Pro Dance12-17 years
Pro Dance is a joint dance and English programme which helps students to develop their dance technique and repertoire, as well as giving them invaluable experience of performing to a live audience. Students receive 10 hours of English tuition a week and 16 hours of dance. This course takes place at Dicker centre (Bede's Senior School) which is located in the village of Upper Dicker in the heart of the Sussex countryside, just north of the seaside town of Eastbourne which attracts both domestic and international tourists. The school is based on a former country estate and has a unique, homely feel, ideal for young teenagers.
The Programme
Description
English Skills focus on developing students' general knowledge in English and ability to communicate effectively and accurately in everyday situations and different contexts. Students will be tested, challenged, supported and stimulated.
Aims
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Improve students' receptive (reading and listening) and productive (speaking and writing) English skills.
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Extend students' knowledge and range of vocabulary.
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Deepen students' understanding of grammatical concepts in English.
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Build students' confidence to use the English they know in speaking situations.
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Improve students' pronunciation.
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Train students to be effective learners.
This Intensive Dance programme includes 16 hours of Dance per week and is open to students who are trained in Classical Ballet/ Contemporary Dance from Intermediate to Advanced levels.
Conditioning/Pilates
Students learn to develop and improve strength, flexibility,posture and coordination.
Classical Ballet
Focuses on musicality, strength, alignment, extension, travelling, jumps.
Contemporary
Exploration of various Contemporary Dance techniques.
Choreography
Students learn the choreographic tools needed to create their own dance routines
Paul Liburd (MBE) is a former member of London Contemporary Dance Theatre, Rambert Dance Company and Scottish Ballet as a soloist and he has danced works by some of the world’s most prominent contemporary-modern choreographers.
He has numerous awards and was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2009 for services to Dance. After retiring from performing, Paul now teaches at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and London Studio Centre.
On the last Friday of the course, students will perform a demonstration and sharing of the work covered in both Classical Ballet and Contemporary training sessions in front of an audience. The performance will include new choreography, created in participation with the students during the course. Parents who are in the area at the time of the performance are welcome to attend it.
Description
A full programme of organised and supervised social events is offered every evening to encourage students to make new friends and develop their social skills. By actively encouraging the mixing of nationalities, we are helping to create a harmonious international community in which students can live, study in a safe and comfortable environment and enjoy themselves.
Aims
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Promote students' relaxation and enjoyment.
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Explore some typically English social events, games and activities.
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Nurture social skills in an environment of different cultural traditions.
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Use English in natural real-life speaking situations.
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Forge new friendships.
Examples
Bede’s Got Talent, Disco, House Competitions, Fashion Show, Formal Dinner & Dance, Karaoke, Messy Games, Music Quiz, Musical Workshop, Pool Party, Soft Ball Sports, Tennis, Tournaments.
Description
Excursions are a mandatory part of the programme. We offer students the opportunity to visit places of cultural and historical interest, as well as the chance for sightseeing, shopping and amusement.
Aims
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Deepen students' cultural experiences.
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Create opportunities for interaction with the real world in fun, relaxed and genuinely interesting ways.
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Enhance their knowledge of England and the UK.
Wednesdays
Wednesday trips are a half-day afternoon/evening visit and may involve visiting a local place of interest in a nearby town or an off-site activity, such as Adventure Golf, Beach Volleyball, Castle, Country Park, Indoor Rock Climbing, Museum, Pier, Skating, Street Markets.
Saturdays
Saturday excursions are a full day trip and include a cultural, touristic or recreational visit to London or another place of interest such as British Museum, Buckingham Palace, London Dungeon, London Eye, London Zoo, Madame Tussauds, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Thorpe Park, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey.
An alternative sightseeing tour of London will be available every Saturday.
Sundays
Sunday excursions are often more relaxing trips to a local seaside town, such as Brighton, Chichester, Eastbourne, Hastings or Worthing, where students can stroll along the beach, have lunch in the park or do some shopping. Sometimes students will partake in off-site activities.
Dates & Fees
The programme runs for 2 weeks in total, from 06 to 19 July 2025. Students arrive on Sunday 06 July 2025 and depart on Saturday 19 July 2025, unless additional weeks of English Plus are booked.
The minimum stay is two weeks. To maximize the benefit of your experience, you should consider a 3 or 4 week course and supplement with English Plus.
The fully-inclusive course fee is £1,945 per week for a residential student. This includes a return transfer (see Terms & Conditions) and travel insurance. There is no supplement for collecting a UM.
The Course
Age range 12 to 17 yrs. Maximum 20 students per week from different countries. Limits for each nationality to ensure a good mix.
There is a full programme of lessons, dance, social events and excursions, all of which are mandatory and included in the fee.
There are 10 hours of lessons per week in the morning called English Skills. Students will be mixed with other students on the English Plus course. Maximum 14 students per class. Weekly progress checks to monitor students' performance.
6 levels are available from A1-A2 (Elementary) to C2 (Proficiency). We cannot accept complete beginners on this course. Entry test on Monday with a speaking, grammar and writing component.
The centre
Tennis courts, sports hall, swimming pool, gym, squash courts, astro-turf, playing fields, drama theatre, dance studios, IT suites, art studios.
Separate accommodation on campus for boys and girls. Most bedrooms have 2 to 4 beds (some single and larger bedrooms are available). Storage space is available. Bathrooms in most houses are shared, there is one boarding house with en-suite accommodation. Students share their bedroom with children of a similar age and from different countries. Every boarding house has its own communal space for students to relax.
Bede’s staff provide excellent care for students 24 hours a day and live in the same sleeping areas as the students. Dedicated House Parents look after the students in each boarding house. Excellent staff:student ratios (typically 1:5). Individual attention provided. There is a surgery led by a qualified nurse a couple of times a week and students have access to a doctor if required.
Healthy meals with a mix of English and international dishes served in the Dining Room. Vegetarian options are always available. Special dietary requirements are accommodated.
Internet is available and an extensive Wi-Fi network across the campus. Students can make and receive telephone calls. The Village Shop is available for refreshments and snacks. Laundry is done for students at least once a week. 24 hour emergency contact service for Parents.
Transfers from/to Heathrow and Gatwick Airports and St Pancras International Train Station are included in the fees between 09.00 and 18.00 (10.00-17.00 for St Pancras). Students are met by Bede's Staff and Bede's Airport Coordinators provide extra care.
Course Aims
- Improve all language skills in English
- Improve dance technique and repertoire
- Have a better understanding of the British way of life
- Earn respect for other people and different cultures
- Develop personal and social skills
- Motivate students to continue learning English after they leave Bede's
- Build confidence to speak English more fluently
