There were a total of 5,086 participants enrolled in 34 dance schools in 2007, the most popular types of dance being classical ballet, jazz and modern dance, the NSO said this morning.

The dance schools employed 109 persons and generated a financial surplus of €391,836.

The office said participants in dance activities in 2007 increased by 8 percent over 2006 while the number of dance schools grew from 32 in 2006 to 34.

Female dancers preferred classical ballet and jazz, whilst Latin American and ballroom were the most popular forms of dance amongst males.

The majority of persons attending dance lessons were aged between 5 and 14, with the smallest percentage of persons being under the age of 5.

Recurrent expenditure by the dance schools in 2007 amounted to €654,318, of which 45 per cent went towards staff costs. A significant proportion of the expenditure also went towards premises (including rent of premises) and operational expenditure.

The total income generated in the same year reached €1,046,154. Of this, 85 per cent came from tuition fees, and a further 13 per cent came from dance shows, as shown in Table 11. The financial surplus for dance schools in 2007 amounted to €391,836, an increase of 14 per cent over 2006