If you’ve ever watched one of your dancers step up to collect a trophy, you’ll know that feeling. Now picture a whole room of dance teachers, schools and companies sharing it. That was the UK Dance Awards 2026.
The awards took place on Sunday 4 October 2026 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. There are 24 categories, covering everything from dance schools and teachers to choreography, inclusion and early years. An independent panel of professionals from across the UK dance and education sector judged the entries. You can see every category on the UK Dance Awards website.
UK Dance Awards 2026 winners
Here are this year’s winners, as shared by the organisers on the official UK Dance Awards Instagram. Where we have a winner’s own post, their name links to it.
- Dance School of the Year: Natalia Kremen Ballet School
- Teacher of the Year: Lauren Alvis
- UK Dance School of Distinction: The Hebden School of Dancing
- Outstanding Small Dance School: Charlotte Amelia School of Dance
- Emerging Dance School of the Year: Fundamentalz Dance
- Biggest Growth Award: Second City Dance
- Outstanding Studio Culture Award: Eleanor Clark Dance Company
- Excellence in Dance Education: Elite Dance Centre
- Innovation in Dance Education: New Hall School
- Excellence in Pre-Professional Training: Hollywood Performing Arts
- Inspirational Leadership in Dance: Sarah Crane
- Mentor of the Year: Holly Penny
- Outstanding Contribution to Dance in the UK: British DanceSport Association
- Outstanding Young Dancer: Izabella Venross and Gracie Ingleson
- Youth Dance Company of the Year: Danceihayami
- Nurturing Young Movers Award: Sophie Gallie Dance Academy
- Excellence in Performance & Production: Move It Shake It
- Outstanding Dance Show: Vanessa Class School of Dance
- Creative Choreography Award: Purbrook Park Performers
- Excellence in Competitive Dance: Fusion Dance School
- Excellence in Inclusive Dance Practice: Dance Sensation School of Dance
- Health & Wellbeing in Dance Award: Hollywood Performing Arts
- Community Impact Award: Funkidz Dance
- Collaboration Award: Translucent Dance Studio
Hollywood Performing Arts had a great night, with two school awards. Holly Penny’s Mentor of the Year win was shared in a post with them too. It’s lovely to see the range of winners as well. Danceihayami, Scotland’s Indian classical dance company, took Youth Dance Company of the Year. And Outstanding Young Dancer has two winners this year, Izabella Venross and Gracie Ingleson. Congratulations to them both.
A proud moment for our partner
We’re especially proud to see our partner, the British DanceSport Association, win Outstanding Contribution to Dance in the UK. The award “recognises an individual or organisation whose long-term contribution has had a lasting and meaningful impact on dance across the UK.” BDSA is the governing body for dance sport in the UK and a great source of safeguarding support for teachers. You can read more about our partnership with BDSA.
Why it matters for dance teachers
Awards like these shine a light on the everyday work in our studios. Look at the categories and you’ll see what good teachers care about most.
The Outstanding Studio Culture Award looks for schools where dancers “feel valued, motivated and safe”. The Health & Wellbeing in Dance Award recognises a strong commitment to wellbeing, injury prevention and dancer welfare. The Nurturing Young Movers Award celebrates care, creativity and positive early dance experiences.
That’s a lovely reminder for those of us teaching baby ballet on a Saturday morning. Keeping dancers happy, healthy and safe is part of excellence, not something separate from it.
Thinking about entering next time? There’s no cost to enter, and you can enter yourself or be nominated by someone else. The awards website explains how it works.
Congratulations to everyone
Huge congratulations to every winner and finalist. Being recognised at a national level is a big achievement, and it’s a great moment for dance across the UK.
Safeguarding is part of good studio culture too. Our free course Introduction to Safeguarding in Dance (Level 1) is a short online refresher for you and your team.
Teach.Dance · For Teachers, By Teachers
Responses