THE FINALISTS OF THE
DANCE SCHOOL AWARDS 2025
The Dance School Awards 2025 have celebrated the UK’s most extraordinary dancers, groups, schools, and creatives. From show-stopping solos to breathtaking ensembles, visionary teachers, and innovative choreographers, these finalists and winners have raised the bar for excellence in dance.
Musical Theatre Group of the Year
Nominees:
Genesis Performing Arts – Be a Producer
ElliTe Studios – Blow Gabriel
Advance School of Dance – Prom
The Elm Arts Company – Bruce (Matilda)
Dance Crazy Studio – Beetlejuice
YTA Academy – Wicked
Winner:
The Elm Arts Company – Bruce (Matilda)
Most Promising Junior Group
Nominees:
Classical Ballet Centre – Shadows
Advance School of Dance – Hallelujah
Dance Collective – Ballroom Blitz
DanceCrazy Studios – Pot of Gold
Genesis Performing Arts – Haben Sie Gehort Das Deutsche Band
Ignite Dance Company – The Wiz
Maria Anderson School of Dance – 42nd Street
Winner:
Genesis Performing Arts – Haben Sie Gehort Das Deutsche Band
Character Soloist of the Year
Nominees:
Lara Nankivell – 360 Dance
Isla Smith – Just Dance Studio
Rhea Powell – Maria Anderson School of Dance
Martha Campbell – 360 Dance
Gracie Ingleson – Martinicca Theatre School
Beth Telford – ElliTe Studios
Winner:
Gracie Ingleson – Martinicca Theatre School
Musical Theatre Soloist of the Year
Nominees:
Ella Rich – Footsteps Performance Academy
Maisie Mac Mahon – HIPA
Rocco Cavaliere – Azure School
Eloise Groom – ElliTe Studios
Lexie Allen – VA Performing Arts
Isabella Prince – Elite Academy
Winner:
Eloise Groom – ElliTe Studios
Outstanding Acro Group of the Year
Nominees:
Classical Ballet Centre – Angels
Classical Ballet Centre – Sweet Dreams
Dance Collective – Smooth Criminal
Emery Stage School – Earth
Tee Lily Dance Company – Fire and Ice
Emery Stage School – Six
Winner:
Classical Ballet Centre – Sweet Dreams
Contemporary Soloist of the Year
Nominees:
Mia Byers – Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Lily Reyes – Linden Youth Dance Company
Charlotte Dunn – Wellington College
Beth Telford – ElliTe Studios
Layla Till – ElliTe Studios
Samantha Garton – Jamie Lee Dance Academy
Holly Ryan – Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance
Amelia England – Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Jessica Rihanna Mocanu – Oti and Marius Dance Studio
Winner:
Layla Till – ElliTe Studios
Acro Soloist of the Year
Nominees:
Bella Hannaway – Classical Ballet Centre
Khloe Sneddon – Tee Lily Dance Company
Coco O’Shea – Supreme Dance
Dottie Major – Emery Stage School
Evie Dadson – Dance Collective
Mia Rose Adams – K.R. Dance Studios
Kairi Sainz – Bernadine Soul School of Dance
Isla Harvey – Classical Ballet Centre
Winner:
Isla Harvey – Classical Ballet Centre
Best Commercial and Street Dance Award
Nominees:
Platinum Academy – Platinum Express
Ignite Dance Company – Emergence Street
K.R. Dance Studios – Diva
Platinum Academy – Men in Black
Advance School of Dance – Dance Bratz
OSPA Academy – OSPA Academy Party
YTA Academy – Circus
Winner:
Platinum Academy – Men in Black
Commercial Soloist of the Year
Nominees:
Mai Petit – Ignite Dance Company
Kiera Lucie – The Arda Partnerships
Daisy Walker – Bovingdon Dance Academy
Taliyah Cole – Emery Stage School
Nevae Newton – Jess O’Leary Coaching
Janai Bartlett – Spotlight Stage School
Lexie Berry – Supreme Dance
Winner:
Kimara-Mai Petit – Ignite Dance Company
Rising Star Award
Nominees:
Lottie Jeffrey – Genesis Performing Arts
Hattie Gray – Elizabeth Hill Dance School
Roxy Scogings – Showcase Performance Company
William Frost – Ignite Dance Company
Jessica Mocanu – HIPA
Nia Marsh – Classical Ballet Centre
Sofia McDonald – North Star Academy
Zara Sharp – Leap Dance
Winner:
Jessica Mocanu – HIPA
Outstanding Trio & Quartet Performance
Nominees:
Elouise, Phoebe & Lilith – East Sussex Dance
Natalia, Alex & Olivia – Ignite Dance Company
Love Letters – Footsteps Performance Academy
