Your excellent coverage of the Olivier awards (Report, 6 April) was extensive, but it was a shame not to see more celebration of the dance awards. Christopher Wheeldon won best theatre choreographer, Assembly Hall won best new dance production, Eva Yerbabuena won outstanding achievement in dance and the acclaimed choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh spoke powerfully about the beauty of the human body in motion. The evening was full of dance performances from London’s West End. Moments like these highlight the art form’s importance to our creative economy.
However, despite this celebration of dance, recent research from the Cultural Learning Alliance reveals declining access to dance education for young people in poorer UK areas. As two small specialist conservatoires with a longstanding commitment to widening access to dance education, we are deeply concerned. Current funding structures put institutions like ours at risk. Decisions about funding settlements from 2026-27 could make vocational dance degree courses unaffordable for all but the most privileged students.
The Department for Education and the Office for Students should reconsider funding provisions in the upcoming comprehensive spending review to ensure small specialist institutions remain accessible to all. With alumni like Akram Khan and Rishan Benjamin, our impact on dance is clear. Without support, the diversity and strength of UK dance is in jeopardy, and future Olivier awards might look very different.
Sharon Watson
Principal, Northern School of Contemporary Dance
Mark Osterfield
Principal, Central School of Ballet
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