17 July 2026
The 25 to 28 June 2026 marked the opening of the first European ISTD Examination Centre, hosted at the Palm Tree MCA Dance Centre in Athens. Over the four days, the centre welcomed examiners, teachers and students from Greece, Cyprus and beyond for a full programme of Modern Theatre and Imperial Classical Ballet examinations, a welcome meeting for regional teachers, a weekend of CPD training, and Modern Theatre masterclasses.
Tereza Theodoulou
Tereza Theodoulou, ISTD Senior Examiner, Lead Lecturer and Syllabus Creative Team member, examined Advanced 1 Modern and two days of DDE Modern exams at the new centre.
"After a long examinations tour in Greece, I was able to be part of the launch of the first ISTD centre outside the UK, on 26th to 28th June 2026. It was an honour, and indeed a privilege, to examine Advanced 1 Modern and two days of DDE Modern exams in the new centre at the Palm Studios, Athens.
The anticipation ahead of the members' meeting on Friday, and the two days of CPD courses that followed, was truly inspiring. Day 1 was a physical session for all teachers to participate in, and Day 2 brought observation of two masterclasses for their students.
The theme of the weekend was shifting weight, with in-depth learning on its application when moving in and out of the floor, and how weight transference affects travel and style.
On Day 1, the Grade 4 and 5 new floor strengthening exercises were expertly delivered by Angeliki Andrinopoulou. After outlining how this new work sits within the existing syllabus structure, the work began in earnest. Angeliki broke down the essential use of 'counter energy', or 'two-way pull', to safely transition weight through the floor. She was joined by International Teaching Team member Stella Steffou from Thessaloniki, who introduced teachers to a full and comprehensive build-up of training exercises to use before teaching the actual progressions.
Stella's extensive knowledge of floor work and falling was eagerly received, and there was a wonderful energy amongst the teachers as they embraced the suggested free preparatory pre-progression sequences. Our teachers left the day having thrown themselves fully into learning, with an overriding sense of excitement for the new term.
On Day 2, the masterclasses brought the studio space to life. Watching the students embrace the same aim for each class, but with a variety of paths, was breathtaking. The students knew they were in the hands of a master, and did not want to stop, continuing to soak up every detail as they sensed the changes in their own performance.
By the end of each class, teachers noted their pupils' commitment and left ready to apply what they'd learned in their own studios.
It was indeed an honour to be part of this very special weekend. Congratulations to the ISTD on this momentous opening of the Athens Examinations Centre!"
Tracey Warner
Tracey Warner, Imperial Classical Ballet Examiner, was the first to conduct examinations at the new centre.
"I was privileged to be the first Imperial Classical Ballet examiner to conduct examinations at the centre. It was a fabulous experience and expertly organised.
The centre was beautifully prepared for the occasion, with banners welcoming candidates and commemorative tote bags presented to mark this historic event.
Alongside the examinations, Carole Ann Watson, European International Representative, held a meeting for teachers from Greece and Cyprus. It was particularly special to meet so many teachers in person after having connected with them primarily through Zoom over the past few years. A number of local and international examiners were also able to attend, including Angeliki Andrinopoulou, Christina Fotinaki, Tereza Theodoulou, Penny Meekings, Jillian Skitt, Susan Garrard, Marina Mavrou Pollatou and Valia Bartsouli.
Following the meeting, light refreshments were served, providing a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to catch up, share experiences and celebrate the occasion, with everyone doing their best to keep the noise levels down while examinations continued nearby!
This is surely the first of many successful years for the Athens centre. It offers tremendous opportunities for schools and teachers to come together for examinations, professional development and collaboration, helping to strengthen connections within the dance community."
Ioanna Mavrogiorgi
"Over the weekend, the centre came alive with an inspiring CPD course led by Angeliki Andrinopoulou, giving teachers the opportunity to learn, experiment and explore new material in a creative, supportive environment. Saturday's Floor Work seminar for Grade 4 and Grade 5 saw Vanessa Pollatou, Danae Garantziotou and Stella Stefou demonstrate exercises, with Stella Stefou also sharing pre-progression work drawn from her extensive background in contemporary dance; that afternoon, Tereza Theodoulou guided participants through three Set Amalgamations from the grades with her trademark insight.
A follow-up meeting gave teachers the chance to discuss the shared opinion that dance should offer children a safe space for freedom of expression.
ISTD proved once again that it is not just an examination body, but a vibrant, supportive community. The inauguration of the new Examination Centre encourages support for the new generation of dancers in our country.
Congratulations to all the contributors.
Theodora Siora
"The Athens Exam Centre was a fantastic reminder of why we do what we do. What stood out most was how much it meant to our teachers, parents and members that we travelled from the UK to meet them in person – they genuinely felt valued, listened to and connected to the wider ISTD community. We would like to thank everyone who helped make this milestone such a success."
ISTD is proud to be building a truly global community of dance educators, and the Athens centre marks an exciting first step for examinations and CPD across Europe.
