Dance & Choreography BA(Hons)

Your first year provides a solid grounding in the skills and techniques used in dance performance and choreography.  

Modules provide you with a focused, physically-centred experience. In addition to regular body-work classes during which there is a focus on grounding a safe and sustainable dance practice, you are encouraged to explore and challenge your ideas of performance and choreography through studio practice (individual and group work), lectures and seminars. Your bodywork classes include contemporary dance and a range of supporting styles and approaches, such as Pilates, yoga, flow, ballet and, improvisation.  

Year one also provides the opportunity to engage with site-based dance in a variety of settings and locations, and to develop strategies for making connections between practice and theory in preparation for year two. 

Modules

Contemporary Techniques & Improvisation 1

You’ll define physical and technical skills in movement, and in the making and execution of dance performance or studio practice through the basic principles of dance techniques and improvisation - independently and with others. 

Performance & Choreographic Practices

You’ll engage with movement as practice-based research in order to develop knowledge in a range of choreographic methodologies, structures and approaches to performance. 

Embodied Learning: Theories & Practices

You’ll demonstrate an understanding of the underlying concepts of ‘embodiment’ which emerge from, and inform, technical training and theoretical perspectives in dance, performance and choreography. 

Contemporary Techniques & Improvisation 2

Building on the first module, you’ll develop physical and technical skills in movement and in the making and execution of dance performance or studio practice through the principles of dance technique and improvisation - independently and with others. 

Dance Cultures, Histories & Practices

You'll demonstrate - through writing and research - an understanding of current debates in dance performance and choreography, and its cultural contexts. 

Site-Based Practices

You’ll initiate, plan and implement small-scale collaborative site-based performances informed by an understanding of issues relating to embodiment, place/space, context, audience and site. 

Your second year involves directed, supervised and self-generated dance and performance projects. 

Building on the intensive physical training in your first year, you will continue to develop your technical and skills training through applied techniques, while developing your knowledge and experiences in choreography and performance and its cross-disciplinary contexts.  

You will also attend to your potential as a change-maker and contributor to the wider field of dance and engaged practices through considerations of your sustainable dance future. You will also develop your writing skills through critical evaluation of social, historical and/or political dance contexts. 

Modules

Applied Techniques 1

You’ll demonstrate physical and technical skills in movement and in the making and execution of dance performance and studio practice, through the developing principles of dance technique and improvisation. 

Performance & Choreographic Skills

You'll demonstrate an awareness of and engagement with core performing and choreographic skills and be able to critically and contextually analyse your performance /choreographic practice. You will have the chance to perform and choreograph in this module. 

Dance Futures

You’ll be introduced to a range of approaches and strategies for operating sustainably and professionally in the field of choreography and performance and to examine the wider cultural, social and political contexts for this practice. 

Applied Techniques 2

Building on the first module, you’ll demonstrate physical skills in applying underpinning dance technique to different dance styles and approaches. 

Researching Dance: Theories & Contexts

You’ll demonstrate and apply an understanding of research methodologies, modes of writing, reading and critical analysis, drawing on choreographic practices in relation to cultural contexts and contemporary issues in dance performance. 

Cross-Disciplinary Practices 

You’ll demonstrate and apply an understanding of research methodologies, modes of writing, reading and critical analysis, drawing on choreographic practices in relation to cultural contexts and contemporary issues in dance performance. 

You can choose to take a professional placement after your second year on a three-year programme. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the employability team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your professional placement

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

Taking charge of your learning in your final year, you'll undertake two major research projects (including practical and written work) both of which focus on your chosen areas of interest.  

Throughout the year, you'll advance your physical training and creative, choreographic skills. This culminates in a professional practice project, in which you'll collaborate to produce, market, choreograph and perform an original work for public performance – mirroring professional practice. 

Modules

Advanced Technique 1

You’ll identify your technical development needs and support a student-led approach to addressing these areas within your practice as you combine highly complex movement phrases and execute them with technical accuracy and prepare for audition workshop/class. 

Independent Research Project

You’ll get the opportunity to grow your confidence and ability to undertake an innovative, independent research project in a chosen topic, and produce practical and written research outputs consistent with contemporary academic discourse, critically engaging with dance and choreographic practice. Your research and presentation skills will develop in line with current demands of working as an independent dance professional. 

Advanced Techniques 2 

Building on the first module, you will fine-tune your contemporary technique and develop a value-driven approach to technical training in your personal practice so that you have the skills and confidence to participate in and contribute to sustainable professional level dance activities.  

Professional Practice Project

You’ll demonstrate a self-sustaining practice through the production of a professionally informed piece of performance work, bringing together your three years of study in dance and choreographic practice.  

As part of this innovative choreography and dance degree, you'll participate in dance classes, workshops, seminars, lectures and self-generated projects. Based in a supportive environment, you'll be encouraged to push your practice through taking creative risks and pushing the discipline through collaboration.  

You'll work both individually and collaboratively and have the chance to grow alongside professional artists and our industry partners. 

We also host off-curriculum activities such as recent project Body &... where students can play with improvisation environments including live music, projection and textiles.  

Assessments for this course are 100% coursework and performance-based, with no exams.  

Students are assessed either through class observations, individual submissions, solo or ensemble performances, or written submissions/essays.  

When work is being viewed within an ensemble performance, tutors assess your personal demonstration of the skills outlined in the learning outcomes, and you are given an individual mark.