Diploma in Dance Education (DDE)

The ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) DDE is an initial accredited teaching qualification at Level 4, aimed at students from 16 years or older who wish to begin training as a dance teacher. Bird College offers the DDE in Modern, Tap and Imperial Classical Ballet as extra-curricular classes to those students who are taking the Degree or Diploma courses. This intensive course runs throughout the Christmas, Easter and half term holidays and is led by one of the ISTD’s Senior Examiners.

A lot of performing Artists also engage in teaching during and after their performing careers. In the world today it is almost impossible to acquire a teaching career without a qualification. An accredited initial teaching qualification not only makes you much more employable, but fully prepares you for the day when you might open your own dance school.

The DDE is accredited by the Regulatory Bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Ofqual, DCELLS, CCEA) and is on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). This means that, as well as standing alone as a respected dance teaching qualification that gives you the opportunity to teach across a wide variety of dance genres, it can contribute towards other higher level qualifications.