Angel, Farrah, Tia & Kornelia – Deborah Day Theatre
Amelia, Mia, Sofia – Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Poppy, Fireniece & Esosa – Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance
Samantha, Hermione, Ella & Sienna – Jamie Lee Dance Company
Ella, Ava & Keira – Advance School of Dance
Winner:
Ella, Ava & Keira – Advance School of Dance
Best Breakthrough Trio & Quartet Performance
Nominees:
Louise, Zoe & Roxie – Showcase Performance Company
Lissia, Lacey & Roxie – Spiral Acro Dance
Turning Page – Emery Stage School
Eliza, Phoebe & Maggie – K.R. Dance Studios
Fleur, Isla, Imogen & Tallulah – Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Lily, Phoebe & Amanda – Maria Anderson School of Dance
Winner:
Louise, Zoe & Roxie – Showcase Performance Company
Outstanding Latin and Ballroom Performance
Nominees:
Ana Erika Tudor
Sharika Shazada
Bella Hannaway
Mia Hryszkiewicz
Gerda Labortas & Rocky Chiu
Nikola Morajka
Georgia Jenkins & Caden Meilak
Nikos Pallikarou
Winner:
Ana Erika Tudor
Outstanding Duet Award
Nominees:
Beau & Maisie – Hasland Dance Studios
Amelia & Mia – Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Sienna & Sofia – Ignite Dance Company
Gracie & Evelyn – Martinicca Theatre School
Bee & Bruno – Brighton College
Mia & Bee – Brighton College
Amelia & Lara – 360 Dance
Eliza & Lily – Bovingdon Dance
Winner:
Bee & Bruno – Brighton College
Best Junior Duet Performance
Nominees:
Bella & Isla – Classical Ballet Centre
Olivia & Emilia – Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Eva & Livia – Maria Anderson School of Dance
Lexie & Roxie – Showcase Performance Company
Eva & Daisy – Maria Anderson School of Dance
Mollie & Alice – Classical Ballet Centre
Eliza & Annabelle – K.R. Dance Studios
Winner:
Bella & Isla – Classical Ballet Centre
Creative Innovation Award
Nominees:
Brighton College – Message in a Bottle
Kahli Lewis Dance Company – Ephilates
The Arda Partnerships – Media Effect
Kahli Lewis Dance Company – Motherless Child
The Arda Partnerships – Voiced
Leap Dance – The Impossible
Winner:
Brighton College – Message in a Bottle
The TIRED Movement Award
Winner:
Kristen-Leigh & Kamara-Mai Petit – Ignite Dance Company
Modern Soloist of the Year
Nominees:
Billy Littlewood – K.R. Dance Studios
Elisa Fletcher – East Sussex School of Performing Arts
Julia Rothman – London Dance Company
Mia Rose Adams – K.R. Dance Studios
Imogen Benstead – 360 Dance
Angelina Struk – Genesis Performing Arts
Vivienne Rowe – Christine Anderson Theatre School
Winner:
Angelina Struk – Genesis Performing Arts
Dance School of the Year
Nominees:
Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance
Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Genesis Performing Arts
ElliTe Studios
Winner:
Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Dance Teacher of the Year
Nominees:
Jody Squirrell – Ignite Dance Company
Nicole Romasz – Supreme Dance
Nicola Thompson – Dance Crazy Studios
Louise Harrison – Ignite Dance Company
Sander Blommaert – Blommaert Ballet School
Victoria Hampson – Genesis Performing Arts
Winner:
Victoria Hampson – Genesis Performing Arts
Dance School Newcomer of the Year
Nominees:
Oskar Odiakosa – Black in the Ballroom
Millie & Charlotte Liddle – Charmille Dance Collective
Eleanor Clark – Eleanor Clark Dance Company
Alice Brewer – LDN Dance Co Ltd
Melissa Willis – Advance School of Dance and Theatre
Winner:
Oskar Odiakosa – Black in the Ballroom
Artistic Group Performance
Nominees:
Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance – Disco Inferno
Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance – Moulin Rouge
Ignite Dance Company – Fosse
Kahli Lewis Dance Company – Juggernaut
Mckechnie School of Dance & Performing Arts – Shake It
Genesis Performing Arts – Both Reached for the Gun
Ignite Dance Company – Le Jazz Hot
Footsteps Performance Academy – The Great Gatsby
