Teaching Qualifications and Courses

The bbodance Teaching Qualifications (TQs) are designed to help you access a qualification based on your level of experience.

Why bbodance?

Our teaching qualifications are recognised by Ofqual and Qualification Wales. This means you can be confident in the quality, fairness, and trustworthiness of our qualifications.

We have a flexible approach to delivery. Modules can be studied online, with webinars held on Sundays, and personal tutorials can be scheduled around your existing commitments. Our Introduction to Dance Teaching and Dance Teaching Practice Diplomas include in-person practical sessions, but alternative arrangements can be made if you are based outside of the UK.

You have access to our online learning site for the duration of your studies, which provides learning materials, resources and study skills support.
You can apply our Assistant, Introductory and DTP courses to any genre, any syllabi and any teaching context.

We have a dedicated team of tutors and bbodance staff who wholeheartedly support every student to get the most out of their learning experience, supporting them to enjoy sustainable careers as dance teachers.

Apply for a Course

Selecting the right course for you

Certificate Dance Teaching Assistant

Perfect if you:

Are currently assisting at your dance school.
Would like to start assisting at a dance school.

Diploma Introduction to Dance Teaching

Perfect if you:

Have completed our Certificate Dance Teaching Assistant and are looking to progress.
Are a novice dance teacher at the start of your career.
Are currently working as a dance teacher but have never completed any formal teaching qualifications/training.
Wish to eventually progress onto our Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice to become fully qualified.

Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice

Perfect if you:

Have completed our Introductory course and wish to progress to become a qualified dance teacher.
Are a highly experienced dance teacher looking to gain a formal qualification.
Have been teaching dance for a minimum of 2 years and have completed other teacher training, such as a PGCE or BA in Education.
Are a professional dancer with 5+ years of performing and teaching experience, making the career transition into teaching.

Licentiate

Perfect if you:

Are a qualified dance teacher with a recognised Awarding Organisation.
Would like to specialise in our world-class syllabus.

Please note: all applicants must meet the full eligibility criteria for their selected course. Course selection and entry is subject to a successful application and interview with the bbodance Teaching Qualifications team. If you have questions about which course to apply for, email our friendly team via tq@bbo.dance

Course Information

Apply for a Course

Dance Teaching Qualification Pathways
Please note: entry points are based on qualifications, experience and entry requirements.

Pathways to Becoming a Qualified Dance Teacher

Pathway 1: Complete the Diploma Introduction to Dance Teaching (60 credits) and progress onto the Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice (60 credits), after which you can become a Registered Teacher with bbodance. This pathway is designed for applicants who have been teaching for less than 2 years and/or do not have any other teacher training or pedagogical experience.

Pathway 2: Progress directly onto the Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice (60 credits), after which you can become a Registered Teacher with bbodance. This pathway is designed for highly experienced dance teachers or dance teachers who have normally been teaching dance as a main job for at least 2 years and have completed other teacher training, such as a PGCE or a BA in Education.

Applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Certificate Dance Teaching Assistant

Course Insights and Delivery

Our Dance Teaching Assistant course introduces dance teaching as a profession but also equips you with more knowledge about your role as an assistant. It is designed for students who are currently assisting, or who would like to start, and wish to gain formal recognition for their role. Our flexible approach to training makes the course possible for you to complete alongside school, exams and existing dance commitments.

This course carries UCAS Tariff Points which can be crucial in university or college applications. For many students, it’s the perfect age to complete this course as they begin thinking about studying at university or college, beyond GCSEs/A-Levels.

The course is delivered through a blended approach of online webinars, guided learning and independent study. Scheduled webinars are held on Sundays and tutorials can be scheduled around school and existing commitments. You are supported by bbodance tutors and your dance teacher who acts as a Host Dance School during your studies.

The Dance Teaching Assistant course runs two times per year, in February and October.

Modules of Study:

Observation for Teaching
Frameworks, Policies and Procedures to Support Teachers
Devising Dance Training Activities

The course is 15 credits delivered at Level 3. It requires 150 hours of study across 3-4 months (approximately 10 hours per week).

