Diploma in
Dance Teaching Studies

  • Programme summary
  • Programme breakdown
  • Entry requirements
  • Programme fees
  • Student voices
  • Programme details
  • Duration
     2 years part-time
  • Apply by
     Not running in 2024
  • Location:
     Distance learning and teaching placement (in your country of residence)
  • Application
     Via Registry, Faculty of Education, RAD
  • Start
     Programme paused in 2024
  • Language
     English
  • Level/Credits
     Level 5 (120 credits)

Designed to extend knowledge, understanding and practice of dance teaching across a range of contexts and genres, this programme will prepare you for working in an increasingly diverse employment market.

The programme offers opportunities to study dance teaching and education in depth, to reflect on practice, to explore new areas of dance teaching and to specialise your knowledge by choosing from a range of module options.

The Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies* is offered part-time over two years through distance learning, enabling you to study alongside personal and professional commitments. You will receive one-to-one support from experienced tutors, with opportunities for collaborative study using online forums. Each module is supported by a comprehensive study guide and online materials.

*The DDTS programme will be reviewed in 2022/23 as part of the quinquennial periodic review process and will not run in January 2024.

Your student experience

In Year 1, you will learn about a range of learning and teaching as applied to practical dance teaching, and put these into practice in your teaching placement. You can select from a range of module options to tailor your studies to your needs. In the first year, you can choose from either ballet studies or dance science, in order to develop your expertise and research interests.

In Year 2, you will explore and engage with dance teaching skills at a more advanced level and have the opportunity to broaden your teaching experience by completing a placement in a new dance context. The module options you can choose from are either music for dance teachers or community dance. These are studied alongside an extended teaching placement in order for you to apply theoretical knowledge to your practical teaching. Finally, you will complete a professional practice module, which will help you to consolidate your learning across the programme, and prepare for future career development.

During the programme you will:

  • build on current teaching knowledge, understanding and practice of dance teaching in familiar and new contexts
  • locate current dance teaching experience within a range of teaching contexts and dance genres
  • gain knowledge and understanding of educational and pedagogical theories of learning and teaching, and apply these in practice, reflection and critical evaluation
  • gain knowledge and understanding of professional standards and legislative requirements for dance teachers
  • gain knowledge and understanding of the skills required to extend current teaching practice
  • reflect on your own learning, taking responsibility for continuing professional development

Year 1

  • Compulsory modules:

    • Dance Pedagogy: How Learners Learn, How Teachers Teach
    • Dance Pedagogy: Theory to Practice
    • Plus one module option

  • Module options:

    • Safe Practice and Enhancing Performance
    • Ballet Studies

Year 2

  • Compulsory modules:

    • Extending Teaching Practice
    • Evaluating Professional Practice and Values
    • Plus one module option

  • Module options:

    • People Dancing: Dance as a Participatory Art Form
    • Music for Studio and Stage

Entry requirements

Level 4 dance teaching qualification or equivalent. The RAD welcomes applications from professional dance teachers who do not hold traditional academic qualifications but have equivalent experiential learning.

Appropriate English Language Proficiency test for applicants whose first language is not English.

Assessment mode

Modules are assessed through a variety of practical examinations, written assignments, recorded oral presentations, projects, case studies and teaching portfolios.

Employment prospects

The programme will enhance the profile of dance teachers who operate a portfolio career across different contexts, as well as providing a pathway for further study.

Award

Successful completion of the programme leads to the award of the Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies and eligibility for registration as a dance teacher with the RAD.

Further study and career development

Graduates of the Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies may apply for a place on the BA (Hons) Dance Education and enter the programme at FHEQ Level 5.

More information

www.royalacademyofdance.org/ddts

Validated by:

  • Duration
     2 years part-time
  • Apply By
     Not running in 2024
  • Location:
     Distance learning and teaching placement (in your country of residence)
  • Application
     Via Registry, Faculty of Education, RAD
  • Start
     Programme paused in 2024
  • Language
     English
  • Level/Credits
     Level 5 (120 credits)

Fees for 2023/24

Fees for 2023/24 will be published in due course on our website at HE Fees.  Meanwhile the 2022/23 fees are listed here for guidance.

