present original work in a variety of performance settings.
Beyond the Curriculum
Our extensive Enrichment Programme offers lunchtime and after-school clubs in a variety of styles, with a particular focus on contemporary, urban, and cultural 'World Dance'. These clubs are open to all, encouraging students to explore new styles, celebrate their individuality, and connect through movement.
Students can also apply for Dance Scholarships at 11+ and 13+ entry points. Several positions of leadership are available within the Dance School, providing further opportunities for personal growth and responsibility.
Student Voice
At the beginning of each term, students have the opportunity to apply for the position of Dance Captain, which is held for the entire year. Awards are presented to recognise outstanding achievement in categories such as Dancer of the Year and Rising Star.
Academic Dance
Dance is offered from Year 9 as a weekly option, giving students the opportunity to engage with the foundations of the GCSE Dance specification through practical and creative exploration. These twice-weekly sessions focus on performance, choreography and analysis, allowing students to build both their technical and academic confidence.
At GCSE level, the two-year course develops students’ skills in three key areas:
· Performance – refining physical and expressive abilities through solo and group work.
· Choreography – developing creativity and individuality by crafting original dance works in response to a chosen stimulus.
· Critical Appreciation – analysing professional repertoire and understanding how dance communicates meaning and intention.
The course not only strengthens physical discipline and creativity but also develops transferable skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and reflective thinking, providing an excellent foundation for further study in dance and the performing arts.
