Qualification | Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance
Course leader | Andrew Waldron
Validated by | Trinity College London
Location | Woking
Course length | 3 Years, Full-Time
Start date | September 2024
Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance at Italia Conti is a three-year, full time vocational course, for anyone aged 16+ wishing to become a professional dancer.
The Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance is awarded by Trinity College London and regulated by Ofqual. It is Level 6 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework.
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Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance at Italia Conti aims to produce highly skilled, creative and thinking dance artists and provides students with a comprehensive training in all aspects of dance.
The course will give students the necessary technical, creative and performance experience and skills necessary to become a professional dancer. This is achieved through a rigorous curriculum focused on studio-based practice and creative exploration, underpinned by key elements of contextual study.
Through classes in ballet, jazz, contemporary, commercial, tap, choreography, aerial and acrobatics skills and supporting skills in singing and acting, students are sure to graduate into the professional dance industry as highly employable multi-faceted performers.
Workshops and masterclasses throughout the course offer students the opportunity to work with a wide range of professionals who specialise in particular areas of dance.
Public performances and an Industry showcase consolidate everything that has been learnt in the classroom and gives students the confidence and experience to perform in front of an audience.
The delivery of the technique classes, across all years are structured to provide a balance of consistency and diversity. In the first and second year students work in depth towards particular technical approaches. The breadth of teaching encountered over the course ensures that graduates are versatile with the ability to apply their technical skills to new and varied challenges. The range of techniques experienced is guided by the particular expertise and teaching philosophies of the dance faculty and how these relate to the needs of the particular group and the individual. This approach ensures that students receive relevant and current training. In the third year technical training is linked directly to the performance options chosen.
Students are introduced to a wide variety of subjects and will predominately focus on re-evaluating and refocusing existing technique to ensure that any pre-existing technical faults have been addressed. Understanding and awareness of safe practice, nutrition and injury prevention will be fundamental to any technical development. In addition to the core dance subjects such as ballet, contemporary, jazz and tap, students will take acting and singing classes.
Within Contextual Practice, students 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.
By the end if the first year students are expected:
In year 2 students’ core skills become more advanced and more integrated. You will consolidate existing skills and develop a wider range of styles within the dance genres as well as deepening your technical and expressive abilities. More project work is introduced, in which the core disciplines become interdependent.
Dance Performance projects provide students with the opportunity to develop their collaborative, creative, rehearsal and performance skills in two contrasting projects.
Within Contextual Practice, students 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.
By the end of the second year students are expected:
In year 3 the emphasis is on preparing students for a career as a professional performer. This final year bridges the gap between professional training and the professional dance world. The priority for this year is to develop our students’ capacity to engage with the profession in multiple ways, maximising their employability and innovative skills in readiness for entry into the dance profession.
Professional Preparation and Employability workshops will hone audition technique to ensure that students 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, joining and populating Spotlight, creating personal showreel performance reels and meeting with leading industry creatives, agents and casting directors to begin networking.
Students will participate in two fully staged dance theatre productions and an industry showcase, working with outside industry choreographers/directors. Agents, casting directors and other industry professionals are invited to performances to facilitate your representation and exposure.
Within Contextual Practice, student engage with two main focuses:
Employability skills and professional practice will hone audition technique to ensure that, when they leave, students 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, joining and populating Spotlight, creating personal showreel performance reels and meeting with leading industry creatives, agents and casting directors to begin networking.
Research and Reflection promotes the reflective practitioner and draws upon learning acquired across the first two year of training and placing this into a professional capacity. Students will reflect on their engagement with productions, research into choreographic practices, and reflect upon their training as a whole and the progress they have made.
By the end of the third year students are expected:
Tuition fees | £15990 per academic year, (paid in advanced termly instalments) Trinity college fee | £220 – £250 (paid per annum, set by Trinity College London) Audition Fee | £45 (Non-refundable) Deposit | £275 (The deposit is refundable within 14 calendar days of the payment being received by Italia Conti but will not be refunded thereafter for non-enrolment. It will be held by the School and will be refundable on completion of the course, without interest, less any outstanding sums owed by the student to Italia Conti.)
