Founded in 1978 by Bridget Espinosa, London Studio Centre prides itself on a staff which are predominantly actively engaged in the professional theatre, enabling students to be aware of new techniques and trends. This, in combination with our range of well-respected programmes, mean that students are given an unparalleled range of opportunities to gain performance experience, both in-house and in professional venues.
The BA (Hons) Professional Dance Performance provides a broad base of professional training in ballet, contemporary dance, jazz & commercial dance and musical theatre, with in-depth development of specialist skills, educating quality performers who graduate into all areas of the performing arts.
Performance opportunities are built into the curriculum throughout all three years, ranging from informal, in-house presentations of work to full evening performances at major London venues and elsewhere across the UK.
Technical training and performance are combined with creative practice and choreography, as well as intellectually-challenging theory and research. Students are enabled to think critically about dance, enhancing their understanding of the industry and their development as performers and practitioners. Studies include anatomy, and the ever-changing history and culture of dance – from ballet to Beyoncé.
In the first two years the core programme of ballet, contemporary dance and jazz dance is extended by specialist skills that build competencies. Student choice is a particular feature of LSC’s provision; not constricted to one area of dance, students are able to continue developing areas of special interest as they progress through the course, embodied by the choices they make. Students committed to ballet may study virtuosity, pointe work, classical repertoire and pas de deux, whereas those with a passion for musical theatre or jazz & commercial dance can focus time and energy on singing and drama, combining those disciplines with dance in performance.
Students interested in pursuing a specialism in contemporary dance build on Graham-based core training with Cunningham-based Technique, contact improvisation and release techniques, while students pursuing jazz & commercial dance can benefit from core work in Isolation Technique developed by Jack Cole/Matt Mattox and different lyrical, commercial and hip hop styles. This leads to increased specialisation in preparation for the specialist professional options in the final year, in which students join one of LSC’s four performing companies. Here they tour to professional venues performing work created by professional choreographers and directors.
LSC’s programme enables students to take increased ownership of their own training path, whilst producing dance artists who have the versatility to work in a wide range of fields. Graduates may be found performing in international dance companies, West End and Broadway shows, on film and television; also, they achieve successful and sustainable careers in choreography, directing, arts management and education.
The modular degree programme is validated by Middlesex University.
“Over the years of making large scale dance for my company, New Adventures, I have been consistently impressed by the graduates from London Studio Centre, many of whom have performed in my productions here in the UK and overseas.” Matthew Bourne OBE, Artistic Director of New Adventures
