Inspired by Intoto Dance and Scholars' Workshop 

Students recently had the opportunity to watch London Studio Centre’s third-year contemporary dance students perform four striking and diverse works.

The performance by Intoto Dance Company, the culmination of the degree programme, demonstrated exactly why these dancers are regarded so highly. Each performer showed exceptional technical skill, artistry and professionalism, clearly prepared to embark on careers within the professional dance industry.

For our own dancers, the experience was both inspiring and motivating. Watching performers only a few years older than themselves made the prospect of a future in dance feel tangible and achievable. Students also enjoyed meeting Artistic Director, Edd Mitton, who spoke to us during the interval about the creative process behind the works and kindly signed programmes afterwards.

Dance teacher Beth Butler highlighted the importance of learning beyond the classroom: “Experiencing live contemporary dance is vital for students. They benefited from seeing how lighting, aural setting, costume and production elements contribute to an overall performance. The trip encouraged critical thinking and discussion, and students were able to make connections to professional works we study in the classroom.”

Students were particularly enthusiastic about how closely the performance linked to their GCSE Dance studies. Mara (Year 10) said: “My favourite piece was the dance film. Seeing movement from a variety of angles was really interesting and linked to our theory work on Within Her Eyes, which we are studying for GCSE. I also loved the use of accumulation in the final piece.”

Freya (Year 10) explained how the performance reinforced concepts they have recently explored in lessons: “The first piece stood out to me because I could clearly see the motif development and manipulation of number. We’ve just been learning about this in choreography lessons, so it was great to see these devices brought to life in a professional performance.”

The trip provided students with a valuable insight into the world of professional contemporary dance, deepening their understanding of performance, choreography and production while inspiring the next generation of dancers.

Dance Scholars also enjoyed a workshop with professional dancer Ellie Stephenson, a graduate of Rambert. Ellie delivered an uplifting technique class featuring a range of travelling phrases, challenging students with quick spatial changes and fluid transitions into and out of floor work.

By the end of a rigorous day, the scholars had learned a new piece of repertoire ready to debut at Let’s Dance 2026. In complete contrast to last year’s piece, the choreography is sharp and punchy, while the accompaniment by Christophe Fillippi presents an additional challenge through its subtle shifts in phrasing.

Ellie, who regularly returns to Leighton Park to work with its dancers and share professional insight and expertise, said: “This is my fourth visit to Leighton Park, and it has been a pleasure to see how the scholars I have previously worked with have progressed in their technique. Students have worked incredibly hard today, as I introduced a great deal of new material. I look forward to hearing how rehearsals and the performance go.”

Dance at Leighton Park

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