As part of the course, you are required to observe 15 classes taught by qualified dance teachers, taking place at the Host Dance School listed on your application form.

Eligibility:

Note that syllabus-based dance qualifications can be with any recognised dance awarding organisation and in any dance genre.

If you are unsure if you meet the entry requirements, please contact tq@bbo.dance where we can help:

Students aged 14+

Level 2 dance qualification (eg. Grade 4, Intermediate Foundation, BTEC First, GCSE Dance Grade 4)
Attendance at a Host Dance School approved by bbodance

Course Dates and Fees:

Application deadline: 10th January 2027

Next Course: February to June 2027

Welcome Webinar: February 2027

Online Webinars: Selected Sundays from February to May 2027

Fee: £572.00* (option to pay by monthly instalments)

Being a Host Dance School:

Host Dance Schools do not need to be bbodance schools or have any prior knowledge of the organisation, the approval process simply ensures us that you can support your student assistant with their studies. Host Dance School teachers are provided with guidance on how to support their student assistants and have direct access to the bbodance Teaching Qualifications team.

Supporting students to complete this course is a fantastic way to market your school and showcase your commitment to providing quality training through having assistants who have completed a qualification.

Career Prospects:

Acquisition of UCAS points to support application to UK colleges and universities.
Formal recognition of knowledge and skills as a Dance Teaching Assistant, enabling students to work or volunteer as a Dance Teaching Assistant.
The knowledge and skills required to progress to the bbodance Level 4 Diploma Introduction to Dance Teaching.

* Fees are reviewed annually and any increases are applied to courses starting on or after 1st September in each academic year.

Download the Specification

Student Stories

Becoming a Host Dance School

Diploma Introduction to Dance Teaching

Course Insights and Delivery

Our Introduction to Dance Teaching diploma course is designed for new teachers who are just starting their journey. It provides the fundamental skills and knowledge required to teach effectively at this point in your career. Our training harnesses best practice in dance teaching to ensure you can progress with confidence.

Our course focuses on developing your understanding of different teaching and learning strategies, health and safety requirements in dance teaching, and how to structure and teach a dance class. You will also learn about dance teaching as a profession and the legal requirements of working as a freelance dance teacher.

The course is delivered through a blended approach of online webinars, guided learning and independent study. You will be required to attend a one day practical intensive, normally held at bbodance Headquarters in London. Scheduled webinars are held on Sundays and tutorials can be scheduled around existing commitments.

Successful completion of the course makes students eligible to study our Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice, leading to full qualification as a dance teacher.

The Introduction to Dance Teaching course runs two times per year, in February and September.

Modules of Study:

Observing Teaching and Learning Strategies
Business and Career Development
Safe Dance Teaching Practice
Applying Teaching and Learning Strategies in Practice

The course is 60 credits delivered at Level 4. It requires 600 hours of study across 6-7 months (approximately 20 hours of study per week). As part of the course, students are required to organise and complete 30 sessions of observation of dance teaching and a 20-minute micro-teach.

Whilst on course, students have access to FREE Teaching Qualifications Membership with bbodance, including all its benefits (access to syllabus, teaching resources & templates, and discounts on CPD).

Eligibility:

You do not need to have a teaching job to study this course, but you will need access to a group of learners to teach for assessment purposes. Note that syllabus-based dance qualifications can be with any recognised dance awarding organisation and in any dance genre.

