About Us

 


The ethos of the Barking Abbey Dance Academy is to develop young Dancers holistically as athletes, artists and entrepreneurs. These three components will underpin everything that is delivered as part of the Dance Academy programme to ensure that Dancers are fully prepared for a breadth of Dance careers and Post 18 Pathways. We aim to develop students holistically; as Dance artists (physically and mentally) and as young people (character and transferable skills) to nurture their talent and ensure they exceed their full potential. Students will study a breadth of dance styles including; Hip Hop, Contemporary, Commercial, Afro, Musical Theatre and Jazz to evolve students into versatile Dance artists.

Our students will receive world class training and opportunities through our in-house Dance staff and partnerships with Boy Blue, Middlesex University, Trinity Laban and The Place. The programme has been created to carve a seamless pathway from Post 16 into undergraduate study and beyond into Dance careers through our partner institutions. This provision will supplement their KS5 studies and enable them to stand out in Post 18 pathway applications, regardless of wanting to pursue Dance or not.

Dance Academy students will benefit from the following:

  • Professional affiliations with Boy Blue, Trinity Laban, HydroGen Uk, The Place and Middlesex University
  • 3 hours of weekly training with Boy Blue and Trinity Laban/The Place following a specialist curriculum that develops students as artists, athletes and entrepreneurs
  • Weekly individual sessions tailored to personal needs with focus on technique, performance and creative skills
  • Progression Agreement with Middlesex University- Upon graduation from the Dance Academy programme, students will be offered an unconditional offer to Middlesex University on the BA Hons Dance courses
  • One to one mentoring focused on: individual Dance training plans, target setting, academic progress and achievement, post 18 pathways, career planning, applications, auditions, etc
  • Audition preparation and application writing with Middlesex University, Trinity Laban and The Place
  • Auditions for Boy Blue Youth, HydroGenUk and the Centre for Advanced Training Schemes at Trinity Laban and The Place
  • Professional and in house performance opportunities
  • Additional projects and workshops with professional guest artists
  • Termly theatre trips to see professional dance work
  • Visits to theatres to develop knowledge of lighting, stage management, set and costume design
  • Work experience in professional settings
  • Strength and conditioning sessions and onsite physiotherapy
  • Additional qualifications to enable students to undergo short term work to supplement their long-term Dance career