Develop your interest in somatic approaches to dance practice on this immersive 12-month programme
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Overview
This MA Dance, Somatics and Dance Science degree is an immersive 12-month, full time programme designed for students with an undergraduate degree in dance or dance science and a particular interest in somatic approaches to dance practice.
This course has an interdisciplinary approach and explores the confluence (and potential divergence) of a somatic and scientific approach to dance practice. The course is aimed at dancers and graduates with some experience of dance science and/or somatics who want to extend their knowledge and studio, applied or experiential practice to gain the skills necessary to pursue a career in these disciplines.
You will develop an awareness of your own movement potential in terms of structure, function and efficiency from both a somatic and movement science perspective, and develop the experiential and scholarly language you need to reflect and critically document your practice. These skills can be applied in professional, community and educational dance contexts, as a dance artist, pedagogue, practitioner or researcher. The creative, critical and reflective skills you develop during the course are also transferable to a range of employment opportunities.
This course requires practical and theoretical enquiry as you interrogate first and third person perspectives within dance practice. You will need a certain level of maturity, discipline, a willingness to delve into complex phenomena, and an acceptance of periods of uncertainty and ‘not-knowing/unknowing’.
The Course
What you will study
You will study core and optional modules on this course. You will study the core modules including a dissertation, Awareness in Motion, Scientific Principles of Dance Practice and Examining Practice, and three optional modules.
This list is indicative and subject to change.
Applied Dance Science: Case Study
The aim of this module is to provide you with the opportunity to plan, implement and evaluate dance-specific monitoring and observation of an individual dancer within a real-life setting, over a specified period of time.
Awareness in Motion
This module will give you the opportunity to discover more about your own movement potential through a somatic practice, focussing particularly one somatic practice, such as the Feldenkrais Method. By drawing attention to functional anatomy of the skeleton, you will discover more about efficiency and ease of motion through somatic practice lessons and become more aware of your potential as a mover. You will explore the philosophy and principals of the method to support and inform your practice. This learning and enriched body knowledge will provide you with more awareness, understanding and potential as a mover and will also challenge the way you think, learn and experience movement.
Awareness in Performance
This module will give you the opportunity to discover more about your own movement potential through, for example the Feldenkrais Method, Awareness in Motion, and improvisation. By drawing attention to functional anatomy of the skeleton, you will discover more about efficiency and ease of motion through somatic lessons and become more aware of your potential as a mover by introducing questions within a variety of improvisational scores. This work will be influenced, for example, by the philosophies of Moshe Feldenkrais and Deborah Hay, together engaging with the body as an active processing organism, encouraging attention to perception and noticing to enhance the studio-based practice of performance and awareness of the body in motion. This learning and enriched body knowledge will provide you with more understanding, potential and confidence as a mover and be valuable preparation for further training or performance work within the dance field.
Developing Dance Practice
You will explore strategies for developing dance practitioner processes, working practices, and creative and organisational methods specific to a work-based context. You will explore a practice of your choice and engage with tutorials either in person or remotely.
Dissertation
The dissertation is the culmination of your postgraduate study. You will develop a substantial dance research project of your choice. You can choose to include a varying amount of dance practice alongside written critical commentary.
Examining Practice: Subjective Perspectives in Dance
This module examines and explores subjective perspectives as a way of examining practice. You will use a range of theoretical principles, embodied and methodological approaches and qualitative methods to place knowledge in the context of your existing practice. the module encourages you to interrogate an area of your own dance practice and will challenge you to consider relevant frameworks of research across a range of contexts. Through subjective-led enquiry, you will research your practice in relation to developments in research and will be challenged to question (and explore) how methodological approaches relate to your own practice.
Improvisation in Professional Contexts
In this module, you are introduced to a variety of improvisational methodologies and approaches. Taught sessions offer a practical and historic overview, drawing on key postmodern and current improvisational dance artists and touching on aspects of contact improvisation. Sessions focus on somatic experience and embodiment alongside developing contextual and theoretical understanding and applications of improvisation. It aims to develop your bodily and mindful sensory and spatial awareness; to cultivate attention to movement vocabulary, articulation, and qualitative engagement with ‘in-the-moment’ improvisational choices.
