Dance School Of The Year - 2019 Finalists

Wednesday 2nd of October by Charlotte Pilkington
Keywords: Dance School Of The Year, DSOTY, Anne Walker

SAA have done it again for the 3rd year running! We have got through to the finals against dance schools from around the world!

SAA are extremely proud to announce that after hours of pulling together a 6,500 word portfolio including photographs, documentation and other supporting evidence we have made it to the finals for a 3rd consecutive year!

With a very busy school life it isn't very often we take a step back and reflect on the year we have just had and in doing so, it has made us realise what a fantastic team we are.

Please see the official DSOTY press release below and wish us luck at the award ceremony on 25th October!


Dance School Of The Year

Dance School of the Year 2019
Finalists Press Release 

Now in its 7th year, the Dance School of the Year Awards was founded by Anne Walker MBE to celebrate the achievements of dance schools who so often do not receive the recognition they deserve.  Dance teachers provide so much more than just a dance lesson, offering support and discipline and teaching young people how to work as part of a group that relies on each other.

The finalists of this prestigious award have just been announced and we Southern Arts Academy are thrilled to be one of the shortlisted schools.

Finalists represent schools of all sizes. Entries were received from across the UK as well as from Europe, Canada and Australia and were in five categories:

  • Up to 100 students
  • 100-200 students
  • 200-300 students
  • 300+ students
  • Boys Award

Judges this year were industry specialist Sarah Dickinson ARAD and businesswoman and entrepreneur Sarah Cressall. They will join the dance teachers and their staff and supporters at the Awards Ceremony which will be held at a glamorous black-tie event at the Woodbury Park Hotel in Devon later this month. Winners will be announced, and trophies distributed, at this red-carpet glamorous reception.

As well as bronze, silver and gold winners in each category, this year there is a special Boys Award, for Innovation in the teaching of male dance which is donated by Royal Academy of Dance as part of their Project B initiative to encourage more boys to take up dancing. There is an Overall Winner who will be crowned Dance School of the Year 2019. Trophies are awarded to winners of all categories as well as prizes provided thanks to the generous sponsorship of Melody Bear, Dancing Times, Class Talent, Groove Child, Class Manager, UK Dance Class Championships, Royal Academy of Dance and DSI London.

Anne Walker MBE, a former dance teacher who has founded and run a number of dance businesses and is now a business mentor and author, created these Awards to celebrate this incredible industry. She says: “Dance teachers should be applauded and celebrated. So much more than just a teacher – they are almost a substitute parent to many of their students as they are role models, mentors and social workers, offering support, stability and a disciplined approach to life.

Fellow dance teachers have supported me in my career over many years and now I hope, through these Awards, we can all celebrate the life-long passion for dance and the achievements of dance teachers everywhere.” 





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