Conservatoire for Dance and Drama

The Conservatoire comprises eight specialist schools delivering world-leading education and vocational training in the performing arts. We train the performing artists and production professionals of the future: actors, circus artists, dancers, stage managers, technical theatre practitioners, choreographers and directors. Located at the heart of three vibrant cultural centres in London, Bristol and Leeds, the Conservatoire schools.

Within the Conservatoire there is a balance between the art forms of dance, drama and circus arts, and between classical and contemporary styles. Internationally renowned centres of training, our schools are also creative laboratories: we bring in national and international artists to work with our students and support emerging writers, directors and choreographers in creating and showcasing new work.

Students at our schools value the immersive experience of conservatoire training and its unparalleled access to the performing arts industries, and student satisfaction and teaching are rated consistently highly in the National Student Survey. Each school has an established record of training its students to a professional standard, with excellent employment rates in the fields of dance, drama or circus. Together, we provide a pipeline of expertly-trained performing arts professionals working in the UK’s lucrative creative industries and helping to build the UK’s international reputation.

The Conservatoire is a publicly-funded institution. This means that our UK and EU students are eligible for government loans and grants (Student Finance) as well as financial support provided by the Conservatoire and the individual schools. Although applications are made direct to the school, and not through UCAS, our students are able to obtain government financial support in the same way as students from any other university. We recruit on the basis of talent and potential, irrespective of background, and we audition or interview every eligible applicant.

Celebrating diversity and working to achieve the creative potential in all our students is at the heart of the work of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. We are committed to training and supporting the most talented students, regardless of ethnicity, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or religion. Applicants to the Conservatoire schools are chosen solely on the basis of their talent and potential to develop the skills required for their chosen profession.

The Conservatoire aims to meet, and where possible exceed, its legal obligations regarding equality and diversity. To fulfil this aim the Conservatoire has established an Equality and Diversity Group comprising Conservatoire staff and representatives from all eight schools.