Dance Festivals
Festivals are usually run by volunteers and last for a few weeks. Dancers will perform in their age/style category and be judged by an examiner from a UK leading dance faculty. All dancers receive a certificate, mark and feedback. ​​​
Eastbourne Festival 2027
Takes place in February Half Term every year
Entries open in September ​
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Worthing Festival 2026
Pavilion Theatre, Worthing
Entries open in Autumn term
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Sussex Festival 2026
The Hawth, Crawley ​​
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Solos, Duets, Trio/Quartets
NEW BURY THEATRE, HURSTPIERPOINT COLLEGE, HURSTPIERPOINT
Monday 30th March–Thursday 2nd April
& Tuesday 7th April–Thursday 9th April
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Large Group Day: Full Team!
HAWTH THEATRE, CRAWLEY
Sunday 12th April
10:00am – Cinderella Waltz (14&U CBallet)
12:00pm – Unwritten (10&U Jazz)
1:45pm – Gershwin (21&U CBallet)
1:45pm – Twilight Romance (21&U MBallet)
2:10pm – Peter Pan (21&U Character)
2:45pm – Deep Breaths (14&U Contemporary)
3:20pm – Charleston (14&U Jazz)
3:20pm – The Look (14&U Jazz)
4.20pm – Sparkle and Shine (14&U MT)
4:20pm – Driven (21&U Contemp)
4:20pm – Feet For Dancing (21&U Contemp)
4:20pm – Beethoven in Havana (21&U Jazz)
4:20pm – Evil (21&U Jazz) ​
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Other festivals
Please note that students may not miss group rehearsals or anything they have committed to for the team in order to attend festivals as a soloist. Please always check with teachers first.
See all here
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Petersfield Dance Festival
July
Parents do their own entries via website
Fareham Dance Festival
July/Aug
Parents do their own entries via Festival Connect
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South Theatre Arts Festival
July + various
Parents do their own entries via website
Bright Star Festival
July, August + various
Parents do their own entries via form
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Southsea Festival
October
Entries for 2025 Open June 1st 10am
Parents do their own entries via website
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1066 Festival of Performing Arts AED Qualifier
St Leonards
Oct–Nov
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Kingston Upon Thames Festival 2025 AED
Oct–Nov
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Hastings Music and Arts Festival 2026 AED
Feb–Mar
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Chichester Festival of
Music, Dance & Speech 2026 AED
Feb–Mar
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Dance Comps
Dance Competitions have become more popular in the UK and take place over one or two days. Often the dance categories follow current trends. We take a selected team (often only our Teens/Seniors) to compete at these events as there is limited space.
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WHO DOES ENTRIES?
BDA often enters dance competitions on behalf of our dancers.​​​​​​​
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Global Dance Open: Regionals 2026
Thursday 9 and Friday 10 April
Langley Park School for Boys, Bromley
Elite competition for those wishing to qualify for international event in Spain.
*Entries now full*
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Destination Dance Finals
6–7 June 2026
University of Warwick, Coventry
Dancers may take part in this if they qualify at the regional heat, but please note that this is the weekend after All England Regionals.
Global Dance Open (World Finals)
14th–19th July 2026, San Sebastian, Spain​​
Must qualify at regional finals to compete
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2026–2027 competition dates for your diary
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Supreme Dance Competition
The Stag, Sevenoaks Regional Heat
Saturday 31 Oct and Sunday 1 Nov 2026
60 entries reserved
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Destination Dance
The Stag, Sevenoaks Regional Heat
Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January 2027
150 entries reserved
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Special Events
All England Dance
All England Dance Regionals, South East
23–31 May 2026
Must qualify at a normal dance
festival (qualifiers only)
All entries must be completed by the school.
Parents will have a deadline to make entries via our school Google Form.
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All England Dance, National Finals
25 July – 2 August 2026
Winter Garden Theatre
and Congress Theatre Eastbourne
Must qualify at Regional Finals to enter!
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All entries must be completed by the school.
Parents will have a deadline to make entries via a Google Form.
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Other Events
Southern Dance Class Awards
Sunday 21 September – Brighton
Sunday 18 January – Grand Finals ​(Clash)
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​Performers Of The Future, Brighton 2026
Sunday 18 January, Brighton Dome​
Performing: Senior Large Group Open
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Making Moves Regional Platform
Sadlers Wells Lilian Bayliss Theatre
Friday 13 February, BDC Youth only
Elite Competitions ​​
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Ballet Grand Prix – Semi-Final in London
Dancers enter and take part in a masterclass. If selected to go through to the finals, dancers will prepare a ballet and contemporary solo.
https://www.balletgrandprix.co.uk/home
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The Performance Platform
For classical repertoire soloists
https://www.theperformanceplatform.org.uk/
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