Educational Background

This programme of study offers postgraduate students an opportunity to undertake an independent research project. The taught component (10 ECTS) at the beginning of the course will help students acquire the necessary tools to undertake and complete such a project through a discussion of the academic, ethical, political and practical implications of undertaking research in Performing Arts. Much of the research will be considered as independent study, but each student will be assigned one or more academics who will tutor the research process, from selecting an area to writing a research proposal, and researching and writing a dissertation. The specific research will depend on the students' interests as well as staff specialisation and strategic research areas earmarked by the department.
The course is intended to give students an opportunity to develop into mature researchers in a specific area of the Performing Arts. They will be assisted in creating research questions, pursuing and documenting them through an extensive piece of academic writing, and in specific cases, illuminated through artistic practice.

B (Hons) Dance Studies

September 2012 - June 2014

This three-year programme synthesises theory and practice in such ways that theory underpins practice and practice illuminates theory. In the first year, students follow classes (Dance Labs) in a range of dance styles from ballet to contemporary and release-based techniques; applied anatomy and physiology, nutrition and injury prevention. They begin their studies in the fundamentals of dance-making and composition. They experience dance-making processes within a group, guided by professionals. All of these applied studies will run concurrently with in-depth lectures which locate Dance in history and society and introduce students to study skills and to the languages of analysis: literary theory, semiotic and aesthetic approaches. Dance and the Camera introduces students to technology for dance. A small number of optional units such as Dance as Communication will help students begin to identify the career path they wish to follow.

The second year further develops mastery and understanding of the principles and practices of dance techniques through set studies in different genres. Musicality – use of phrasing, quality and dynamic; increased powers of co-ordination and movement memory, intention and performance quality will be among the topics under study. The study of choreography continues along a continuum which investigates philosophies and practices of different kinds of theatre such as tanztheater and physical theatre, and of new dance genres influenced by globalisation and immigration, characterised by fusion and hybridity. Through theoretical lectures in Dance and Performance Theory students will investigate critical and cultural theories, focusing on such issues as identity, gender and ethnicity. Dance and technology continues with creative group projects. Students follow units in Dance Education and Dance in the Community; both these areas are well developed in UK, Australia, Canada and some countries in Europe. A number of optional study-units such as Dance Criticism are on offer.

In the final year students will work increasingly as independent learners, formulating theoretical/applied frameworks for individual projects in chosen topics; engaging in professional practices related to career development; demonstrating discernment in choreographic crafting from initial intention to performance outcome, and researching and writing a Dissertation. Study-units are sufficiently flexible to provide choice related to career progression.