Press Story

20 Jun 2022

A person wearing a white long sleeved top in our studio. They are on the floor with their arms are stretched to the floor and their head is looking to the right, which makes their hair braids fly out — Student Analeise Auguste in our studio Credit: Camilla Greenwell 2021

The Place, the premier centre for contemporary dance in the UK and home to London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS), has successfully registered with the Office for Students (OfS) as Higher Education Provider (HEP).

The organisation’s HEP status represents a new direction for The Place as it actively reimagines its future to better reflect the evolving dance industry and higher education landscape. Following two decades of collaborative and collegiate structure with other members schools under the registration of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CSS), The Place will transition to its new HEP status on 1st August 2022.

The HEP status highlights our deep commitment to providing world-leading, specialist contemporary dance education and training. This new direction combined with our validating partnership with University of the Arts, London charts a new and exciting future for dance studies, globally.
Speaking of the news, Clare Connor Chief Executive of The Place

For the past two years we have been working to build the capacity and developed the procedures needed to continue to ensure the best possible outcomes for students. Our independent registration status enables us to become more agile and take greater advantage of opportunities within the higher education sector.
Dr Lise Uytterhoeven, Director of Dance Studies at London Contemporary Dance School

“The Higher Education sector in the UK is made more vibrant and stronger by the excellence of its small and specialist institutions. GuildHE is delighted to learn that The Place, as a world-leading institution and member, has been awarded status as an HEP.”
Gordon McKenzie Chief Executive of GuildHE

As student representatives of LCDS, our insight and involvement in this registration process have been valued by The Place. We’ve had the opportunity to attend review meetings and contribute to the development of policy. There will be big, and exciting changes ahead and and we can't wait to see what's in store for future students.
Current students Fiona Macbride and Alexander Love, who contributed to the development of The Place’s Access & Participation Plan and took part in Quality & Standards Review meetings.