Autumn Newsletter 2026.
Autumn Newsletter 2026.
Dear Parents and Pupils
Welcome to the Autumn Term Newsletter 2026. I hope this email finds you well and you are all enjoying a well deserved Summer after such a jam packed year at LBDA.
Thank you to everyone for your kind messages and the collections you made for all the LBDA teachers. We were all blown away by your generosity and are extremely grateful and humbled by your kindness.
Last Term’s News…
HOTSHOTS DANCE COMPETITION
Our dance squads performed at the Hotshots Dance Competition at The Stag Theatre on Sunday 26th April. Our pupils did a fantastic job against some stiff competition and we came away with more trophies to add to our growing collection. Thank you to Taylor and Miss Charlie for their beautiful choreography.
AUTUMN TERM
Autumn Term Commences
Saturday 5th September 2026
Autumn Term Ends
Friday 4th December 2026
Half Term
Monday 19th October – Sunday 1st November 2026
ISTD Modern and Tap Exams
Sunday 22nd November and Sunday 29th November 2026
LAMDA Exams
Sunday 6th December 2026
ISTD Ballet Exams
Sunday 14th February 2027
LBDA Senior Show (Year 6+ Pupils)
Saturday 24th April 2027
SUMMER PERFORMANCES
LBDA performed at community events over the Summer Term including the St Christopher’s Fun Walk on 10th May. Several LBDA families met up to do the 3 mile walk before we performed and we raised lots of money for this worthy cause. The pupils performed commercial, street, modern and singing numbers and were an absolute credit to LBDA.
Our Commercial Squads and our pupils from Marian Vian School dance club also performed at the Marian Vian Summer Fair on Sunday 27th June. Well done to all our pupils who certainly stole the show!
SCHOOL TRIP TO MATILDA
Over 50 LBDA pupils and their families made their way up to the Cambridge Theatre to watch the iconic musical, ‘Matilda’ starring LBDA’s home grown talent, Eden Rowe. Eden is now the 12th LBDA pupil to appear in the show and we are so proud of her.
The show was fantastic yet again and Eden was a perfect fit for the show.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the trip and for all your support.
SEVENOAKS DRAMA FESTIVAL
Miss Charley and our LAMDA Acting Pupils took to the stage at the Sevenoaks Drama Fesitival in June and came away with many medals and certificates.
Florence and Teagan won their section and have been invited back to perform again and Lola and Dixie also gained first place in their section. Well done to all of you – we definitely have some drama queens at the school!!
ISTD MODERN AND TAP EXAMS
Our Modern and Tap pupils worked hard all term preparing for their next exams. The results blew me away with 87% of children scoring Distinctions. Thankyou to Miss Katie in preparing the younger pupils so beautifully and to all my pupils for putting in the hard work and dedication required – it was certainly worth it.
A special congratulations to our senior pupils – Miriam, Jasmine, Anna and Bella who all received Distinctions on their Vocational Intermediate Modern Exams which also gained them valuable UCAS points.
IPATH SINGING EXAMS
LBDA pupils took their first singing exams in July under the care and guidance of Chris. I was lucky enough to spend the day with the pupils and could hear all of their work. Everyone had improved so much and I was astounded by the results which represented the confidence, abilty and hard work of all our pupils and their lovely teacher, Chris. Distinctions and Merits across the board.
A special mention to Ava, Evie, Lily and Charlotte who all took their Grade 6 and all gained Distinctions gaining them more UCAS points.
LBDA AWARDS EVENING 2026
As the show was so much earlier in the year we decided to host ‘An Evening at the LBDA’s’ to recognise all of our pupils achievements this year. The evening was held at the Warren in Coney Hall and was a fantastic night. After the awards we partied the night away with our live singer, Nina (with a cheeky performance from our senior pupil, Lily Martin) and then we watched the England Quarter Final on the large projector.
It was such a brillaint atmosphere and the camraderie and support all our pupils showed each other was something very special. Memories were definitely made for life.