If you are unsure if you meet the entry requirements, please contact tq@bbo.dance where we can help:

Students aged 18+

Level 3 dance qualification (eg. Grade 6, Intermediate, BTEC National, A-Level Dance)
GCSE or equivalent in English (Grade 4)

Course Dates and Fees:

Application deadline: 10th January 2027

Next Course: February to August 2027

Welcome Webinar: February 2027

Online Webinars: Selected Sundays from February to July 2027

Studio-based delivery: One full day onsite (alternative learning provided for students based outside of the UK)

Fee: £1838.00* (5% discount if paid upfront, or option to pay full fee by monthly instalments)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

We offer RPL for our Introduction to Dance Teaching and Dance Teaching Practice diploma courses. If you’ve already completed dance or dance education studies at the equivalent level of the course you wish to apply for or have equivalent professional experience, you may be exempt from selected modules of study. You can apply for RPL as part of your course application, and RPL applications must be received prior to the start of your course. You are advised to discuss your eligibility for RPL prior to or during the application process.

Further information can be found in the bbodance Teaching Qualifications Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and procedure, which can be found on our website within bbodance Policies and Guidelines.

Career Prospects:

Formal recognition of foundational knowledge and skills of dance teaching, enabling students to seek employment as dance teachers who are not yet formally qualified.
Access to Associate Membership with bbodance.
Access to bbodance syllabi and permission to teach bbodance syllabi (but not enter students for examinations).
The knowledge and skills required to progress to the bbodance Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice leading to formal qualification as a dance teacher.

* Fees are reviewed annually and any increases are applied to courses starting on or after 1st September in each academic year.

Download the Specification

Student Stories

Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice

Course Insights and Delivery

This course builds on the fundamental skills and pedagogical knowledge from our Introduction to Dance Teaching course, or equivalent experience. The course develops your understanding of dance curriculum planning, how children develop, and dance injury prevention and management. There is a strong focus on extending and enhancing your teaching skills and shaping your practice to suit your learners and dance teaching context.

This course leads to formal qualification as a dance teacher. To be qualified means meeting the standard we expect in order to teach dance effectively and safely. Holding a formal qualification enhances employability and demonstrates to your customers that you are committed to providing quality training and staying up to date with industry practices.

We believe learning how to teach whilst teaching is the most valuable way to progress as a teacher, which is why this course is designed to integrate with your working practice, in your individual teaching context. Module content and assessment are relevant to your day-to-day teaching and can be applied whilst on course. You can be teaching any genre, any syllabus and in any context – there is no requirement for any prior knowledge of bbodance.

The course is delivered through a blended approach of online webinars, guided learning and independent study. You are required to attend a two day practical intensive, normally held at bbodance Headquarters in London. Scheduled webinars are held on Sundays and tutorials can be scheduled around existing commitments.

The Dance Teaching Practice course runs two times per year, in May and October.

Modules of Study:

Curriculum Design
Child Development
Dance Science for Teaching Practice
Teaching and Learning in Practice

The course is 60 credits delivered at Level 4. It requires 600 hours of study across 6-7 months (approximately 20 hours of study per week).

Whilst on course, students have access to FREE Teaching Qualifications Membership with bbodance, including all its benefits (access to syllabus, teaching resources & templates, and discounts on CPD).

Eligibility:

Note that syllabus-based dance qualifications can be with any recognised dance awarding organisation and in any dance genre.

If you are unsure you meet the entry requirements, please contact tq@bbo.dance where we can help:

Students aged 18+

Level 3 dance qualification (eg. Grade 6, Intermediate, BTEC National, A-Level Dance)
GCSE or equivalent in English (Grade 4)
bbodance Diploma Introduction to Dance Teaching or equivalent from a recognised awarding organisation (or equivalent dance teaching experience*), or if you are a professional dancer, a minimum of 5 years’ contracted work as a professional dancer
Students should be teaching at least 2 classes per week and will need to teach a minimum of 30 dance classes over the duration of the course.

*equivalent experience would ensure the applicant’s experience covers everything they would have learned if undertaking the Introduction to Dance Teaching course. These details can be attained prior to or at interview.

