about us
Some people were made to perform… others were born to teach.
If the studio feels more like home than the stage, you’re exactly who we’re here for.
At RDC Dance Teacher Training, we specialise in guiding aspiring and current teachers to turn their passion for dance into a respected career. We know what it’s like to love dance but be more inspired by shaping others than performing yourself, we’ve been there. Our bespoke programmes, built around our GROW & RISE values, give you the skills, confidence, and nationally recognised ISTD qualifications to step into the studio as the teacher you’ve always imagined becoming.
What you’ll gain:
A qualification respected worldwide
Confidence to lead from day one
Real teaching experience, not just theory
A supportive community that celebrates your wins
The freedom to earn doing what you love
We offer ISTD Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) in Imperial Ballet, Modern Theatre, and Tap Dance, plus preparation for Intermediate Vocational, Advanced 1, and Advanced 2 exams. You can study one, two, or all three genres, in group classes or 1-1, in person or online, with flexible catch-up options.
Your path, your way.
Training is available at our base in Sarisbury Green Parish Rooms, Southampton, or online from anywhere in the world. However you join us, you’ll be guided every step of the way towards becoming an exceptional dance educator.
where it all began
Founded in 1971 by Mrs Virginia Wilkinson, RDC became one of the first ISTD Approved Dance Centres in the UK in 2004. Since then, we’ve trained hundreds of aspiring dance teachers from across the UK.
Mrs Wilkinson, a highly regarded ISTD examiner both in the UK and internationally, passed away in 2023, leaving a lasting legacy in our dance community.
Jessica King, trained by Mrs Wilkinson from an early age, assisted in her DDE classes for several years before taking over the Tap and Modern courses herself. As Mrs Wilkinson began to retire, Jessica gradually took on more responsibility, eventually taking over the full running of RDC in 2020.
Our Mission
At RDC Dance Teacher Training, we believe teaching dance is not a second choice, it’s a powerful, purposeful career in its own right. We exist exclusively for dance teachers and those who dream of becoming one.
We’re here for the dancers who feel most at home in the studio, who light up when they’re shaping others, and who know their work can inspire a lifetime of movement.
Our mission is to guide you from passion to profession, giving you the skills, confidence, and recognised ISTD qualifications to step into any studio as the teacher you were meant to be- respected, ready, and proud of the career you’ve built.
Our Values
G R O W & R I S E
At RDC, we nurture potential and raise standards. We guide every student with care, respect, and purpose helping you grow in confidence, rise with real experience, and qualify as an exceptional dance educator.
This is more than training. It’s transformation.
GROW - The Foundation
Your journey begins with care, support, and clarity.
G – Guidance — We walk with you every step of the way from enquiry to qualification.
R – Respect — For your individuality, your circumstances, and your future.
O – Opportunity — Learn in-person or online, locally or internationally. It’s your path.
W – Wisdom — Our experienced tutors help you truly understand the art of teaching.
RISE - The Transformation
Once you’re rooted, you rise as a confident, qualified dance educator.
R – Real Experience — Practical teaching experience from day one.
I – Individual Pathways — Your programme, your pace, tailored to you.
S – Supportive Community — We’re more than a college, we’re a team.
E – Excellence in Education — Nationally recognised qualifications to the highest standard.
Meet the Team
Jessica King
FISTD Tap and FISTD Modern Theatre
DDE Ballet
Affiliate Teacher of the Royal Ballet School.
Jessica is a dance educator, school principal, and ISTD Tutor dedicated to shaping the next generation of teachers. Her journey began in Hampshire, where she quickly discovered her passion for guiding vocational-age students. In 2015 she became Principal of what is now King’s Academy of Performing Arts, later taking over RDC in 2021 as well as JM School of Dance in 2023.
Always committed to her own growth, Jessica holds Advanced 2 in Tap, Modern, and Ballet, ISTD Licentiates in Tap and Modern (ballet on the way), and Fellowship status in Tap and Modern too. She is qualified to tutor all five units of the DDE and has trained with some of the ISTD’s most respected syllabus creators, giving her rare, first-hand insight into the art and science of teaching dance.