LBDA POP WEEK SUMMER
LBDA Junior pupils joined LBDA teachers for a week of fun in the summer holidays. Pupils learnt dances and songs from the hit movie ‘Zootropolis’. They made costumes, had a professional photo shoot, enjoyed a recording session and finally shot a pop video at London Zoo!!! We had so much fun with all pupils who were a credit to their parents!
CONGRATULATIONS TO…
Rafaela Bond who has been working with the English Yourh Ballet this summer in their production of Giselle performed at the Churchill Theatre. We so are proud of you Raf!
Darcey, Lola, Mia, Isla, Elsie, Dixie, Maria and Holly who have successfully auditioned to represent LBDA in ‘Cinderella’, this year at the Fairfield Halls. We will be organising a school trip to see the girls performing.
Ex pupils – Sam Jennings, Vaidilie Jonikas, Eva Trodd and Daisy Martynski will be performing across the country in professional pantomimes this Christmas.
Miss Charlie was asked to teach the Junior Section at the ISTD Janet Cram Awards and she invited our senior pupil, Bella Perdoni along to assist her! What an honour for them both!
Talia Palamathanan has just completed her run at the Plymouth Theatre Royal playing the role of Carmen Diaz in the hit musical ‘Fame’. I was lucky enough to watch Talia and she was incredible!!
Eden Rowe who continues her role as Hortensia in Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre – enjoy the rest of the run Eden!
The Term ahead…
LBDA returns on Saturday 5th September 2026. Please make sure you check the timetable for location, day and time of your child’s class/es. Invoices will be sent out separately.
Please be reminded that a term’s notice is required if you want to cancel your child’s place in class as per our T and C’s.
ISTD Modern, Tap, Ballet and LAMDA Acting Exams
We have exam sessions booked yet again for our Modern, Tap, Ballet and LAMDA Acting Pupils. ISTD Modern and Tap exams will take place in November and Ballet will take place in February. The LAMDA Acting exams will take place in December. Our teachers are very experienced and will only submit pupils for exams when they feel they are reaching the required level. Practicing at home is paramount to your child’s success as well as attending all of their classes.
LBDA Christmas Concert
LBDA’s annual Christmas Concert will be taking place again at St Mary’s Church, Shortlands this year on Friday 4th December 2026. All of our Musical Production and Singing Pupils will appear in this performance and parents are invited to watch this magical occasion. Emails will be going out over the Autumn Term with more information but please keep this date free.
Panto Trip to Cinderella
As 8 LBDA pupils will be performing in ‘Cinderella’ over the Christmas period I will be arranging a school trip to support our little dancers. I will be able to get school rate tickets so please look out for emails about this as we would love to support the girls in our usual LBDA manner!
TRIAL CLASSES
As you know LBDA runs classes in ISTD Modern, Tap, Ballet, LAMDA Acting, Commercial and Street Jazz, Lyrical Jazz, Acro, Group Singing, Private Singing and Musical Production. If your child would like a FREE trial class in any subject they do not currently take please contact me ASAP so we can get them booked if we have availability.
NEW CLASSES
We have some brand new classes on the timetable including the following:
• Year 1-3 Street Jazz
Monday: 4.00 – 4.45pm
• Year 3&4 LAMDA Acting
Monday: 4.00 – 4.45pm
• Year 2&3 Singing Class
Friday: 4.00 – 4.45pm
• Reception and Year 1 Musical Production
Friday: 4.00 – 4.45pm
Please email me as soon as possible if you would like your child to attend a trial class in any of the above.
CLASSES AND FEES
Many people have already emailed me about starting additional classes this term. Please let me know as soon as possible if your child is wanting to add classes to their timetable as we have limited spaces available but will do our best to accommodate your child.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries regarding your child’s class and please be reminded that we require a term’s notice if you need to cancel your child’s place in class.
Invoices will be sent out separately – please check your invoice with your child’s timetable to ensure you attend the correct class at the correct venue.
We will be auditioning for our commercial crews again this year and this will take place on the first week back of term – Wednesday 9th September. I will be sending out a separate email about this audition.
Again we all hope you have had a lovely summer break and we can’t wait to get back to classes on Saturday 5th September.
Thank you for being part of the LBDA Family and here’s to lots hard work and even more successes this year.