Course Dates and Fees:

Application deadline: 4th April 2027

Next Course: May to November 2027

Welcome Webinar: May 2027

Online Webinars: Sundays from May to October 2027

Studio-based delivery: Two days onsite for practical workshops (alternative learning provided for students based outside of the UK)

Fee: £2,500.00* (5% discount if paid upfront, or option to pay to full fee via monthly instalments)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

We offer RPL for our Introduction to Dance Teaching and Dance Teaching Practice diploma courses. If you’ve already completed dance or dance education studies at the equivalent level of the course you wish to apply for or have equivalent professional experience, you may be exempt from selected modules of study. You can apply for RPL as part of your course application, and RPL applications must be received prior to the start of your course. You are advised to discuss your eligibility for RPL prior to or during the application process.

Further information can be found in the bbodance Teaching Qualifications Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and procedure, which can be found on our website within bbodance Policies and Guidelines.

Career Prospects:

Formal qualification as a dance teacher.
Professional recognition by Ofqual and Qualifications Wales.
Access to Registered Teacher Membership with bbodance.
Access to bbodance syllabi, permission to teach bbodance syllabi and enter students for examinations, use of the bbodance brand and network.
The knowledge and skills required to progress to the bbodance Level 5 Licentiate.

* Fees are reviewed annually and any increases are applied to courses starting on or after 1st September in each academic year.

Download the Specification

Student Stories

Licentiate

Course Insights and Delivery

Completing a bbodance Licentiate shows a commitment to providing the very best syllabus-based dance education for your students, from learning the syllabus to taking an examination. The course builds on the pedagogical knowledge and skills developed during the bbodance Dance Teaching Practice diploma or an alternative recognised dance teaching qualification. It is designed to guide teachers to apply their knowledge to a specific genre of bbodance syllabi.

The course is delivered through a blended form of in-person instruction, online learning and independent study. Teachers are required to attend an intensive, studio-based practical course. Online learning takes place prior to the practical course component and independent study activities are completed during and after the practical course component.

The course is 7 credits delivered at Level 5. It requires 70 hours of study over 3 months.

Eligibility:

To fulfil the requirements of this course, students must be able to teach bbodance syllabus content in the genre of the Licentiate course offered to a group of learners that they already teach. Note that syllabus-based dance qualifications can be with any recognised dance awarding organisation and in any dance genre.

If you are unsure if you meet the entry requirements, please contact tq@bbo.dance where we can help:

Students aged 18+

Level 3 dance qualification in the relevant dance genre, such as Grade 6 or Intermediate (with any recognised awarding organisation)
GCSE or equivalent in English (Grade 4)
Either the relevant bbodance teaching qualification* or a Level 4 dance teaching qualification from an alternative recognised awarding organisation (or equivalent dance teaching experience)

* The relevant bbodance teaching qualification is one that provides eligibility to Registered Teacher Membership of bbodance, for example, the Level 5 Diploma in Dance Teaching, the Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice (2026 onwards) or any Level 6 award.

Course Dates and Fees:

Licentiate in Classical Ballet

Application deadline: 7th February 2027

Next Course: March to May 2027

Welcome Webinar: 7th March 2027

Online Learning: 8th March to 8th April 2027

Studio-based intensive: TBC April 2027 (Birmingham)

Independent Study and Assessment: 12th April to 28th May 2027

Fee: £1,000.00* (option to pay via monthly instalments)

Licentiate in Tap

Next Course: Information will be published soon!

Fee: £1,000.00* (option to pay via monthly instalments)

Career Prospects:

Formal recognition of specialist knowledge of bbodance syllabi.
Confidence in teaching bbodance syllabi and entering and preparing students for syllabus examinations.
If you are not already a Registered Teacher Member with bbodance, access to Registered Teacher Membership with bbodance, access to bbodance syllabi, permission to teach bbodance syllabi and enter students for examinations, use of the bbodance brand and network.
Eligibility to use the designation Lbbodance.
Licentiate study contributes to your required CPD hours (successful completion of the course covers all your required hours for that academic year).
A pathway to becoming a bbodance Examiner (subject to availability).
A pathway to joining the bbodance CPD faculty (subject to availability).

Download the Specification

"It’s inspiring to be part of an organisation that values tradition while embracing innovation. The bbodance community is nurturing, progressive, and genuinely committed to excellence in dance education."

