What is BUDS?
The Bournemouth University Dance Society (BUDS) is about having fun, making memories and taking exciting opportunities whilst sharing our love for dance. Whether this is on our competition teams or performance teams, we’d love to have you! Each year, our BUDS family is growing bigger and closer than ever, make sure to check out the info below to learn more about how we can welcome you into our society 😊
Our Competitive team
BUDS compete in 9 categories of dance: Ballet, Tap, Intermediate and Advanced Contemporary, Intermediate and Advanced Jazz, Street, Commercial, and Wildcard (Jazz/Heels Fusion).
We have weekly classes which are taught by our dedicated student choreographers in preparation for national inter-university competitions throughout the year, and our end of year showcase.
Over the years our competition team has excelled, growing stronger in numbers and ability. We had an exceptional 25/26 season, taking home an incredible 38 trophies!! We have had our most successful competition season yet, including hosting our Bournemouth University Dance Competition for the 6th year in a row!
Competition team memberships cover all comps, shows, travel, use of costumes within comp season, your own personalised kit jacket, weekly classes and socials for the year, and weekly Strength & Conditioning sessions lead by qualified coaches.
Competition Team Auditions- Saturday 3rd October, Talbot Campus (more info is posted on our socials).
Our Performance Team
BUDS also offers Performance Team memberships! These teams are perfect for dancers who don’t want to compete but still want to be a part of the BUDS family and enjoy dancing together, without the pressure. These teams cover 3 styles of dance: Commercial, Contemporary and Jazz!
Weekly classes are run by our amazing external Performance Team Choreographers, which means they aren’t university students, but are all extremely experienced with choreographing for BUDS!
Maisie will be our Commercial Performance Team Choreographer this year and is coming back for her 7th consecutive year choreographing for BUDS, whilst also owning her own dance business MCR Dance! Maisie has grown these teams over the years (previously known as Social Teams) by empowering, supporting and encouraging all her dancers which is what has allowed us to further expand this side of the society into Performance Teams offering different styles! Both Liv and Amy (Contemporary and Jazz Performance Team Choreographers) are joining the team this year and are BUDS alumni, who have both choreographed our Intermediate Competition teams in their time on BUDS.
Performance team membership covers Bournemouth competition day, showcase day, use of costumes, your own personalised kit jacket, and weekly classes and socials for the year.
Performance teams don’t require auditioning, a sign up link will be posted on our Instagram on the week commencing the 5th October. These spaces are first come first serve so keep an eye on our page for which day and time this will come out!
Tips: Have the instagram open on the dance society early ready for the release. Have your information, ie name and emails ready. It is a first come, first serve basis, we sell out extremely fast, normally in a matter of minutes.
Once they are sold out there will no further opportunities to purchase.
Why become a part of BUDS?
- We are a family - BUDS has a great team spirit both on and off the stage. We have each others backs through the best of times and the worst. We motivate each other to continuously improve, so when competition time comes, we can all be our very best.
- 'Once in a lifetime' experiences - Your university experience is more than just a degree! Joining a team like BUDS is a pathway to many opportunities from performing on large stages, to having the opportunity to choreograph and manage your own dance routines for the rest of the society to learn. It has proved to be an incredible way to network and meet all kinds of people in different lines of work. You'll gain confidence, friendships, and memories for life!
- You'll get the chance to serve your community - Each year BUDS are dedicating more time to reaching out to our community; supporting local charities and performing at local campaign events. BUDS take pride in giving back to the community and reaching outside the walls of Bournemouth University.
- Consistently over the last few years we have been awarded SUBU 5 star society, going above and beyond to do more as a group and for the community. We are a huge society that utilise our abilities to give back to the environment and community we live in, with beach cleans, litter pickings, and much more planned.
- BUDS hosts the biggest inter-society fundraising event at BU - 'BU Come Dancing'. An opportunity to collaborate with other societies and clubs at the university to create entertaining and unique performance to raise money to a given charity close to our hearts.
Check-out our Facebook and Instagram for more information!
Key Events:
BUDS Comp: 14th March 2027
BU Come Dancing: TBC
BUDS Showcase: TBC
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Meet the Committee:
Presidents: Grace Burgoyne & Tash Wright
Secretary: Daisy Nangle
Comp Team Treasurer: Caitlin Dix
Performance Team Treasurer: Daisy Miles
Events Managers: Hannah Green & Josie Wateridge
Fundraising Manager: Abby Falk
Mental Health Officer: Ella Swinford
Kit and Costume Manager: Sophia Barone
AUB Representative: Lydia Holmes
Social Secs: Lauren Hughes & Maddie Jones
Sober Social Sec: Meg Gore
Strength and Conditioning Coordinator: Trenyce Joseph
Ballet Competition Team Choreographers: Ella Grant & Hetty Preece
Tap Competition Team Choreographer: Ella Berry
Intermediate Contemporary Competition Team Choreographers: Hannah Sylejmani & Lauren Hughes
Advanced Contemporary Competition Team Choreographers: Ella Masters & Emily Watson
Intermediate Jazz Competition Team Choreographer: Evie Manning & Anna Staszewski
Advanced Jazz Competition Team Choreographer: Hannah Green
Street Competition Team Choreographers: Daisy Nangle, Ellie Parkinson & Meg Gore
Wildcard Competition Team Choreographers: Tash Wright & Evie Chancer
Commercial Competition Team Choreographers: Noa Lenti
Commercial Performance Team Choreographer: Maisie Cowan
Contemporary Performance Team Choreographer: Liv Simkin
Jazz Performance Team Choreographer: Amy Roberts
Performance Team Captains: Charlotte Aquino & Aisling Lafferty