The Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre is validated by Trinity College London.
Train as a professional dancer from age 16 through intensive conservatoire-level training across multiple dance styles and performance contexts.
The Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance is a three-year, full-time vocational programme designed to develop the technical skill, versatility and professional discipline required for entry into the industry or progression to degree-level training.
Training focuses on building strong technical foundations across ballet, jazz, contemporary and commercial dance, supported by performance work, choreography and collaborative practice. You will develop the consistency and adaptability required to work across a range of professional contexts.
Across the three years, training progresses from foundational technique to performance and industry-facing practice, including public productions and professional rehearsal processes. You will work on a range of intensive projects and productions, culminating in fully staged performances, a West End Industry Showcase, and direct engagement with agents, casting directors and industry professionals.
Alongside studio training, you will develop the wider skills required of a professional performer, including audition technique, self-taping, industry knowledge and independent creative practice. You will graduate as a confident, adaptable and industry-ready dancer, equipped to enter the profession and sustain a career in dance.
The diploma is awarded by Trinity College London and regulated by Ofqual. You graduate prepared to enter the profession or progress into higher education.
In first year you focus on the fundamentals of the core disciplines (Ballet, Jazz, Commercial and Contemporary) and early skill integration.You will explore jazz tech, jazz performance and jazz elements, alongside two commercial dance classes. Ballet classes will also include a weekly pointe class. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of a range of aerial skills such as hoop and silks and acrobatics skills such as tricks and tumbling.This forms the basis of your fundamental training as a versatile, technical and athletic dancer.
You will develop a grounding in choreography through dance improvisation and developing skills in a range of practitioner approaches, you will acquire the tools and knowledge necessary to create sound choreography which communicates meaning to an audience.
Fundamentals in supporting skills will allow you to develop further performance skills in acting, singing and tap dance. You will learn to apply the skills you have learnt holistically in dance projects, with emphasis placed on performance and collaboration. Each week you will take an industry guest workshop which invites a range of further dance styles and industry professionals into the studio to work with you.
Within Contextual Practice, you will explore health and safety as an emerging performer in theatre. This focuses on areas such as safe practice in class, injury prevention and overall positive health, and well-being. Lessons are also used to contextualise the landscape of dance and themes covered in other classes.
Typical projects in this year may include:
In second year, core technical training continues at a more advanced and integrated level. Project work becomes more sustained and intensive.
You will consolidate existing skills in ballet, jazz, commercial and contemporary and explore a wider range of performance styles within the dance genres as well as deepening their technical and expressive abilities. Aerial and Tricks classes become more advanced, and you will be encouraged to implement the honed skills into extended choreographed sequences and musical phrases.
Your choreographic journey will include developing your own artistic voice, whilst nurturing others’ work as dance captain, assistant choreographer roles on projects and in dance performance work.
Additional training in acting, singing and tap dance continue to support those students who may like to perform in musical theatre and cruise entertainment industries upon graduation. You will also get 1:1 singing lessons in Year 2 which will allow you to develop your voice, build confidence in singing performance, and find songs suitable for you. Each week you will take an industry guest workshop which invites a range of further dance styles and industry professionals into the studio to work with you.
Within Contextual Practice, you will explore the history of dance. This focuses on the development of dance as a social and politic influence, as well as recognising the chronologic evolution of theatrical trends. Lessons are also used to contextualise the landscape of dance and themes covered in other classes.
Typical projects in this year may include:
In third year the emphasis is on preparing you for a career as a professional dancer. This final year bridges the gap between professional training and the professional dance world.
You will continue to study core dance disciplines of ballet, jazz, commercial and contemporary to keep your performance skills en pointe. You will have a weekly acting through song class to prepare vital audition material, alongside a 1:1 singing lesson to ensure your voice is developing.
Professional Preparation and Employability workshops will hone audition technique to ensure that you have all the skills necessary to embark upon a successful professional career. This also extends to preparation for all wider soft-skills and supporting areas for professional practitioners including sourcing and choosing headshots and bodyshots, joining and populating Spotlight, creating personal showreels and meeting with leading industry creatives and choreographers, agents and casting directors to begin networking. You will also take part in an audition workshop with New Adventures can lead to invitations to Swan School and invitation-only classes.
You will take part in:
You will be working with external industry choreographers/directors alongside full time faculty for all of your productions and performances. Agents, casting directors and other industry professionals are invited to performances to facilitate representation and exposure.
Industry connection continues through:
Research and Reflection promotes the reflective practitioner and draws upon learning acquired across the first two years of training and placing this into a professional capacity. You will reflect on your engagement with productions and projects, research into choreographic practices, and reflect upon their training as a whole and the progress they have made.
Tuition Fees | £15,990 per academic year, paid in advance in termly instalments.
Student Loans | Student loans are not available for Diploma programmes.
Dance & Drama Awards (DaDA) | DaDA funding is available, awarded based on audition scores followed by a means-tested application.
Advanced Learner Loans | Available for Diploma programmes. Students must be 19 or over on the first day of their programme.
Audition Fee | £45 (non-refundable).
Deposit | A deposit of £275 is required to hold and accept a place on the programme.
Fee Waivers | Audition Fee and Deposit Waivers are available for eligible applicants.
An outline of associated programme costs and more information on Fee Waivers are available on the Fees and Funding page.
Scholarships are awarded upon outcome of audition. You may apply for a bursary after receiving an offer of study by contacting admissions@italiaconti.co.uk
For further information on international student fees, please see our International Applications page.
What Additional Costs Should I Expect?
Other Optional Costs:
Applications are made directly to Italia Conti and do not require a UCAS application. You must complete the application form and pay a non-refundable £45 audition fee to be considered. These fees act as both an administration fee for processing your application as well as a non-refundable deposit for a place on an audition day.
You are only required to apply for one programme, and encouraged to express on the form if they have interest in any other programmes, in addition to the programme directly being applied for.
Places on our programmes are limited; it is usual for drama schools to make more offers than there are places. Acceptances are dealt with on a first come first serve basis and so early acceptance is advised. Once a programme offer has expired, an offerholder will be moved to the waiting list.
The application deadline for this programme is 28 February 2026. Late applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Self Tape Recorded Audition
After completing the application process, you will be invited to prepare, record and submit an audition self-tape where auditionees will be required to demonstrate a variety of skills. First round applicants will receive the result from their audition submission within 4 weeks of receipt. This is to ensure that every submission deserves our full time and attention.
In Person Audition Day
This stage enables us to explore your work in greater depth, assess your responsiveness to direction, and understand how you engage within a training environment.
The recall day is also an opportunity for you to experience the ethos of the school, meet the faculty and students on our programmes, and gain insight into the training you would undertake.
Check back soon for recall dates for September 2027 entry.
Entry to Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance requires the following:
1st September – 11th December 2026
4th January – 2nd April 2027
26th April – 23rd July 2027
Check back soon for term dates for September 2027 entry.
Join us at an Open Day to learn more about the Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance programme
Italia Conti offer a range of Audition Ready short courses to prepare for auditions. These programmes allow students to work with full time faculty, gain feedback, and experience a mock recall audition for the programme.
Italia Conti offers fee waivers to eligible applicants who meet set criteria, helping to ensure that financial circumstances do not act as a barrier to applying.
You get to work with people who have different techniques and different ways of working. also people who are in the industry. You’re not only getting taught by industry professionals every day, but you’re getting an insight in the projects from someone who’s actually currently working in the industry.
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