Widening participation
One of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama’s key aims is to increase and secure access to training for the most talented students regardless of their background. In order to achieve this, the Conservatoire strives to improve public awareness and understanding of vocational, conservatoire-level training in dance, drama and circus arts. The examples listed below are only a sample of the many programmes and activities that the Conservatoire schools offer.
In addition to these, a crucial component of the Conservatoire’s policy of access and widening participation is its commitment to auditioning every applicant who meets the individual school’s criteria. This means that over 10,000 individuals are seen by the Conservatoire schools each year during the auditioning period for around 450 places and in some 19 different centres including cities in Japan, Spain, Switzerland and Italy, as well as London, Bristol, Leeds and New York. This remains a central pillar of access to Conservatoire programmes.
Advanced training programmes
These are focused programmes that aim to improve the quality of pre-vocational training and prepare students for conservatoire-level study.
- London Contemporary Dance School runs a Centre for Advanced Training based at The Place, which currently has 75 students from London and the South East. The programme is open to all children between 10-16 years regardless of previous dance training. Each participating family is means tested so families only pay fees according to their means.
- Yorkshire Young Dancers, based at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, has 38 students of whom 29 receive subsidy from across Yorkshire. Students attend three technique classes a week. Yorkshire Young Dancers was the first Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) in the UK.
Short courses and summer schools
Short courses and summer schools take place over a concentrated period of time and provide intensive training.
- LAMDA offers full-time residential summer schools: 15 places on an eight-week summer school and 25 on a four-week summer school. Students are accepted from across the UK.
- Circus Space runs a week-long summer school in conjunction with the Summer Uni Scheme. Students recieve free places through their borough’s Summer Uni Scheme.
- Northern School of Contemporary Dance runs a free, week-long, non-residential summer school, with 40 places offered per year (with funding from Aimhigher).
- The London Contemporary Dance School runs a boys only holiday project, ‘Hurricane’, for boys aged 10-14 years, with some concessionary places availiable.
Weekly classes
These are classes offered to children, young people and adults, often subsidised to encourage participation in the particular art form. They engage the wider community in dance, acting, circus skills and technical theatre. These classes offer students an opportunity to develop and progress to short courses, summer schools, other training programmes, and, ultimately, vocational training. Several hundred students attend weekly classes in the UK.
- Circus Space offers weekly classes in circus skills for all ages, from 2 years 9 months to 12 years, all available at a conessionary fee for those who qualify.
- Northern School of Contemporary Dance offers weekly youth and children’s classes, for age 7 years and over, at a reasonable fee with free-entitlement places available to the youth course.
- RADA offers Saturday workshops for young people age 16-24, offered at a concessionary fee for those claiming JSA.
Youth companies
These groups prepare young people to perform work, often specifically commissioned or adapted. There are four youth companies across the Conservatoire with around 200 participants.
- London Youth Circus has 100 students aged between 11 and 18 from across London. It offers courses at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, including supporting classes in movement, core stability and performance. Acceptance is by audition and subsidised places are offered. The advanced class performs annually.
- Bristol Old Vic Theatre School offers a weekly youth group for 7-18 year olds. There are currently 80 participants, largely from the Bristol area.
- London Contemporary Dance School runs the weekly youth group ‘Junior Dance Club’, for 8-12 year olds with around 15 places per year. Priority is given to those living in the King’s Cross and Camden area, and subsidised places are availiable.
Student performance tours
The Conservatoire has three dedicated performance companies: Ballet Central (Central School of Ballet), Verve (Northern School of Contemporary Dance) and Edge (London Contemporary Dance School) all part of final-year, graduate or post-graduate programmes. These companies tour nationally and internationally and deliver workshops as part of the programme.
- Ballet Central tours to 22 venues nationwide, offering more than 25 performances. It reaches several thousand people with tickets kept at a low price to ensure accessibility.
- Edge tours to around 20-25 venues nationally, reaching an audience of approximately 3500.
In addition, almost all other schools tour either nationally or locally and offer specific student performances to primary and secondary schools and beyond. Tours travel to between 30 and 40 venues each year with total audiences of at least 20,000.
Examples of other outreach activities
- The ‘RADA in Schools’ programme takes acting and technical students nearing graduation to work with young people in secondary schools. RADA youth workshops are offered to regional theatres and schools nationally.
- The Principal of the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance leads movement workshops once a week at a local primary school.
- Circus Space offers 3-6 month internships to enable participants to learn about arts administration, in addition to a week-long work experience programmes for 14-21 year olds.
- Northern School of Contemporary Dance offers a free inset day to schools, for both new and existing teachers, to equip them with the skills to spot dance potential.
- LAMDA holds an annual Technical Theatre and Stage Management open day, as well as free tours of the LAMDA site year-round.