- Kemal, bbodance TQ Tutor

Speak to our team

Studying with bbodance

Fees and Funding

Application Fee

Applicants will be required to pay a £35 application fee when applying for Teaching Qualification courses.

An application fee is not required for returning students registering for the next course/level, or bbodance Registered Teacher members applying for the Licentiate.

Payment Options

There are two options for paying Teaching Qualification course fees:

Option 1: Pay the full course fee upfront.

Option 2: Pay a Registration Fee followed by a payment plan of monthly instalments.

Discounts

We provide the following discounts on course fees:

5% discount for payment of the full course fee upfront for either the Level 4 Diploma Introduction to Dance Teaching or the Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice
5% discount for students returning to complete either the Level 4 Diploma Introduction to Dance Teaching or the Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice
5% discount for professional dancers registered on the Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice

Funding

Applicants may be eligible for help with course fees through a scholarship or grant from their local education authority. Professional dancers may be eligible for a Retraining Grant from Dancers Career Development to help pay for course fees.

Additional Costs

Students may be required to purchase recommended books and software to support completion of their studies. Students are sent a full resource list once registered on a course providing information on what they will need.

Students may be required to pay additional fees during their studies, such as a Re-submission Fee for re-assessment of a failed assessment. For full details, see the Teaching Qualifications Payment of Fees: Terms and Conditions.

Study Support

Studying with bbodance is fun, flexible and accessible. As long as you have a reliable internet connection, you can study from anywhere and the balance between scheduled sessions and independent study means you can study around your work and other commitments.

You are given access to our online learning site which provides your course materials, module learning resources, and study skills support.

For each module, you are assigned a tutor who supports you throughout the module by answering questions, leading online sessions, setting study tasks, scheduling individual or group tutorials, providing feedback on your work to help you progress your learning and assessing your final assignment.

You will be assessed through a variety of modes, including practical, written and presentation work and all assignments are submitted digitally.

Disability Support

If you have a disability or long-term health condition that means you require additional support whilst studying, you can discuss your needs with us. We provide reasonable adjustments for students with a range of disabilities and conditions, including but not limited to specific learning differences (such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD), mental health difficulties (such as anxiety, depression), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), long-term medical conditions, sensory impairments (such as visual impairment, hearing impairment), and mobility or physical impairments.

Reasonable Adjustments Policy

Equivalent of Qualification Levels

The table below indicates the equivalent qualification level (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) of each level of award of bbodance Graded and Vocational Graded dance examinations and Teaching Qualifications.

Level	Equivalent Qualification Level
Level 5 (Licentiate)	Equivalent level of study to the second year of an undergraduate degree, a Diploma of Higher Education, a Foundation Degree or a Higher National Diploma
Level 4 (Diploma Introduction to Dance Teaching and Diploma in Dance Teaching Practice)	Equivalent level of study to the first year of an undergraduate degree or a Certificate of Higher Education
Level 3 (Certificate Dance Teaching Assistant)	Equivalent to A Level standard
Level 2	Equivalent to GCSE standard

UCAS Tariff Points

In addition to Level 3 bbodance Graded and Vocational Graded examinations, the Level 3 Dance Teaching Assistant Certificate carries UCAS Tariff Points. Many UK universities, colleges and conservatoires use UCAS Tariff points as a way to determine whether an applicant meets the entry requirements for a course. The number of points is determined by the classification of the award (i.e. Pass, Merit or Distinction), as follows:

Level 3 Dance Teaching Assistant Certificate Grade	UCAS Tariff Points
Distinction	12
Merit	8
Pass	4

The Level 4 and 5 courses do not carry UCAS points but do indicate specialist knowledge at an equivalent level (see the Equivalence table above), an ability to study independently and the determination, dedication and resilience needed for study at a higher level.

"The courses are designed with a strong practical focus, clearly connecting theory to real-world teaching. This approach makes the learning immediately relevant and easy to apply in the studio."

- Guy, bbodance TQ Tutor