Kindest regards
Miss Laura and the LBDA Team
Dear Parents and Pupils
Welcome to the Autumn Term Newsletter 2026. I hope this email finds you well and you are all enjoying a well deserved Summer after such a jam packed year at LBDA.
Thank you to everyone for your kind messages and the collections you made for all the LBDA teachers. We were all blown away by your generosity and are extremely grateful and humbled by your kindness.
Last Term’s News…
HOTSHOTS DANCE COMPETITION
Our dance squads performed at the Hotshots Dance Competition at The Stag Theatre on Sunday 26th April. Our pupils did a fantastic job against some stiff competition and we came away with more trophies to add to our growing collection. Thank you to Taylor and Miss Charlie for their beautiful choreography.
AUTUMN TERM
Autumn Term Commences
Saturday 5th September 2026
Autumn Term Ends
Friday 4th December 2026
Half Term
Monday 19th October – Sunday 1st November 2026
ISTD Modern and Tap Exams
Sunday 22nd November and Sunday 29th November 2026
LAMDA Exams
Sunday 6th December 2026
ISTD Ballet Exams
Sunday 14th February 2027
LBDA Senior Show (Year 6+ Pupils)
Saturday 24th April 2027
SUMMER PERFORMANCES
LBDA performed at community events over the Summer Term including the St Christopher’s Fun Walk on 10th May. Several LBDA families met up to do the 3 mile walk before we performed and we raised lots of money for this worthy cause. The pupils performed commercial, street, modern and singing numbers and were an absolute credit to LBDA.
Our Commercial Squads and our pupils from Marian Vian School dance club also performed at the Marian Vian Summer Fair on Sunday 27th June. Well done to all our pupils who certainly stole the show!
SCHOOL TRIP TO MATILDA
Over 50 LBDA pupils and their families made their way up to the Cambridge Theatre to watch the iconic musical, ‘Matilda’ starring LBDA’s home grown talent, Eden Rowe. Eden is now the 12th LBDA pupil to appear in the show and we are so proud of her.
The show was fantastic yet again and Eden was a perfect fit for the show.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the trip and for all your support.
SEVENOAKS DRAMA FESTIVAL
Miss Charley and our LAMDA Acting Pupils took to the stage at the Sevenoaks Drama Fesitival in June and came away with many medals and certificates.
Florence and Teagan won their section and have been invited back to perform again and Lola and Dixie also gained first place in their section. Well done to all of you – we definitely have some drama queens at the school!!
ISTD MODERN AND TAP EXAMS
Our Modern and Tap pupils worked hard all term preparing for their next exams. The results blew me away with 87% of children scoring Distinctions. Thankyou to Miss Katie in preparing the younger pupils so beautifully and to all my pupils for putting in the hard work and dedication required – it was certainly worth it.
A special congratulations to our senior pupils – Miriam, Jasmine, Anna and Bella who all received Distinctions on their Vocational Intermediate Modern Exams which also gained them valuable UCAS points.
IPATH SINGING EXAMS
LBDA pupils took their first singing exams in July under the care and guidance of Chris. I was lucky enough to spend the day with the pupils and could hear all of their work. Everyone had improved so much and I was astounded by the results which represented the confidence, abilty and hard work of all our pupils and their lovely teacher, Chris. Distinctions and Merits across the board.
A special mention to Ava, Evie, Lily and Charlotte who all took their Grade 6 and all gained Distinctions gaining them more UCAS points.
LBDA AWARDS EVENING 2026
As the show was so much earlier in the year we decided to host ‘An Evening at the LBDA’s’ to recognise all of our pupils achievements this year. The evening was held at the Warren in Coney Hall and was a fantastic night. After the awards we partied the night away with our live singer, Nina (with a cheeky performance from our senior pupil, Lily Martin) and then we watched the England Quarter Final on the large projector.
It was such a brillaint atmosphere and the camraderie and support all our pupils showed each other was something very special. Memories were definitely made for life.
LBDA POP WEEK SUMMER
LBDA Junior pupils joined LBDA teachers for a week of fun in the summer holidays. Pupils learnt dances and songs from the hit movie ‘Zootropolis’. They made costumes, had a professional photo shoot, enjoyed a recording session and finally shot a pop video at London Zoo!!! We had so much fun with all pupils who were a credit to their parents!