Winner:
Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance – Disco Inferno
Dance Competition of the Year
Nominees:
Danielle Shirley – XCITE Dance
Jasmine Hanlon – Move It Shake It
Claire Coldwell – Supreme Dance Competition
Judith McCabe Wells & Catherine Murphy – Ulster Fusion
Winner:
Danielle Shirley – XCITE Dance
Jazz Soloist of the Year
Nominees:
Poppy McManus-Smith – Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance
Mia Byers – Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Valentene Panayi – Ignite Dance Company
Cole Phillips – Kickers Dance Studio
Fireniece Stafford – Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance
Isabella Prince – Elite Academy
Georgia – Genesis Performing Arts
Laila – DanceCrazy Studios
Eliz Hassan – Ignite Dance Company
Isabelle Dobbs – Junior Masters Performing Arts
Winner:
Poppy McManus-Smith – Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance
Outstanding Lyrical Group
Nominees:
Samantha Jane Dance Company – Masquerade
Genesis Performing Arts – Bolero
ElliTe Studios – Bohemian Rhapsody
Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance – Look Down Your Arm
ElliTe Studios – The Rose
Classical Ballet Centre – Tears of an Angel
Tee Lily Dance Company – Hallelujah
ElliTe Studios – Winner Takes It All
Winner:
ElliTe Studios – Winner Takes It All
Outstanding Ballet Ensemble
Nominees:
ElliTe Studios – Danse Macabre
Kahli Lewis Dance Company – Grand Valse
ElliTe Studios – Arabian Sunset
Kahli Lewis Dance Company – Odile
Kahli Lewis Dance Company – Diablo Rojo
ElliTe Studios – Enchanted Waters
Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance – Viva Tango
Winner:
Kahli Lewis Dance Company – Diablo Rojo
Outstanding Ballet Solo Performance
Nominees:
Daisy Sexton – Blommaert Ballet School
Mia Byers – Kahli Lewis Dance Company
Annabelle Humphrey “Talisman” – ElliTe Studios
Bruno Cokeliss – Masters of Ballet Academy
Amelie Dodd – 360 Dance
ElliTe Studios – Annabelle Humphrey “La Fille Mal Gardée”
Winner:
Bruno Cokeliss – Masters of Ballet Academy
Lyrical Soloist of the Year
Nominees:
Georgia Nicholaides – Genesis Performing Arts
Beau Stylianou – Hasland Dance Studios
Megan Vaszuez-Johnston – K.R. Dance Studios
Poppy McManus-Smith – Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance
Kimara-Mai Petit – Ignite Dance Company
Laila Jones – Ignite Dance Company
Harriet Rogers – New Hall School
Winner:
Georgia Nicholaides – Genesis Performing Arts
Best Technical Tap Group
Nominees:
Hamilton International Training Academy – Yorktown
Genesis Performing Arts – Hive Mind
Ignite Dance Company – Unity
Genesis Performing Arts – Dance Dance Dance
Jayne A Coleman Academy of Dance – Fever
Ignite Dance Company – Harlem
Winner:
Ignite Dance Company – Unity
Tap Soloist of the Year
Nominees:
Coral Ellis – Ignite Dance Company
Jessica Rihanna Mocanu – HIPA
Kimara-Mai Petit – Ignite Dance Company
Lexie Allen – Val Armstrong School of Dance
Laney Wray – ElliTe Studios
Georgia Nicholaides – Genesis Performing Arts
Isabella Prince – Elite Academy
Loren McIndoe – DanceCrazy Studios
Valentene Panayi – Ignite Dance Company
Winner:
Georgia Nicholaides – Genesis Performing Arts
Originality in Concept & Performance
Nominees:
Kahli Lewis Dance Company – Dernière Danse
K.R. Dance Studios – Hamilton
Genesis Performing Arts – Count Us In
Firefly Dance School – Russian Scarf Group
Advance School of Dance – Pirates: The Black Pearl
Winner:
Kahli Lewis Dance Company – Dernière Danse
Dancewear Company of the Year
Nominees:
Form Studio Dancewear
Freda Silk
Moda Dancewear
Winner:
Freda Silk
Most Influential Industry Creative
Nominees:
Tom Shilcock
Dollie Henry MBE
Kane Walcott
Gaz Davis
Rosina Andrews
Joshua Bass Pilmore
Dane Bates
Lucy Jane Adcock
Winner:
Dollie Henry MBE
Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner:
Maxine and Michele – Morgan Aslanoff Theatre School

























