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.
2025–2026 Festivals​​​
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School festivals:
Full school will attend and dance our groups:
Eastbourne Music and
Arts Festival 2026
AED Qualifying festival
Usually in February Half Term, 14–22 February
Wintergardens
Priority booking for Brooks students
https://eastbourneperformingartsfestival.co.uk/
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Worthing Festival 2026, Pavilion Theatre
Saturday 28 Feb – Sunday 8 March 2026
Entries open on 12 September
AED Qualifying festival
Priority booking for Brooks students
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Sussex Festival 2026, The Hawth ​​​​
Non-qualifying event, qualifier was in 2025!
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Solos, Duets, Trio/Quartets
Small Groups
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
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Enter here: https://www.sussexfestival.co.uk/
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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 a 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 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 AED Qualifier
July 2026
Parents do their own entries via website
Fareham Dance Festival AED Qualifier
July/Aug 2026
Parents do their own entries via Festival Connect
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South Theatre Arts Festival AED Qualifier
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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Please ask if you want to enter these as we often use October Half Term for group rehearsals/filming!
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Southsea Festival AED Qualifier
25–29 October, Qualifier
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
25 October–02 November 2025
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Kingston Upon Thames Festival 2025 AED
25 Oct–02 November 2025​
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Hastings Music and Arts Festival 2026 AED
End of Feb / Early March
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Chichester Festival of
Music, Dance & Speech 2026 AED
15 Feb–19 March 2025
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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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Supreme Dance Comp – Certain dancers
Solos, Duets, Trios, Groups
Sat 11 and Sun 12 October (50 entries)
Aldershot Hampshire, Surrey
[Select groups attending]
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Supreme Dance Comp – Certain dancers
Solos, Duets, Trios, Groups
Sat 8 and Sun 9 November (30 entries)
The Stag Theatre Sevenoaks
Mandatory Group Rehearsals on
Sunday 2 November
Junior Groups (Saturdays)
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Supreme Dance Finals 💥
Qualifying dances only
Sat 13 and Sun 14 December
Bromley, Langley Park Theatre
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Destination Dance
Worthing Pavillion
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 January 2026
Full school entering – email Miss Lucy to take part
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Destination Dance Finals
6–7 June 2026
University of Warwick, Coventry
Dancers may take part in this if they qualify, but please note that this is the weekend after
All England Regionals! ​
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Special 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
11–13 February, BDC Youth only ​
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U.Dance
South East Platform TBC​
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Dance World Cup, UK Teams Audition Round
School is not participating this year
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Dance World Cup, July 2026, Dublin, Ireland
School is not participating this year
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Selected Classical Repertoire soloists only:
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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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