For further information, please see our International Applications page.
Terms and conditions apply upon acceptance to Italia Conti.
The BA (Hons) course offers the following funding options:
Italia Conti welcomes applications for audition fee waivers for those who are eligible.
Italia Conti welcomes applications for deposit fee waivers for those who are eligible.
It’s fantastic. Showcases, shows, summer shows, carol concerts. It’s very full on but I don’t wake up regretting coming here. It is the best thing ever!
“The college provides you with a disciplined, yet family atmosphere that trains you to become the best of the best moving forwards into the performing arts industry.”
“Italia Conti has helped me in terms of my acting development, but also as a person and how I engage and view the world, which aids me as an actor.”
“The building and staff inside welcome you with open arms, guide you through your training and proudly push you, prepped with the best tools for the job.”
“Italia Conti allowed me to do my favorite thing, every day in a safe space amongst talented, supportive people. Being taught by skillful tutors was invaluable. The small classes ensured my voice was always heard and helped me hone my skills.”
“My training at Italia Conti has challenged, fulfilled, and broadened me as an actor and as a person. The buffet of techniques on offer will allow me to meet all challenges in any avenue.”
“The influx of inspiring people flowing through the building creates an atmosphere for greatness and I am honoured to be a part of that.”
“I couldn’t have asked for a more understanding place to spend these crucial moments. The door is always open for us to come back ‘home’ for advice, or even for a cup of tea!”
“Having the most supportive faculty (many of which are working professionals), who are always pushing you to be the best version of yourself has made my transition into the industry a seamless one.”
After completing the application process, you will be invited to submit an audition tape where you will be required to demonstrate a variety of skills. Information about auditions can be found below.
Successful applicants will be invited to a recall audition on site.
Application to the Diploma in Professional Dance course can be made using our online application form.
Applicants must complete the form and pay the audition fee (£45) in order to be considered for the course. Upon receiving your application we will contact you with your audition date.
Audition fees are non-refundable. 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.
In line with our admissions policy, Italia Conti reserves the right to alter or withdraw offers at any point. Places on our courses are limited. Acceptances are dealt with on a first come first serve basis and so early acceptance is advised.
UPDATE: Due to the volume and standard of applications received this year, Italia Conti need to extend our turnaround time for us to inform candidates of their result. Any first round applicant will receive the result from their audition submission within to 3-4 weeks of receipt. We apologise for the delay but every submission deserves our full time and attention.
Applicants should record themselves performing the below Plie exercise from 8 minutes 22. Prior to this, the exercise is taught in full by our Head Tutor of Ballet. Please click here
Applicants should record themselves performing the below Jazz sequence from 9 minutes 50. Please click here
Auditionees should prepare one dance piece in their preferred style, no longer than one minute. This should showcase their strengths and highlight any special skills.
Applicants should wear tight-fitting clothing to allow the panel to see their movement fully.
You will be required to participate in three dance classes at your recall; Ballet, Technical Centre Practice and a class where a set piece of Jazz choreography will be taught. Each class will last 30 minutes.
Required dress: Jazz shoes or trainers that are suitable for dance (i.e. no Converse or similar fashion shoes that are not designed for dance). No loose clothing or jewellery is permitted.
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Regular workshop sessions are held to give students the opportunity to work with directors, choreographers and industry professionals whilst training. Second and third year students also have to opportunity to join the Italia Conti Agency and undertake professional work should the opportunity arise. During the 3rd year students take part in Dance Productions and their final Showcase whereby agents are invited, and Italia Conti has connections with many of these
Italia Conti offer’s a 1 year Top Up Degree for Diploma students.
With over 107 years of Italia Conti history, our graduates populate the performance industries and include many famous faces. Recent graduates can be seen working on prestigious productions in all areas of the industry.
Qualification | Degree
Course Leader | Graham Newell
Validated by | University of East London (UEL)
Course Length | 3 Years, Full-Time
Start Date | September 2024
Qualification | Certificate of Higher Education
Programme Length | 1 Year, Full-Time