Weymouth Dance Festival


Weymouth Dance Festival entries are now closed

Thank you to all the schools who have entered dancers for the year’s Festival. We’ve had a fantastic response and have reached our preliminary maximum level of entries.

The next step is for us to programme all the classes. If, after this, we have any spare time in the schedule, we will re-open for entries.

This year’s adjudicator

We’re delighted to welcome Deborah Norris back to Weymouth Dance Festival.

A graduate of Elmhurst Ballet School and the Jose Limón Institute of Contemporary Dance, in New York, Deborah holds an MA in Dance Studies from De Montfort University and is a Doctoral candidate at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, with a research focus into exploring narrative ballets by women choreographers.

Deborah works internationally as a dance educator, researcher and choreographer in Musical Theatre, Ballet, Tap and Contemporary Dance contexts and is the Director of Ballet Folk. Deborah is Vice Chair for the British and International Federation of Festivals, and an All England Dance adjudicator.

When is Weymouth Dance Festival 2023?

This year the festival will take place from Saturday 21 October to Thursday 26 October.

And also this year, we’re an All England Dance Qualifier Festival.

Volunteers

Weymouth Dance Festival is organised by a small committee. In order to actually run the festival, we need volunteers.

This year we need to have a Body of Person Approval (BOPA) Certificate from Dorset Council. Put simply, if we don’t have enough volunteers, the festival will not run.

And with 2023 being a qualification year, we expect the festival to be busy.

That’s why we’re asking for volunteers from every school with entries at the festival.

Find out more about volunteering.

Contact us

Please use our contact form and we will get to back to you as soon as possible. Please bear in mind that we are run by a small group of volunteers, who all have families and day jobs, so we may not be able to respond straightaway.

Where is Weymouth Dance Festival?

Weymouth College
Cranford Avenue
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 7LQ

The festival is held at Weymouth College’s Bay Theatre – K on the Campus Map.

There is no parking on site but there is a free car park across the mini roundabout from the College (P on the Campus Map).

Get directions to Weymouth Dance Festival using Google Maps.

Looking for accommodation during the Weymouth Dance Festival?

Try the Visit Dorset website for local accommodation and places to eat.

What people say about Weymouth Dance Festival

Thank you for a super week – we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to everyone involved in making it such a friendly & well organised festival!

― Nicola, parent

Fantastic as always. An absolute pleasure to come to. Such a friendly well organised festival.

― Rachael, parent

Our first time in Weymouth – lovely festival. Thank you to everyone. Looking forward to next year .

― Michaela, parent

Can’t thank you all enough . A really well organised, calm and friendly festival. Every volunteer, staff from doors, desks , cafe , stage were so so dedicated helpful and kind.

― Sarah, parent

Thank you so much to every single person who organised & helped ❤Outstanding!!! Fabulous Festival as always and it was lovely for me to was help out again, looking forward to seeing you next year.

― Lynn, parent

About Us

Weymouth Dance Festival began in 2005 and has gained in strength and reputation since.

It takes place every year in The Bay Theatre, which is part of Weymouth College.

​The festival is affiliated to The British & International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech and follows its rules and regulations.

We are a registered charity – no. 1169047.