Faculty of Education graduates who go on to study for a postgraduate award delivered by the RAD or further study of an RAD award can benefit from a discount in tuition fees. Tuition fees are invoiced in instalments for each programme as appropriate.

Awards, bursaries and hardship funds

We are committed to providing support to students who wish to develop their skills and knowledge through study and we offer a limited number of awards, bursaries and hardship funds for specific purposes. The application forms and submission deadlines can be found under ‘Fees and funding’ on the RAD website.

For information on planning your budget and typical programme costs, such as dancewear, equipment, accommodation and travel, please see HE Fees.

Concessionary entry

A fee may be payable for programmes where applicants can submit a concessionary entry task. Further information on concessionary entry and associated costs can be found at How to Apply.

Distance learning (part-time)

UK/International students

£6,375

per programme, plus £120 registration fee on enrolment.

We are very proud of our students and graduates here at the RAD.

Read about their different student experiences and where they are now through our Student Voices.

Rosie Stockley

  • Graduate

    The link with the RAD has been so beneficial bringing me to where I am today and as a connection between the dance and fitness world. I was studying for my DDTS whilst I was studying for my fitness qualifications, and finished it after my baby was born, and the knowledge I gained was so useful for all parts of my teaching. Learning about the psychology of learning, community dance and anatomy is relevant in all areas of my current business.

    It has been so inspiring to me as someone who has always danced, but is now slightly removed from this vocation, how relevant and useful all my dance teacher training has been. The discipline, technicality and ways of motivating others are utilised daily in my current work. The support and training I received, plus my subsequent experiences of seeing how well regarded the RAD is in the wider community gives me no doubt that I made the right decision to further my training. I also feel that it is a qualification that you will always have, that will always be worth a lot in this profession (and wider fields), as a bare minimum – but in addition, the opportunities for continued growth are endless. I found it very inspiring to know that this could be just the start of a long journey of continued learning throughout my life.

Danielle Faldt

  • Current student

    I am from Brisbane, Australia and a graduate of the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies. After completing the programme in 2013, I have enjoyed a rewarding dance teaching career with students of all ages and as I enter my fifth decade of life, it is exciting to be part of the global RAD community as a teacher.

    Developing each student’s potential with a holistic focus, and most importantly, facilitating their love for dance is my reason for teaching and I continuously seek ways to improve my own teaching practices and knowledge. I chose the DDTS programme as my next step because it is practical, relevant and based on current best practice methods of dance teaching and student learning.

    I am thoroughly enjoying studying the literature and engaging in the modules with regular feedback and support from the tutors. The DDTS programme is helping me to develop further knowledge about how dance students engage in learning experiences, and what I can do as a role model to motivate students to develop their cognitive, social and skill acquisition in dance classes.  It has been empowering to discover teaching strategies that I can easily implement into classes to bring out the very best in each student that I teach. I also feel that this programme is consistently helping me to reflect on my own practices and therefore having a direct impact on improving my teaching knowledge and skills.

    After graduation, I hope to continue onto the BA (Hons) Dance Education to further increase my teaching competency and to help achieve my lifelong goal to become an RAD examiner and tutor.

    If you are considering updating, or enhancing your dance teaching practices, I highly recommend the DDTS programmes to further your dance teaching knowledge and skills in a supportive environment that provides a quality and globally recognised qualification.

Vickie Lesnick

  • Current student

    After training to be a professional dancer, I later retrained to be a yoga teacher before returning to teach dance in 2007 after completing the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies. I chose the DDTS programme as I was eager to develop my teaching skills and looked forward to starting the option modules and teaching placements. Returning to education as an older student is challenging but rewarding, and I soon realised that it is so important to have a timetable and keep to the study schedule while working full-time.

    I’m grateful to be able to continue my studies with the RAD, develop my students as dance artists and use the DDTS to build on my teaching knowledge. As a lifelong learner, I cannot recommend their professionalism enough as I get the opportunity to explore new avenues of teaching. With one hundred years of dance teaching experience, you will be taking the right step by studying with the RAD.