Her expertise extends beyond the ISTD: she is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, Alixa Flexibility, and the Rosina Andrews Method, and an Affiliate Teacher of the Royal Ballet School.
Jessica has guided countless students and aspiring teachers to success, maintaining a 100% pass rate for DDE Modern and Tap. She has also prepared candidates for Advanced examinations in all three genres with outstanding results. Her coaching blends live, in-studio training with highly effective online delivery, proving that distance is no barrier to achieving exceptional standards.
Jessica also owns Roynon Dancewear, and works as a pointe shoe specialist with her mum. Outside of the studio she is a wife and a mum to two children and loves spending as much time outdoors as possible. She says: “Teaching the practical DDE classes is the highlight of my week. Collaboration over competition is my mantra! When aspiring teachers feel safe to share ideas and learn together, we all become better educators.”
Teresa Butcher
FISTD Ballet
Level 6 Diploma in Dance Pedagogy
Teresa is an ISTD tutor and dance teacher. She began dancing as a young girl ‘up north-ish’, before attending Roehampton Institute where she gained a BA (Hons) in Dance with Drama.
Teresa continued travelling south and settled in Hampshire where she worked as a dance administrator, dance teacher, school principal/owner and set up a Creative Youth Dance group.
Wanting to further her understanding of how a dancer moves, Teresa signed up for an Anatomy course at Roynon Dance Centre, and a long association with Mrs Wilkinson and Roynon Dance Centre began. She gained Level 6 Diploma in Dance Pedagogy, and began tutoring for Roynon Dance Centre in 2016. Her thirst for knowledge and wanting to make sure this was passed on to students, Teresa successfully passed her Fellowship status exam in Imperial Classical Ballet under the guidance of Nicola Hilton.
Teresa is driven by encouraging pupils and student teachers to achieve their full potential. Her ability to listen to people and remain patient helps guide future teachers in a positive
supportive learning environment.
Testimonial
“Training at RDC has completely changed the way I teach. I’ve gone from copying what I was taught to truly understanding the why behind the work. That knowledge has transformed my confidence, and my students are progressing faster too.”
FAQ's
How does the course work?
We offer the ISTD Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) in Imperial Ballet, Modern Theatre, and Tap Dance, a Level 4 qualification (equivalent to the first year of a degree). You can study one, two, or all three genres at any time in person or online. The course takes anywhere between 1-5 years depending on your prior knowledge and experience.
Alongside the DDE, we also prepare student teachers for Intermediate Vocational, Advanced 1, and Advanced 2 examinations.
Training is available in group classes or 1-1 coaching, Live, in person, or via Zoom with flexible catch-up options.
How do I enrol?
Contact us to book a free call (a relaxed, no-pressure chat) where you can ask anything and find out more about the course. If we both feel it’s a good fit, you’ll be invited to join a trial session.
Love the trial? That’s when you can secure your place and start your journey with us.
How much is the course?
Our courses are designed exclusively for dance teachers and those who want to be.
ISTD DDE Training – from £150/month
Advanced Training – from £30/month
Both options give you expert mentorship, flexible study (Southampton or online), and the support you need to qualify with confidence.
Think of it as more than a course, it’s a step towards a career you love, the respect you deserve, and the skills to lead in any studio.
term dates
Autumn Term
15th September -15th October
Half Term
3rd November- 3rd December
Christmas Holidays
Winter Term
12th January - 11th February
Half Term
23rd February - 25th March
Easter Holidays
Summer Term
20th April - 20th May
Half Term
1st June - 1st July
Summer Holidays
our location
Train with us in person at our dedicated teacher training base in Sarisbury Green Parish Rooms, The Green, Sarisbury Green, Southampton, SO31 7AA, or join us online from anywhere in the world. However you choose to study, you’ll receive the same expert mentorship, personalised feedback, and supportive community that makes RDC the place exclusively for dance teachers.
get in touch
Let us know if you’re interested and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
RDC Dance Teacher Training
Sarisbury Green
Parish Rooms
Barnes Lane
Southampton,
SO31 7BH
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