Roynon Dance Woolston

I got back late last night from a jam-packed few days in Birmingham at the Dance Business Conference 2026. This was my 4th conference and an event I look forward to every year- a chance to learn from different experts and speakers in the industry, exhibitors and Deborah Laws, the organiser and business coach who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. It's a fabulous opportunity each year to meet other dance bosses, and reconnect with friends made at previous conferences.

The life of a dance business owner can be lonely- most of us start out with a wealth of experience, knowledge and qualifications in dancing and dance teaching, but very little in running a business. Overnight, you have to become an expert in HR, customer services, accounting, systems , operations, marketing and sales. Most businesses have experts and teams to take all this on. And being a female centred industry, many of us are doing this alongside raising families.

When I started out 16 years ago, there was no guidance for me on this- I embarked on the steepest learning curve I had ever been on! Over that 16 years, the dance industry, the business world, people and the world in general have changed, and we must change with them, so continous learning is essential.

I am incredibly grateful to now have access to business experts, coaches and speakers, and 2 days per year in a room with other people who 'get it '.

Thanks for a fabulous 2 days, Dance Business Conference 2026, I leave with a head full of knowledge and ideas, and a heart full of the cheerleading of a room full of dance bosses. 🩷

Until next year. 🩰🩰🩰

A few more gorgeous pictures of our dancers from Petersfield Festival. Congratulations to Evelyn and Imi who missed the orignal pictire carousel. 🙂 # # #

*PETERSFIELD FESTIVAL*

*Age 13/14 Open Section*

*Eve*
🥇 Character (Outstanding)
🥇 Greek
🥈 Ballet
🥉 Modern
🥉 Lyrical
🏆 Classical Aggregate

*Imi*
🥈 Modern
🥈 Lyrical
🥉 Character

*Layla*
🥉 Modern
4th Character

*Ela*
🥇 Lyrical
🥈 Modern
4th Ballet
🏆 Performance Award

*Age 9/10 Open Section*

*Evelyn*
🥈 Character
🥈 Ballet
🥈 Modern
🥈 National
🥉 Greek

*Amelie*
4th Place Modern

Age 7/8 Open Section

*Esma*

4th Ballet
4th Modern
4th Greek

*Age 9/10 Novice Section*
*Rowan*
🥉 Character

*Alice K*
4th Lyrical

Amelie
🥉 Lyrical

*Age 7/8 Novice Section*
*Alice R*
🥉 Modern
4th Character

*Age 15+ Open Section
*Yasmin*
Lyrical
Modern- special mention from the adjudicator

Congratulations girls, you have worked so hard, and we are incredibly proud. 🩷🩷🩷 Thanks Miss Lucy for your beautiful choreography and continued hard work with the girls, we are grateful. 👏👏👏

I was lucky enough to spend a few (very hot) days in Paris last week, and one of my highlights was a tour round the Palais Garnier, the home of the Paris Opera Ballet, one of the oldest and most prestigious ballet companies in the world.

If you are a fan of the animated film Ballerina, or the musical Phantom of the Opera, you may recognise the Grand Staircase, and the huge chandelier in the auditorium....

You may not know, but the stage is famous for having a 5° rake/ slope down towards the auditorium- not at all easy when dancing and pirouetting en pointe! Whilst many theatres do have raked stages, this one is particularly steep - in fact, when the English National Ballet performed there in 2016, they had to rehearse on a specially constructed raked practise stage to prepare! 🎭🎭🎭🎭

A week ago already. Can we do it all again please? 🙏

If your dancer has show fever, we have lots of performance opportunities coming up next year- keep an eye on your inbox for details, we'dlove to welcome some new faces to our show casts. 🎭

Just one more day to order your download before the price increase! 📽