Syllabus and Beyond Conference 2026

Back again for 2026, delivering both syllabus and non-syllabus topics to you, our annual online conference is jam packed full of dance industry content!

Join us for a selection of 8 exciting CPD webinars from the comfort of your own home. From answering your bbodance syllabus queries on the higher Jazz grades, to discussing digitising tax and how this impacts your business, we're sure there'll be something for everyone!

Sign up for one day for 6 hours CPD or come along for both days, and gain an immense 12 hours of CPD. Remember, members receive a discount!

All talks will be recorded and sent to attendees after the event if they can’t watch live.

TIMETABLE:

Wednesday 27th May

10am – 11:15am: Vocational Jazz with Debbie Clark

Deborah Clark FBBO is Principal of the Wallasey School of Ballet, Senior Examiner and deviser of the bbodance Tap syllabus. She studied the Jazz syllabus in depth with Peter Salmon and Jane Darling, its' original creators. In this 1¼ hour session, Debbie and a demonstrator will cover the Ragtime Dance from Intermediate Foundation, as well as any other requests sent in from participants prior to the talk.

11:45am – 1:00pm: A Leap Beyond: How to Improve Leaps and Flexibility in Dance with Claire Farmer

In this session we will discuss some of the key movements that require flexibility and power including leaps and splits and what elements we can incorporate into teaching to ensure dancers carry out these movements safely and efficiently. We will also explore how to improve leaps and flexibility through a combination of strength, flexibility training and neuromuscular control. This will include a few short practical explorations.

2:00pm – 3:15pm: Moving from the Barre: Teaching Adults with Julia Delaney

Julia Delaney is an experienced ballet educator and lecturer who has taught across schools, universities, private studios, and community dance settings. Holding a BA (Hons) in Ballet Education and an MA in Ballet Studies, Julia is passionate about creating inclusive, supportive ballet environments that combine strong technical foundations with a learner-centred approach. Her work focuses particularly on adult dance education and lifelong participation in ballet.

Through this CPD presentation, Julia shares practical teaching strategies and insights from her experience as a dance educator and researcher, supporting teachers to create inclusive, motivating, and engaging ballet classes for adults.

3:45pm – 5:00pm: Grades 1 - 3 Musical Theatre with Sophie Sharp

bbodance teacher and member of the Musical Theatre syllabus creation team, Sophie Sharp, will take you through the specification for the Grades 1 – 3 Musical Theatre syllabi, looking at progressions from the lower grades and how this develops through Level 1. In this webinar, Sophie will discuss a range of teaching strategies for different exercises that students often struggle with and focus on ways to master trickier aspects of the syllabi. A collaborative conversation is encouraged; so please do get in touch with us beforehand if you'd like to pin point anything specific!

Thursday 28th May

10am – 11:15am: Career Options in Dance with Anna Mendelssohn

11:45am – 12:30pm: Making Tax Digital – what does it means to you with Kerrie Jenkins (Atek Accounting)

Whether you run a dance school, teach independently or work for yourself in any capacity, this session will help you understand what the government's Making Tax Digital initiative means for you and your business.

From April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD ITSA) becomes mandatory for around three million professionals, who may be small business owners, freelance self-employed individuals or sole traders. That means quarterly digital reporting, HMRC-approved software, and tighter record-keeping rules. Miss the deadline, and penalties follow.

This session, prepared exclusively for bbodance members, cuts through the jargon so you know exactly where you stand - and what to do next.

You'll come away knowing:

• Whether you need to join MTD and when, based on your income threshold

• Advice on HMRC-approved software for digital record keeping

• What to submit each quarter, how to do it, and the mistakes to avoid

• How the new End-of-Period Statement and Final Declaration work

• How the new penalty system operates — and how to stay on the right side of it

MTD arrived on stage in April 2026. Join us and get compliant with confidence.

2:00pm – 3:15pm: Neurodiversity Training with Access Sport

3:45pm – 5:00pm: Confidence in Singing for Musical Theatre with Matthew Malthouse

Do you have students taking the bbodance vocational Musical Theatre grades who are keen to perform the singing element? Do you wish to gain more confidence in supporting your dancers' journey into Musical Theatre? Join us for this online session covering the basics of singing technique with Matthew Malthouse (creator of the Intermediate & Advanced 1 Musical Theatre syllabi).

In this webinar Matt will be covering singing basics: breath control, releasing tension, and alignment. He will also focus on acting through song and how to start finding a character, achieving a more believable performance. Everything will be taught in a fun and inclusive environment and will only cover the fundamentals, tailored with a dance teachers' approach in mind.