2026 SYLLABUS
Click on the links below to see the full listings of classes and genre descriptions
2026 SYLLABUS OVERVIEW
Please consult the separate genre descriptions in each section carefully to ensure dances are entered into the correct sections.
Please note that classes may be combined or split further based on the number of entries. This will be at the discretion of the festival.
SOLOS
Any one dancer may only dance once in any given solo class.
CLASS
AGE (on 31st August 2024)
TIME LIMIT
**Please note that the Pre-Junior & Junior age groups cannot enter Lyrical solos at All England Finals, so if a dance qualifies in this section it will have to be entered in the Modern category at Finals level.
DUETS
Any one dancer may only dance twice in any given duet class.
CLASS
AGE
TIME LIMIT
TRIOS & QUARTETS
Any one dancer may only dance twice in any given trio/quartet class.
CLASS
AGE
TIME LIMIT
SMALL GROUPS
A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 dancers constitutes a small group.
Schools may enter twice in their age group for each dance technique in small group classes
CLASS
AGE
TIME LIMIT
C SG1
C SG2
C SG3
Junior (Ages 10 & under)
Intermediate (Ages 11 - 14 inclusive)
Senior (Ages 15 - 21 inclusive)
3 mins
3 mins
3 mins
LARGE GROUPS
A minimum of 11 and a maximum of 30 dancers constitutes a small group.
Schools may enter twice in their age group for each dance technique in large group classes
CLASS
AGE
TIME LIMIT
C LG1
C LG2
C LG3
Junior (Ages 10 & under)
Intermediate (Ages 11 - 14 inclusive)
Senior (Ages 15 - 21 inclusive)
4 mins
4 mins
CENTRE STAGE SPOTLIGHT SERIES
These are live choreography and performance categories, offering dancers the opportunity to learn and perform a routine choreographed and delivered by an industry expert during the festival.
Our Spotlight Series are designed to assess technique, performance ability, movement quality, musicality, adaptability and stage presence, providing dancers with a unique and exciting performance experience.
Competitors must have danced in at least one other category in the festival to be eligible for the Spotlight Series.
CASH PRIZE OF £25 AWARDED TO WINNER OF EACH AGE GROUP
CLASS
AGE
TIME LIMIT
SS 1
Spotlight Series
Pre-Junior (Ages 6 & under)
N/A
SS 2
Spotlight Series
Junior (Ages 7 -10 inclusive)
N/A
SS 3
Spotlight Series
Intermediate (Ages 11 - 14 inclusive)
N/A
SS 4
Spotlight Series
Senior (Ages 15 - 21 inclusive)
N/A
CENTRE STAGE ELITE PERFORMER
The Centre Stage Elite Performer category is for dancers aged 13 and over. The dance can be up to 3 minutes long and can be in any chosen genre. A dance from a solo category can be entered again in this section if preferred.
Competitors must have danced in at least one other category in the festival in order to enter the Elite Performer category.
CASH PRIZE OF £50 AWARDED TO WINNER, ALONG WITH SPONSORSHIP FOR UK YOUNG DANCER 2026**
CLASS
AGE
TIME LIMIT
EP 1
Ages 13 - 18 (inclusive)
3 mins
**Sponsorship for UK Young Dancer 2026 will only be applicable if the dancer is of qualifying age at the time of entry to the UK Young Dancer competition. Sponsorship will be for either the UK Young Dancer Classical or Theatre competition - Dancer's choice.