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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

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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

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