DFR Events and Activities

The DFR faculty host a number of competitions and events throughout the year. 

Area Medallist Competitions

Imperial Society of Teachers of Teachers of Dancing members may enter their pupils into our popular Medallist Competitions. On passing a Disco/Freestyle medal test, pupils may enter various events, including the DFR Set Dance Competition, Rock n Roll, DFR pairs and solos. These events are held throughout the country and successful finalists are eligible to attend the DFR Grand Finals day, held annually in Guildford.

2025 Competition dates:

Salisbury
12 January 2025 
Five Rivers Leisure Centre, Hulse Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3NR. 

Bournemouth
2 February 2025 
Littledown Centre. Chaseside. Bournemouth.  Dorset. BH7 7DX 

Essex
9 February 2025 
The Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays, Essex RM16 2JU. 

Hemel 1
9 March 2025 
Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre . Park Road. Hemel Hempstead.  Herts. HP1 1JS

East Anglia - Clacton
27 April 2025 
Clacton Leisure Centre.  Vista Road.  Clacton-on-Sea. Essex.  CO15 6DB 

East Anglia - Sudbury
27 April 2025 
Great Cornard Leisure Centre, Head lane, Gt Cornard, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 0JU 

Hemel 2
11 May 2025 
Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre . Park Road. Hemel Hempstead.  Herts. HP1 1JS 

Horsham West Sussex
18 May 2025 
The Bridge Leisure Centre, Wickhurst Lane, Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 3YS 

Cambridge
8 June 2025 
Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre. Queen Anne Terrace. Gonville Place. Cambridge. CB1 1NA 

Wilts/West
22 June 2025 
Olympiad Leisure Centre, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 3PA 

North  
TBC 

Grand Finals Day
11 and 12 October 2025

DFR Teams will feature at GFD 2025: 

This will be open to all DFR Teams who have competed in at least one DFR area competition in 2025.  As per the DFR area competition rules, DFR teams must have taken an examination within this time period. 

Adapted dance section for Grand Finals 2025

We would like to include a section at our prestigious Grand Finals for dancers who may require additional support to achieve at our events. This would be part of a pilot to open up access and to encourage more children to be part of Grand Finals and enjoy competing.   

DFR Grades event 2025

Open to those who have taken DFR graded examinations.  This will take place as a “class-led” session for both Grades 1-3 and 4-6. Further details to follow for those who wish to enter, but, as a basic guideline, pupils will be involved in a 45-minute class, where they will learn new exercises/routines and then have the opportunity to perform this in the main forum. Adjudicators will award a winner and runner up position for each section. 

DFR and Street Teachers support group:

If you have seen the latest members newsletter, we have our teachers support session on Wednesday 17 January at 10 - 11am for both DFR and Street. You can book for this session via the following link.

Dance Exchange

The DFR Faculty hosts an annual congress with a wide variety of lectures; providing choreography ideas for examinations, class, and competition work as well as help and advice regarding syllabi.

Our programme will be released in January, but our lectures will include: Beginner and Advanced Hip Hop/How to stretch dynamically/Technique and progression for the Freestyle Dancer and improving technique for Silver and above Rock n Roll.

Set Dances 2026

Entries are now open for choreography submissions for the DFR Set Dances for 2026.

As we enter a New Year and indeed a new season of competitions, the committee and our events team are busy planning for the 2026 Set Dances.

We are once again inviting choreographers to submit suitable routines for consideration for 2026. This year, as an ISTD member you can submit choreography for any level, and we especially welcome routines to be considered for our higher levels.

Useful information for consideration:

• Dances must be repeatable, either 8, 12 or 16 bars (8 bars only for Bronze and below routines)
• Please only submit dances relevant to the styles and levels, as per the list below NOTE:  These are suggested styles and may be subject to change so please DO NOT share this list with your pupils
• Consider the choreography; make it interesting, unique and something that will inspire our competitors in their examinations and on the competition floor.
• The deadline date for submission is 26 February 2025 when the Dropbox link will close. 

Here is what to do

• Film your routine           
• Teacher or demonstrator dances facing camera and backing camera twice through
• Also film a student of a relevant age and level dancing twice through facing the front only
   

Name the video clearly

• Your name
• Age category
• Genre type

Please upload all choreography clearly marking what age and level this is to be considered for.

Submit to Dropbox using this link DFR Set Dance 2026 submissions

The selection panel will meet to discuss all submissions, and you will be informed if your routine has been selected once this has taken place.

If successful further notes / clarification may be requested and a count sheet will be required to assist filming.

Good luck!  We look forward to watching your routines!