Every May, dancers aged 4 to 18 take to the stage at Cheltenham Town Hall for the dance classes of the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts. It’s a competitive festival, so there are placings and trophies. It’s also a friendly one. Every dancer gets feedback from an experienced adjudicator, and for plenty of them it’s their first time on a proper stage.
The festival runs from 6 to 15 May 2027. Entries open on 1 December 2026 and close on 1 February 2027.
Styles and classes
The syllabus covers most of what dance schools teach:
- Ballet and Classical
- Tap
- Modern and Lyrical
- Musical Theatre
- Cabaret
- Street
- Narrative and Global
- Improvisation, where the adjudicator chooses the music and you hear it twice before you dance
There are solos in most styles, plus duets, trios and groups. Primary schools have their own dance group class in any style or theme, with separate trophies for infants and juniors.
New to competing? The Novice solo classes are for dancers aged 10 and under who haven’t yet placed first, second or third in a solo at a similar festival.
Age groups
Most classes run in two-year bands, from 4 and under up to 15 to 18. Ages are counted as on 31 August 2026. A birthday after that date counts from the following festival.
Dancers at full-time vocational dance schools can’t enter.
On the day
Arrive early and sign in. Dancers perform in class order, then the adjudicator gives results and feedback for the whole class. Certificates are handed out at the end.
Backing tracks are uploaded online in advance, so there’s nothing to bring on a memory stick. The dance rules set the upload deadline and the time limits. They also say which taps and earrings are allowed, which is more interesting than it sounds.
Family and friends are welcome in the audience. A day ticket costs £7. On the day has more on what to expect.
Next steps
Questions about dance entries? Email info@cfpa.org.uk.