CONGRATULATIONS TO…
Rafaela Bond who has been working with the English Yourh Ballet this summer in their production of Giselle performed at the Churchill Theatre. We so are proud of you Raf!
Darcey, Lola, Mia, Isla, Elsie, Dixie, Maria and Holly who have successfully auditioned to represent LBDA in ‘Cinderella’, this year at the Fairfield Halls. We will be organising a school trip to see the girls performing.
Ex pupils – Sam Jennings, Vaidilie Jonikas, Eva Trodd and Daisy Martynski will be performing across the country in professional pantomimes this Christmas.
Miss Charlie was asked to teach the Junior Section at the ISTD Janet Cram Awards and she invited our senior pupil, Bella Perdoni along to assist her! What an honour for them both!
Talia Palamathanan has just completed her run at the Plymouth Theatre Royal playing the role of Carmen Diaz in the hit musical ‘Fame’. I was lucky enough to watch Talia and she was incredible!!
Eden Rowe who continues her role as Hortensia in Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre – enjoy the rest of the run Eden!
The Term ahead…
LBDA returns on Saturday 5th September 2026. Please make sure you check the timetable for location, day and time of your child’s class/es. Invoices will be sent out separately.
Please be reminded that a term’s notice is required if you want to cancel your child’s place in class as per our T and C’s.
ISTD Modern, Tap, Ballet and LAMDA Acting Exams
We have exam sessions booked yet again for our Modern, Tap, Ballet and LAMDA Acting Pupils. ISTD Modern and Tap exams will take place in November and Ballet will take place in February. The LAMDA Acting exams will take place in December. Our teachers are very experienced and will only submit pupils for exams when they feel they are reaching the required level. Practicing at home is paramount to your child’s success as well as attending all of their classes.
LBDA Christmas Concert
LBDA’s annual Christmas Concert will be taking place again at St Mary’s Church, Shortlands this year on Friday 4th December 2026. All of our Musical Production and Singing Pupils will appear in this performance and parents are invited to watch this magical occasion. Emails will be going out over the Autumn Term with more information but please keep this date free.
Panto Trip to Cinderella
As 8 LBDA pupils will be performing in ‘Cinderella’ over the Christmas period I will be arranging a school trip to support our little dancers. I will be able to get school rate tickets so please look out for emails about this as we would love to support the girls in our usual LBDA manner!
TRIAL CLASSES
As you know LBDA runs classes in ISTD Modern, Tap, Ballet, LAMDA Acting, Commercial and Street Jazz, Lyrical Jazz, Acro, Group Singing, Private Singing and Musical Production. If your child would like a FREE trial class in any subject they do not currently take please contact me ASAP so we can get them booked if we have availability.
NEW CLASSES
We have some brand new classes on the timetable including the following:
• Year 1-3 Street Jazz
Monday: 4.00 – 4.45pm
• Year 3&4 LAMDA Acting
Monday: 4.00 – 4.45pm
• Year 2&3 Singing Class
Friday: 4.00 – 4.45pm
• Reception and Year 1 Musical Production
Friday: 4.00 – 4.45pm
Please email me as soon as possible if you would like your child to attend a trial class in any of the above.
CLASSES AND FEES
Many people have already emailed me about starting additional classes this term. Please let me know as soon as possible if your child is wanting to add classes to their timetable as we have limited spaces available but will do our best to accommodate your child.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries regarding your child’s class and please be reminded that we require a term’s notice if you need to cancel your child’s place in class.
Invoices will be sent out separately – please check your invoice with your child’s timetable to ensure you attend the correct class at the correct venue.
We will be auditioning for our commercial crews again this year and this will take place on the first week back of term – Wednesday 9th September. I will be sending out a separate email about this audition.
Again we all hope you have had a lovely summer break and we can’t wait to get back to classes on Saturday 5th September.
Thank you for being part of the LBDA Family and here’s to lots hard work and even more successes this year.
Kindest regards
Miss Laura and the LBDA Team