Training at LCDS balances consistency and versatility, and is designed to respond to the needs of contemporary dancers and dance-makers working in the world today. Our technical training draws on Cunningham, Limón and release-based techniques, and students have a minimum of three hours’ technique class each day. Students are also encouraged to engage with the process of creating dance. We equip our graduates with the technique, as well as the artistic and intellectual skills, to be able not only to contribute to their chosen art form but also to engage with it, and explore the boundaries of what it means to be a contemporary dance artist. 

Our Graduate School offers one-year Postgraduate Diploma and MA courses in Advanced Dance Studies, Performance, Choreography and Dance Training & Education. We have a postgraduate performance company, EDge, who tour nationally and internationally, and an apprenticeships scheme, which allows students to spend a year as an apprentice with a professional dance company; current LCDS apprentices are dancing with Richard Alston Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Henri Oguike Dance Company, Diversions, Scottish Dance Theatre and Hofesh Shechter Company. Graduate students also work towards MPhil and PhD research degrees, and proposals for research projects are particularly welcome in the four areas of work covered by the taught MA programmes.

LCDS has a teaching faculty of international stature, with unrivalled connections to the professional dance world, and whose combined skills offer students a vibrant, stimulating learning experience of the very highest standard.  

All teaching at LCDS is in English, and students must have a very high standard of spoken and written English. Students who do not speak English as their native language will usually be asked to reach level 6.5 in the internationally recognised IELTS language test.

Former students of LCDS include Richard Alston, Christopher Bannernam, Darshan Singh Bhuller, Kim Brandstrup, Jonzi D, Siobhan Davies, Javier de Frutos, Betsy Gregory, Gurmit Hukam, Paul Liburd, Etta Murfitt, Lloyd Newson, Robert North, Henri Oguike, Arthur Pita, Kenneth Tharp and Sheron Wray.

LCDS is a part of The Place, a unique building in central London where dance artists are able to meet, collaborate and learn from each other.  The Place offers professional support to dancers and dance makers at all stages of their careers, is the home of  Richard Alston Dance Company, and the Robin Howard Dance Theatre, Britain’s busiest dance venue.  We also have two youth companies, a national schools workshop scheme, and an extensive programme of adult evening classes in contemporary dance, open to all.

London Contemporary Dance School is a founding affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama – a higher education institution founded in 2001 to protect and promote some of the UK’s finest schools offering training in dance, drama, technical skills and circus arts.   The Conservatoire consists of eight schools, which together offer training in acting, stage management, classical ballet, theatre directing, contemporary dance, lighting, costume and scenic design. 

The annual fee for UK and EU students (2008/9) is £3,145 which was payable either at the start of the programme, or through a loan which is repayable after graduation. Students from outside the EU will be required to pay the full cost of their tuition, which will not be less than the 2008/9 fee of £13,340. Governmental changes to student fees have meant we are unable to announce the fees for 2009/10 course, however further finance information is available from the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama