The ISTD are delighted to announce that we have a total of 33 Approved Dance Centres. These Centres will deliver the Foundation in Dance Instruction and the Certificate in Dance Education. They are as follows:

• Ballroom Blitz (The Mitchell School of Dance)
• Bird College of Performing Arts
• Central School of Dance and Drama
• The Centre Performing Arts College
• The City Literary Institute
• Cumbria Dance
• The dance College
• Deborah Capon School of Dance
• Guildhall School of Dancing
• Inchicore College of Further Education
• The Judith Hockaday School of Dance
• Kate Simmons Dance Ltd
• Laine Theatre Arts
• Lait Dance Club
• Margaret Howard Theatre College
• Margaret Preedy Dance Studios
• Maureen Jeffery School of Dance
• Merseyside Dance and Drama College
• North Liverpool Dance Academy
• North London Dance Studios
• Page Mason School of Dance
• Paradise Freeway Dance Education Centre
• Performers College
• Pirouette Academy of Dance
• Preston College
• Roynon Dance Centre
• Sally Adams Danceworks
• Sheen Academy
• Stage Door College
• Stella Mann College
• Steppin' Out Academy of Dance
• West Berks Ballet School
• Whitehall Performing Arts College

Approved Dance Centres - Contacts

This is a fantastic achievement for these Centres and hopefully this will encourage other institutions to become ISTD Approved Dance Centres.

If you would like further information, please either download an application pack or alternatively contact the Education and Training department. The Approved Dance Centre status can apply to a school of any size. If you feel that the process may not be for you, please contact the Education and Training department and we will provide you with assistance in completing the application forms.

The department has received calls from interested teachers who have been put off by the questions and format of the main application form. There is a need to have one uniform application form for all institutions, however, if teachers do have any questions, please contact the Education and Training Department.

We recognise that not all schools/teachers will have the documentation requested in the application pack. For example, if teachers do not have a Health and Safety policy, we can provide examples of best practice.

We have also received queries about the inspection visit. This visit is to confirm the physical facilities information noted on the original application form. It is also a good opportunity to discuss the structure and content of the qualifications. If there are areas for concern, these will be discussed with the institution, and assistance provided where applicable.

In providing feedback on the overall process, Heather Burns, Programme co-ordinator at Preston College, when asked about the benefits for ISTD Approved Dance centres, said, 'It helps to bring uniformity across all establishments offering the new qualifications, which in turn must raise standards'. She went on to say, that 'Approval will help raise the profile and status of the College when marketing our course. Parents are keen to see how student progress is monitored, and if they see proper systems in place with the awarding body, as is the case with other educational qualifications, they are more confident in the delivery of the syllabus and in the students achieving their goals'.