Commercial Dance

What Is Commercial Dance?

Commercial dance refers to choreography created for the entertainment industry — including music videos, concerts, television performances and advertising. The style borrows movements from hip-hop, jazz and street dance techniques, and its purpose is different from a technique class: it exists to sell and entertain rather than to build a codified vocabulary.

Rather than following a single traditional technique, commercial dance focuses on performance quality, musicality and stage presence. Choreography is often fast-paced and expressive, designed to match contemporary pop and chart music.

Commercial Dance vs Street Dance

Commercial dance and street dance share a lot of the same movement vocabulary, but they come from different worlds — one from the entertainment industry, the other from grassroots street culture.

Benefits of Commercial Dance

Who Is Commercial Dance Suitable For?

Learning Commercial Dance in London

London is one of Europe's main hubs for commercial dance thanks to its strong music, fashion and entertainment industries. Many professional dancers train in the city before working in tours, theatre productions and televised performances.

The London scene ranges from beginner-friendly studios to degree-level training. Adore Dance London runs a dedicated "Adult Commercial Dance" strand for beginners and improvers and also operates its own talent agency, placing dancers directly into TV, film and live event work. For formal qualifications, Urdang, part of City St George's, University of London, has over 50 years of history and runs a dedicated BA (Hons) Commercial Dance degree combining daily technique with industry audition preparation. UNIT3 Studios near Oval, established in 2014, hosts commercial classes from visiting choreographers across its seven rehearsal rooms, while Off The Rails, founded by Missie Frank in 2015, has built a community-first commercial dance space rather than a strictly technical one.

Commercial dance classes in London are typically taught as open choreography sessions where students learn a routine set to contemporary pop or R&B music.

Classes focus on confidence, performance skills and expressive movement. They are popular with dancers who enjoy energetic routines and want to experience the style used in music videos and stage productions.

Commercial Dance FAQ

• What exactly is commercial dance? +
  Choreography created for the entertainment industry — music videos, concerts, TV and advertising — that borrows movement from jazz, hip-hop and street dance but exists to entertain and sell rather than to teach a fixed technique.
• What's the difference between commercial dance and hip-hop or jazz? +
  Jazz and hip-hop are codified techniques built up over years; commercial dance borrows from both but focuses on learning a specific, fast-turnaround routine for a specific performance context. See our Jazz Dance guide for that comparison.
• Do I need previous experience to join a commercial dance class in London? +
  No — many London schools run dedicated beginner and improver commercial classes alongside their more advanced, industry-facing sessions.
• What should I wear to a commercial dance class? +
  Fitted, comfortable clothing that allows fast movement, plus clean indoor trainers — most studios ask you not to wear outdoor shoes on the studio floor.
• How much do commercial dance classes cost in London? +
  Drop-in classes typically cost £10–£18. Degree-level and vocational training is priced separately as a course or annual fee.
• Can commercial dance classes lead to professional work? +
  For some dancers, yes — a handful of London schools connect students directly to talent agency representation, working choreographers or degree-level qualifications, though most classes are taken purely for enjoyment and fitness.
• Is there a university degree in commercial dance in London? +
  Yes, London is home to a dedicated BA (Hons) Commercial Dance degree that combines daily technical training with industry audition preparation.
• What styles get mixed together in a typical commercial dance class? +
  Most routines draw on a blend of jazz, hip-hop and street dance vocabulary, adapted to whatever music and performance context the choreography is built for.