Dance

About

The University of Plymouth Dance Club (UPDC) offers classes in Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz and Heels. Recreational classes run weekly during term time, catering to both beginner and intermediate dancers. For more advanced dancers, there is the opportunity to join our squads that compete in inter-university competitions.

TIMETABLE 2025-2026

Fees:

Club Membership - £20 per year
Term 1 Membership (for exchange or placement students only) - £10
Weekly classes - £2 per class or £5 for 3 or £10 for 6 (bulk classes of same style)
Competition squads (price varies depending on how many squads you are a in due to costume prices)

1 squad = £, 2 squads = £, 3 squads = £, 4 squads = £

Socials

Socials are a huge part of the club and are always very entertaining! Our regular Wednesday night socials are often themed, such as; pub golf, dress as your degree and cowgirls. We also have sober socials throughout the term, including bowling, pottery painting and BBQs on the Hoe. We’d love to see as many of our members at these events as possible – check our Facebook group and Instagram regularly for updates!

Our first 2024/25 social:

Showcases

UPDC runs 2 showcases each year, at Christmas and Easter, to give our dancers the chance to perform pieces learnt in weekly classes, as well as solos and groups. Our squads also showcase their competition routines at the Easter event. Both evenings are a chance to raise money for our chosen charity – through ticket sales and raffles!

Competition Team

During semester 2 we travel to inter-university competitions across the country with our squads. We compete in the intermediate categories in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, plus wildcard. We have 2 new squads coming for 2025/26 which is commercial and heels. In 2024/25 we attended Go Hard or Go Home at Nottingham, Gloucester and Portsmouth University dance competitions. We won 26 trophies overall !!

2025 results:

GHGH	Portsmouth	Gloucester
1st Wildcard	3rd Wildcard	Best Choreo (Wildcard)
Best Inter Choreo (Wildcard)	3rd Contemporary	Dancers Choice Award (Wildcard)
3rd Best Costume (Contemporary)	3rd Comp Duet	2nd Wildcard
1st Tap	2nd Comp Trio	2nd Comp Duet
1st Ballet	3rd Tap	2nd Jazz
1st Team Spirit	2nd Ballet	3rd Comp Trio
	2nd Comp Solo	3rd Tap
	'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' Award to Mariko Shiel	1st Comp Solo
		3rd Ballet
		'Best Overall Performer' Award to Evie Mason
		1st Team Spirit
		Best Overall University

We’d love to continue our trend of trophies this year, and so are asking for a full commitment to the squads if you wish to join. Auditions are held at the start of semester 1. There are different fees associated with the number of squads you are in (maximum 4).