Pedagogical Approaches
Through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical tasks, you will analyse, deconstruct and reconstruct technical exercises and phrases in order to build a critical base of teaching material. Planning, phrase construction and giving corrections will be explored in the context of somatic development and consideration of issues relating to health and safety. You will also be expected to undertake critical analysis and evaluation of professional dance classes. You will be introduced to lesson planning, devising schemes of work appropriate to different teaching situations such as primary and secondary syllabus work, special needs and working with the elderly and community-based groups.
Principles of Motor Learning for Dance
In this module, you will explore theories and practices of motor learning and control. Specific topics will cover include: organisation of motor control, perception, anticipation, instructional strategies, conditions of practice, attention and feedback. the intersection of somatically informed approaches to practice will also be considered. Consideration of different learners will be addressed in relevant weeks in relation to the novice or advanced dancer.
Technical Dance Practice
This module aims to develop and strengthen contemporary dance understanding and performance through regular attendance and practice in a variety of dance technique classes. Daily classes allow you to develop and refine technical skills through reflective practice directed toward performance artistry. Motional complexity, qualitative interpretation, musicality, alignment, flexibility, core strength and stamina will be priorities in developing technical skills. Alongside this, classes will emphasis experiential learning, developing sensory awareness, physical efficiency, anatomical knowledge and skeletal imagery through taught material, improvisation, and partner work. the variety of techniques taught are designed to challenge your movement memory and problem-solving skills as well as develop an athletic and more technically tuned body.
Teaching and Assessment
How you will learn
You will study through theoretical and practical workshops, lecturers, seminars and rehearsals. You will be assessed through a range of assignments depending on which study options you choose. These assessments include practical choreography presentations, essays, reports, presentations, learning journals, portfolios, online tasks and group working.
You will learn from specialist tutors in your weekly sessions and have one-to-one tutorial support as required. Alongside the module-specific tutors, a range of departmental and University-wide academic and pastoral support is also available.
Charlotte
Facilities
Rehearse and perform in practical spaces
You will perform in an Arts Council funded Dance Theatre Space and rehearse in four superb dance studios, the large gymnasium and two sprung-floor spaces. You will also be able to take advantage of a programme of dance company performances, workshops and events supported by Arts Council funding.
Dance Studios and Rehearsal Spaces
The ShowRoom
A fully equipped 212-seat public theatre venue with a reputation for presenting some of the most exciting dance and theatre companies touring on the UK circuit.
Exercise Laboratory Facilities
Learning Resource Centre
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms, and the Support and Information Zone (SIZ).
Library
Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.
Careers
Where this course could lead
This MA Dance, Somatics and Dance Science course gives you the skills and values you need to succeed in the dance sector. You will learn to share your knowledge and learning in a range of ways as an artist, performer, pedagogue, choreographer, community practitioner or researcher.
You will prepare for a fulfilling and flexible career pathway where you can be creative and inspiring as you nurture your key dance, somatic and science skills.
You could also continue your studies to practical or theoretical research at MPhil or PhD level.
Course Costs
Course Fees 2024/25
UK fee
International fee
For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fee page.
For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.
University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.
Entry Requirements
Typical offers (individual offers may vary):
Honours degree
IELTS
You will also be need to complete an interview, submit a brief written task, and evidence their movement capacity via submission of recorded material (see details below).
Applicants who have met the general entrance requirements of their programme but who have an IELTS score 0.5 below that required (or equivalent other qualification) may be admitted to the University’s Pre-Sessional Programme.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Apply for this course with our online application form.
You will need to complete a:
1. Written element
- An essay providing a critical and reflective discussion on the potential for an integration between somatic and dance science within your practice. Within your essay you should identify existing theories and / or practitioners who work in this way. Please include refences to any external sources supporting your content (a specific referencing format is not required). (approx. 800 words).
2. Practical submission
- Required: 2-3 minute showreel which demonstrates your movement capacity and illustrates an improvisatory and/or somatic movement approach. You can share existing recorded content which illustrates this or you can generate something new working with the theme of folding and unfolding.
- Subsequent, if relevant: If accepted onto the programme and you wish to opt for the dance techniques elective module, further evidence of technical competencies may be required. Information on this will be provided in due course, if relevant.
3. Interview: 1 to 1 interview 20-30 minutes online
4. Reference: 1 reference for external candidates who can comment on physical and academic skills
