United Kingdom Alliance

Overview

The UKA exists primarily as a dance training and examination board.

For students, the UKA provides training opportunities with qualified dance teachers worldwide, both in private and mainstream dance education. Training is available in a wide range of dance disciplines, with examinations leading to a range of awards and certificates for successful candidates, including vocational examinations for students who wish to pursue a career in professional dance. Examinations and awards are available for a variety of ages and abilities.

The UKA also awards dance teaching qualifications and has a certification programme for dance students and professionals who wish to gain a recognised dance teaching qualification. There are three levels of qualification that certify teachers to enter candidates for UKA examinations, they are Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship. Fellowship is the highest level of qualification within the UKA and teachers who have reached this level may apply to become examiners of the UKA.

The UKA are an awarding body validated by the Council for Dance Education and Training.

At the UKA, they assist dance teachers worldwide by providing their pupils with Achievement Awards for all ages & abilities, in all styles of Dance & Drama. They also provide Teaching Qualifications and are proud to help, encourage and support their members in all dance disciplines to establish and develop their business.

Corporate members of:

• British Dance Council
• Sports and Recreation Alliance
• Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing

Beyond dance training and examinations, the UKA is also one of the World's foremost organisations in the field of competitive dancing, and in this role organises numerous competitions, dance festivals and championships both in the UK and is influential in the regulation and adjudication of such competitions.

Dance Styles

There are nine main faculties of the UKA:-

• Highland Division
• Streetdance
• Cheerdance
• Theatre Faculty
• Club Dance
• Ballroom & Latin
• Freestyle
• Rock 'n' Roll
• Sequence Dancing

A range of examinations and awards are available in each dance discipline for children of all ages. These are typically organised into grades or medal tests, with the work being assessed by a UKA registered examiner.

Teaching Qualifications

As well as these examinations for children, the society also offers training for adults and teacher training for dance professionals who wish to become a registered teacher with the UKA.

The following three levels are different levels of qualified teachers and all are authorised to teach the UKA syllabus and enter candidates for examinations:

• Associate (AUKA): A qualified teacher who has completed detailed study in the teaching of the Associate Syllabus for the relevant subject
• Licentiate (LUKA): A qualified teacher who has completed detailed study in the teaching of the Licentiate Syllabus for the relevant subject
• Fellowship (FUKA): A qualified teacher who has completed detailed study in the teaching of the Fellowship Syllabus for the relevant subject

A teacher who has achieved Fellowship status, can apply to become an examiner. Candidates who are successful in the selection process to become an examiner, then visit dance schools as a representative of the organisation, assessing pupils' dancing and providing feedback on how they can improve. They also provide feedback to the teachers, to ensure that standards are being maintained and that the syllabus is being correctly taught.

The UKA Dance Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching (UKADDT) will be introduced soon.

The UKADDT qualification is aimed at higher level dancers ages 18 plus who are wishing to progress into teaching, or established teachers wanting to teach in a wider range of vocational and further education settings. The diploma will provide a recognised and regulated framework to compliment or start a teaching career.

Presidents

• 2015 - 2017 - Ann Green
• 2013 - 2015 - Sue Burroughs
• 2011 - 2013 - Jackie Sanderson
• 2009 - 2011 - Ann Green