Alongside our exciting dance workshops, we are thrilled to introduce dedicated Teacher Lectures to this year’s Congress line-up for the very first time! Designed exclusively for principals, teachers, and studio faculty, these essential sessions provide high-value professional development, crucial regulatory insights, and an exciting look at what’s next for ABD.
Be sure not to miss it!
Sunday 8th November 2026 - DoubleTree Hilton, Paradise Way, Coventry. CV2 2ST
(daytime - exact times tbc)
Tickets here: abd.dance/congress2026
Colin Lang
Join Colin, ABD Director & Co-Chief Examiner, for an essential look into key qualification and syllabus developments across the board.
Colin will be introducing our long-awaited Level 4 Teaching Qualifications and also offering clear, practical guidance to help teachers gain a deeper understanding of our Vocational Ballet specifications and exam expectations.
In this session, Colin will cover:
- L4 Teaching Qualification which is accessible to both Theatre & Ballroom Branches An exclusive introduction to our newly developed Level 4 qualifications for both Theatre & Ballroom Branches—a project years in the making that opens up new regulated career pathways for dance educators.
- ABD Vocational Ballet Specifications A detailed walk through of the Intermediate specification of the Vocational Ballet Grades breaking down technical requirements, marking criteria, and what you need to do to confidently prepare your candidates for exam success.
Victoria Race
We are delighted to welcome Victoria, Specialist Safeguarding Consultant, for an essential workshop tailored specifically for dance school principals, teachers, and staff.
With extensive experience as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the IDTA, Safeguarding Officer for the British Dance Council, and trusted advisor across major dance awarding organisations, Victoria brings deep, practical expertise in sector welfare. She will guide us through practical best practices to keep students, staff, and dance schools safe and compliant.
In this session, we will cover:
- Safeguarding & Social Media Navigating digital safety, online interactions, and privacy in the modern dance environment.
- Building a Strong Safeguarding Culture Moving beyond basic paperwork to foster a genuinely safe, supportive environment that gives parents and carers complete peace of mind.
- Safe Touch, Consent & Best Practice Clear, practical guidance on maintaining professional boundaries, hands-on correction, and positive consent in the studio.
Clare Palethorpe
Join Clare, ABD Director & Contemporary Syllabus Creator, for an exclusive first look at our upcoming digital learning resource.
After a few years of development, Clare will be giving us a live demonstration of our new Contemporary Online Learning Portal, a detailed video-based teaching and learning platform.
While the portal is putting on its final finishing touches ahead of its official launch in the coming weeks, session attendees will get an early walkthrough and the chance to register for an exclusive introductory price offer.
In this session, Clare will cover:
- Introduction to the Contemporary Online Portal The vision behind the platform and how it delivers comprehensive video breakdowns and syllabus guidance to support your teaching.
- Live Web Portal Walkthrough A step-by-step preview and navigation of the LearnWorlds platform, showing you how to access content, utilise the video library, and get studio-ready.
- Exclusive Launch Offer How to register for early access and lock in the special introductory pricing ahead of the official release.
We look forward to seeing you all!