Performance and Technical Studies
The training at London Contemporary Dance School is designed to produce highly skilled, creative and intellectually curious dance artists, prepared for a career in the diverse and fluid world of contemporary dance. The School is a rich learning environment, where dance artists are nurtured as they develop, and encouraged to take ownership of their training and the direction of their careers.

Students are placed in teaching groups appropriate to their skill and experience and take daily classes in contemporary dance and ballet. Live music is available for all technique classes. All students also have the option to attend individual technique
coaching and tutorial sessions.

Our technical training directly feeds courses in repertoire and performance studies where students learn solo and group work choreographed by professional choreographers. Performance and technical studies are supported by classes in alternative techniques including body conditioning, the Alexander technique and the Feldenkrais method.

We view anticipating the needs of those who will represent the future of contemporary dance as vital, and our training reflects an awareness of somatics and biomechanics which is important for safe, sustainable practice. The course also seeks to reflect the influence of non-western dance forms on today’s British dance scene and students have the opportunity to take part in projects exploring Bharatanatyam or Kathak.

Contemporary Technique Teaching
The delivery of contemporary technique is structured to balance consistency and diversity. Students usually work for 5 or 10 weeks with the same teacher every day so that particular approaches can be explored in depth. The range of contemporary teaching encountered over the course ensures that our graduates are versatile, with the ability to apply their technical skills to new and varied challenges. Cunningham-based technique provides a continuous thread through all three years of study, supported by release-based work particularly in the second and third years. Our range of technique experience is guided by the particular expertise and teaching philosophies of the teachers we want to work with, and how these relate to the needs of a particular group, rather than by prescribing a predetermined number of terms per style. Students build their physical stamina whilst engaging intellectually with the process of exploring physical principles, and projecting this understanding through the clarity of their performance. The course emphasises the need to work with appropriate attention to individual physical characteristics enabling students to reach their full potential.

Ballet Teaching
Our ballet teaching is an integral part of the training. and is designed specifically to support the development of contemporary dancers. In this respect it tends to be taught from the anatomical perspective. We do not teach the classical ballet repertory, instead ballet classes focus on the development of strong technique, strength, and artistic interpretation. Optional pointe work classes are available to students who are interested, and who have reached the required standard.

Choreographic Studies
Choreography and improvisation are a vibrant element in the life of the School. Choreography courses are structured in a developmental way throughout the student’s period of study. All students begin by exploring the crafting skills needed to make choreographic work and then can choose to create substantial independent choreographic projects.