Full-time Dance Courses
Dance Sixth-form, Gap Year & Foundation Courses in Bracknell
We offer three options for performers who want to study dance full time:
Extended Diploma (sixth form) L3- 2 year
Gap Year Diploma L3 - 1 and 2 year options
Gap Year Foundation (with or without teaching) L4 - 1 Year
If you are passionate about a career in dance, as a performer, teacher or choreographer, apply now to join our one or two year options. Fully funded and totally free if you are 16-18 at the start of the school year.
In addition to intensive training on your main qualification, you will take graded exams in your chosen dance form in year one, and can work towards an associate teaching qualification with IDTA in year two.
As well as your main college week (spread over three or four full days) you can opt to take part in our Jazz Company, Commercial Street Crew, Cheer squads, musical theatre and acting companies for free as well (evenings and weekends). And if that wasn’t enough, we work with two arts centres to place students in their large public shows at Easter, Summer and Christmas time—giving you loads of on stage experience in addition to college shows and events. The average student can audition to appear in 10 or more shows and events every year at Artemis College.
What Will I Study?
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• Jazz Techniques
• Commercial Dance
• Contemporary Dance
• Ballet
• Tap
• Conditioning
• Hip Hop/Street
• Cheerleading & Gym (optional)
• World Dance
• Singing Techniques
• Acting Technique
• Rehearsals for shows, competitions and events
• 1:1 Next steps and support clinic with a dedicated tutor every two weeks.
• Developing Skills for Live Performance (Acting Skills)
• Musical Theatre Technique
• Collaborative performance project
• Agency applications
• Audition Technique
• UCAS application preparation including personal statements, and university course selections
• Study Skills
• Audition Techniques
• Graded exams (acting and musical theatre)
• Show Choir (optional with public performances)
• Jazz Company (optional, by audition, regional and national competitions)
• Vocational Grades - Each student will take a graded qualification in addition to their main qualification. If you already take grades in your dance school this is fine - we have a lot to choose from that you wont have done.Throughout the year you will explore a range of dance styles as well as devise material for performances. You will explore skills in technique, developing an understanding of the style, structure and themes in dance performance. You will visit shows including West End performances - all paid for and part of your course!
Guest workshops
We have former students who are at, or recently graduated from, performing arts universities come back and speak to current students about their course, and what to expect when you graduate. You can ask them anything!
We also invite friends of the faculty and graduates who are working as respected professionals in the industry to meet you and lead workshops - some of these events take place during school trips - especially in the West End. In 2022 this included ‘ & Juliet’ where you could meet the actor playing Romeo, the actress playing Juliet!
Our students have had guest workshops recently with with West End Producer Paul Taylor Mills, principle cast from Hamilton, SIX, 42nd Street, Lion King, Hairspray and more. We are able to do this through our fantastic staff team who are still working on the stage and screen themselves.
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• Developing the Voice for Performance
• Jazz Techniques (Technique and Company for competition)
• Commercial Dance (technique and crew for competition)
• Contemporary Dance
• Ballet
• Tap
• Conditioning
• Hip Hop/Street (technique and crew for competition)
• Cheerleading & Gym (optional)
• Singing Techniques
• Developing performance and production skills
• Rehearsals for shows, competitions and events
• Movement for Performance
• 1:1 Next steps and support clinic with a dedicated tutor every two weeks.
• Final Major Project (large show in a theatre for the public - in 2022 this will be Legally Blonde the Musical)
• Employment Opportunities in the Performing Arts
• UCAS applications and support applying to HE
• Audition material selection and preparation for university, vocational higher training
• Study Skills (improving your coursework grades for written work, completing assignments and preparing you for university)
• Audition Techniques
• Graded exams or IDTA Associate Teacher Qualification
• Show Choir (optional with public performances)
• Jazz Company (optional, by audition, regional and national competitions)This is not an exhaustive list - there will be other unit options and classes above and beyond the main qualification requirements.
This course is included in the UCAS tariff.
In addition to the main college week (timetabled core classes will run between Tuesday and Friday, 10am and 6pm), plus show rehearsal weeks, exams, trips and other activities.
During October half term, December holidays and Easter holidays we have ‘reading weeks’. This is a chance for revision, catching up on coursework and 1:1 sessions with tutors for subjects i which you need more support.
Entry Criteria
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Audition: You must pass an audition with our Head of Dance, demonstrating high skill in at least one dance style, with the ability to take direction and a keenness to learn multiple styles with us. You will also sing and act as part of the audition. Supporting video may be submit, and a recall may be required if we see potential but you have not danced well on audition day.
Academic: Minimum 5 GCSEs at grade A-C (4 or above) including Maths and English (we can a so accept Functional Skills Level 2 pass in Maths and English).
We are not able to fund or accept anyone without Maths and English.
Aged 16-18 on 1st August. If you are older, you have the option to self-fund, this costs £4750 a year for 2024/25.
Who can apply?
• You must have 5 or more GCSE’s at grade 4 or higher - including Maths and English.
• To be government funded you must still be 18 on 1st August. If you are older, you have the option to self-fund at £4500 a year.
• You must also meet our high ability criteria, and be in good general health to be able to attend a minimum of 95% of classes.
You must have the right to live and work in the U.K to be funded.
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At Artemis, we pride ourselves on offering support to all of our young people throughout their programme.
We have a number of learners who have a range of support needs from specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia), or autistic spectrum disorders to mental health conditions, amongst others. You must be able to keep up in class however. Unlike other sixth forms, this is a vocational course - for experienced and ambitious performers.
If you currently have a valid Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) or a Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA), you may be entitled to government funded support from your local authority to ensure we help you achieve the best from your learning. Our SENco officer will need a recent copy (no more than 12 months old) of your plan as soon as possible - so we can make sure we can meet your needs. Artemis is a small college (60 students) and we will not be able to offer the same resources as a large college or school. It will take longer for us to assess your audition, as we will need to have meetings with our SENCO, who is not full time for Artemis. They will assess the plan, and discuss with the Senior Team what they believe will be needed and is possible. Only those who need to be in the meeting or see the plan will have access. This process can take two to three weeks in term time, or longer over holiday periods. If you are applying for a last minute place in summer, please ensure you do so at least two weeks BEFORE the summer holidays begin.
If we think with or without support we can meet your needs, we will then approach the LEA for their approval in principle. Please note, if support (such as a teaching assistant) is needed - students will not be able to take up a place at college until the LEA have submitted written approval from their panel. This can take between 1 and 6 weeks depending on the LEA.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of learning support, please do not hesitate to contact our office and staff will be pleased to help you.
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If you already have a full Diploma or Extended Diploma Level 3 qualification in Performing Arts (such as Btec or UAL), you will NOT be re-fundable by the government for another Level 3 This is because the government would consider it double funding (for a person to take the same level and topic of qualification twice, even if our syllabus is substantially different). You can still self-fund.
If you are 19 or older on 1st August - you will not be fundable. You can self-fund.
If you are not a British citizen, or do not have the legal right to live and work in the U.K (proof required), you are not fundable. You can self-fund.
There is written coursework as well as physical and performing classes. Assistance from tutors is available with written work but some home study is also expected.
Performing ability: You will need to be very strong in dancing, and strong or with the ability to be in singing or acting with potential to improve in all areas. We work at a tough pace, and your overall grade will take into account all areas (with a heavy focus on dance).
Course duration and start date: The course begins in September and lasts for one or two years depending on your first year.
Next Steps
For further details on the course, see the course page on our College website.
