14 July 2026
For DTCD graduate Laura Tuckey, community dance is all about opening doors. Whether someone is completely new to dance, returning after many years away, or simply looking for a creative outlet, she believes everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of movement.
Studying the Diploma in Teaching Community Dance (DTCD) through ISTD Academy helped her turn that passion into a professional teaching practice, giving her the skills, confidence and qualification to pursue new opportunities in dance education.
Finding the Right Path
When asked what drew her to the DTCD, Laura told us:
"I think what drew me to the Community Dance Diploma in particular was I knew I really loved dance and I loved teaching, but what I found really fulfilling was involving people who were new to dance or were picking it up later in life or recreationally. I really enjoyed working with adults particularly, and I wanted to go into adult dance."
Studying through ISTD Academy also meant she could access the qualification from home.
"I live in the North West of England and I didn't really have a particular centre that was nearby for me. So the fact that I could access the ISTD Academy and be able to do that from home without having to move somewhere completely different in the country made it just completely feasible for me to do."
One of the most valuable parts of the course was the Applied Teaching Practice module. For her project, she created a beginner ballet course for adults based around Swan Lake, recruiting participants herself and running four Saturday sessions in her local community.
The process wasn't without its challenges.
"I really had to set that group up from scratch and I had to go and find a venue to be able to teach in. I had to make sure I had the necessary insurance, and then I had to find a group of people who would commit to four Saturdays of learning ballet with me for this course."
Looking back, however, creating the group herself became one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience.
"I'm so glad that I was able to do it that way because I just felt really connected to that group that I made. People were getting on really well and it was so lovely when it came to the end that people had kind of made those connections between each other."
The impact on participants was equally memorable.
"Everybody who took part, many of whom I hadn't met before, really enjoyed themselves. I had so much lovely, positive feedback from them. There were people who'd never tried dancing before, and had definitely never tried ballet, but really enjoyed the process of learning something new."
Laura teaching her adult ballet class
The DTCD gave Laura a much deeper understanding of teaching practice and helped her move from relying on instinct to making informed teaching decisions.
"I think in terms of the teaching skills, the course really gave me a lot more of an understanding of the why behind why things are done and then the confidence to go out and do that."
Safe practice was another area where her confidence grew significantly.
"I think before it always felt a little bit daunting that when you lead a class that you're responsible for all these people and their safety. I think now, I still feel that responsibility, but I feel a lot more confident that I can act in certain situations and I have the skills behind me."
Today, she feels much more confident leading sessions and adapting to the needs of learners in real time.
"I have the confidence to watch the class and adapt to what's happening and think, actually, what do the learners need in this situation?
"Do we need more time? Are they getting it? Is there another level we can unlock here?"
Community dance means creating opportunities for everyone to take part, regardless of age, experience or background.
"I really think it's about bringing dance to the people rather than dance being a kind of a higher level of culture that only certain people can access."
Throughout Laura's training, she worked with adults from a wide range of ages and learned how important it is to adapt teaching approaches to suit different participants.
"For a certain exercise, I might teach it in three different ways. We might have various layers depending on the choice that the participant wants to make and what's going to work best for them."
She is also passionate about creating welcoming environments for people who may feel nervous about stepping into a dance class for the first time.
"Dance, when you love it, it's such an amazing practice - you just want everybody to enjoy it."
Looking Ahead
Since completing the qualification, Laura has felt more confident putting herself forward for teaching opportunities and developing her own projects.
"This qualification was really important to me because it's given me the opportunity now to go into dance teaching spaces and go for dance teaching opportunities that I think otherwise I wouldn't have felt I could."
Laura at ISTD Graduation
As well as hoping to teach adult ballet classes regularly, she is continuing to explore the relationship between dance and sustainability, building on research she has already published.
Reflecting on the DTCD, it's clear that the biggest change has been her confidence.
"I'm just so happy that I have that confidence now to be able to take with me going forward."
Interested in becoming a community dance teacher? The ISTD Level 4 Diploma in Teaching Community Dance combines practical teaching experience, mentoring and professional training to help aspiring teachers develop the skills and confidence to lead inclusive dance experiences in their communities.
