Summary
The Dance and Drama Awards are a scholarship scheme which subsidises professional vocational training at some of the leading performing arts schools in the United Kingdom.[1] Established in 1998, the awards are funded and regulated by the British Government through the Learning and Skills Council and are awarded to selected students at 21 specialist performing arts institutions.[2]
Overview edit
Dance and Drama Awards are offered to selected students, who are commencing training at the 21 specialist vocational schools chosen for the scheme. Through a process of auditions, the awarding school will identify the most talented students and allocate awards appropriately. The award pays a substantial contribution towards the cost of attending the relevant course and in many cases, also includes a means tested maintenance grant.[citation needed]
Courses edit
The vocational courses for which the awards are given are specially devised by Trinity College, London and, upon completion, provide a professional level qualification at either Level 5 or Level 6 on the National Qualifications Framework. Completion of one of these courses gives formal accreditation of the skills, knowledge and understanding that are acquired in training for employment as a professional actor, dancer, performing artist or in production roles supporting performance.[citation needed] Despite the fact that despite the courses being offered as post-16 further education, the qualifications are actually rated at graduate level.[citation needed]
Courses which are eligible for funding:[3]
National Qualifications Framework – Level 5
- National Certificate in Professional Acting
- National Certificate in Professional Classical Ballet
National Qualifications Framework – Level 6
- National Diploma in Professional Acting
- National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre
- National Diploma in Professional Dance
- National Diploma in Professional Production Skills
Schools edit
All the schools which participate in the Dance & Drama Awards scheme are validated by Trinity College and are inspected for educational standards by OFSTED. They are some of the top performing arts training establishments in the UK. [citation needed]
Schools validated to provide the qualifications are:[4][5]
- Academy of Live and Recorded Arts
- ArtsEd, London
- Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, Tring Park
- Bird College of Dance, Music & Theatre Performance
- Cambridge Performing Arts at Bodywork
- Drama Studio London
- Elmhurst Ballet School
- English National Ballet School
- GSA Conservatoire
- The Hammond School
- Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
- Laine Theatre Arts
- Liverpool Theatre School and College
- Millennium Dance 2000
- Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
- Northern Ballet School
- Oxford School of Drama
- Performers College
- SLP College Leeds
- Stella Mann College
- Urdang Academy
Eligibility edit
There are no prerequisites for receiving a Dance and Drama Award. They are awarded based solely on talent and ability, therefore they are not subject to means testing of the student's financial status. The only restriction on who is eligible to receive an award is that recipients must be between the ages of 16 and 23[6] and must have been resident in the United Kingdom or the European Union for a minimum of 3 years prior to the commencement of the course.[7]
Notable recipients edit
- Connie Fisher,[8] winner of BBC1 talent show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
- Dominic Burgess, stage and television actor
- Ryan J. Brown, actor and screenwriter
References edit
- ^ "Make your dreams come true with a Dance and Drama Award : Directgov - Education and learning". Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ^ "Learning and Skills Council - Information for Providers". Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
- ^ "Learning and Skills Council - Qualifications - Qualifications". Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
- ^ "Dance and Drama Awards: Courses and schools (A-M) : Directgov - Education and learning". Archived from the original on 16 July 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2007.
- ^ "Dance and Drama Awards: Courses and schools (N-Z) : Directgov - Education and learning". Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
- ^ "Funding". Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "Grants and bursaries for adult learners". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Education and Learning: Make your dreams come true with a Dance and Drama Award". DirectGov. 8 January 2008. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2019 – via The National Archives.