Entry Requirements and Fees
2020 UK fee: £9250
2020 International fee: £13,500
Relevant foundation degree or HND with a good grade profile
IELTS 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5
Student view
I'm currently a second year Dance student at the University. After my final year I plan on travelling the world and discovering what dance means to different individuals in different cultures. I'm in charge of running the blog for the dance department, so to stay up to date with everything that's happening this year, and see what our talented staff members and students have been getting up to - give the blog a follow!
Course content
Choreography is the central focus of study here at Chichester. Through this, you’ll develop the creative, imaginative and interpersonal skills that will help you to realise your dance potential. You will be offered a selection of modules that are currently taken by the BA (Hons) Dance students and will be guided by lecturers according to your prior knowledge and experience. This will include the Dissertation module together with a number of choice modules.
Studying dance is a challenging and rewarding experience. It offers the opportunity to extend and develop your dance technique and choreographic skills, while you study and engage in academic and vocational studies.
We offer a challenging experience to study Contemporary Dance taught by expert dance teachers and researchers in a stimulating environment - specialise in areas such as Dance Performance, Choreography, and Dance Movement Psychotherapy.
You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake a work placement with a high-profile dance company, arts organisation, or educational setting, which will help you to access a number of areas of employment.
This programme provides you with a variety of experiences that will prepare you for your chosen career direction.
Our facilities
Campus Location: Chichester
Our dance facilities include four superb dance studios, a fully-equipped 250-seat theatre and a 110-seat studio theatre.
Dance Studios
Studio Theatre
Rehearsal Space
In addition, there is a large gymnasium space together with two new sprung-floor spaces in the Academic Building.
Library
The library offers a substantial collection of books, journals and other materials to help you further your dance knowledge and research. There are a number of study areas for group and quiet study including Wi-Fi areas for laptop use are available, or you can use our open access PC and Mac areas.
We use an electronic learning environment with an expanding portfolio of online library resources from anywhere at any time. The Learning Resource is the hub of the learning environment.
It has two upper floors of library resources, one for silent study and one for quiet study, both of which have recently been refurbished. On the ground floor, you’ll find the Support and Information Zone, Media Centre, Costa Coffee and a variety of IT resources.
There are also:
- 130 open access PC workstations
- 45 Apple iMacs
- Ample printing facilities
- Netbooks available on loan
- Professional editing suites
- Media and equipment loans
- Wi-Fi and plug points throughout
Where this can take you
Dance offers a variety of exciting career options. At the University of Chichester you will be guided by our team of specialist dance tutors and visiting dance professionals to find the route that most suits your interests and skills. Preparation for further study and employment is an integral part of our Dance Programme.
Current students
Prospective students/parents/alumni
Have a look at our Alumni Album to find out about the variety of experiences our students have on graduation
Career Options
- Choreographer
- Independent Dance Artist
- Community Dance Practitioner
- Dance Education Officer
- Arts Administrator
- Media – radio & TV
- Dance Journalist or Critic
- Stage Manager
- Dance Movement Psychotherapist (requires postgraduate study)
- Teacher in Primary, Secondary, Further and Higher Education (requires postgraduate study)
- Postgraduate study and Research
Graduates
We are very proud of all our dance graduates, who have moved into different areas of performance, teaching, administration, postgraduate study and research. This variety of Dance practice gives a sense of the breadth of careers available to a Dance graduate and the success of our recent graduates from both the BA and MA programmes.
- KJ Lawson Mortimer: dancer with Transitions Dance Company, Trinity Laban (2011); since finishing her training KJ has worked as an independent dance artist with Akram Khan, Jorge Crecis, James Wilton Dance, Sandiland & Flexer and Glasshouse. KJ is also an Ambassador for Dance Excellence in Hampshire and an Associate Lecturer at the University of Chichester
- Kayleigh Crook: dancer with mapdance (2011); Kayleigh is currently an independent dance artist and keen photographer; her company Chhaya Collective produces some beautiful work that explores the relationships between artists in the UK and India
- Emma Bright (née Breeze): Since graduation Emma has become a very successful business woman through her dance company Embody Dance
- Eleanor Arnold Archer, Vicky Blackhall, Danielle Gardner, Ashley O'Reilly, Eleanor Parry and Amy Ware: PGCE Secondary Dance at the University of Chichester (2015)
- Nick Kyprianou: Nick is now working as a Audience Engagament Coordinator for New Adventures & Re:Bourne
- Louise Kay: programming internship at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London (2015)
- Aya Kobayashi: Dancer with Yael Flexer, Anjali Dance Company and Lila Dance
- Andy Granville and Amy Wigglesworth: successful teachers in dance at secondary and FE level; Andy is Director of Dance at Birmingham Ormiston Academy and Amy is Programme Manager for Dance at Bridgewater College (FE).
- Jennifer Grant and Joe Garbett: aKa Dance Theatre Company; on graduation Jen studied for an MA in Choreography at Trinity Laban (2013) and Joe took further professional development with JV2 (2013); AkA is the company in residence at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre in Taunton
- Sally Smithson: dancer with aKa Dance Theatre Company; following graduation Sally took the MA in Creative Practice at Trinity Laban, she has been a dancer with aKa since 2015
- Carmine de Amicis: has danced with Chantry Dance Company and is currently a performer with Tavaziva Dance Company
Course accreditations
Indicative modules
Dance Dissertation
This investigative project encourages you to demonstrate a systematic understanding of a key area of dance practice or research. Through a combination of written and/or practical methodologies, you will explore an area of research that is both of personal interest and also informed by aspects of the discipline.
Dance Technique
Daily classes enable you to engage in healthy, safe dance practice, through floor, ballet barre, centre work, travelling exercises and improvisational exercises, designed to develop fundamental technical skills needed for university dance study.
Interdisciplinary Arts Project
(Module information to come)
Choreographic Projects
Clear dialogue between process and product allows students to research, direct and develop a work of choreography. Communication of meaning and imagery, development of personal style, dance and music partnerships and use of scenography to support thematic intent are explored in relation to imaginative, project-specific problem-solving.
Postmodern Practice
Selected contemporary choreographers, such as artists of the Judson Church Dance Theater, Crystal Pite, Laila Diallo, Atom-R and Jan Fabre are identified as contributing to, and aligned with a Postmodern aesthetic.
Dance Production
This module acts as a bridge to your professional career, you will perform as part of a company touring to professional venues, schools and colleges and develop and lead workshops in a variety of educational establishments.
Teaching Dance Technique
This module builds on the experience gained in Teaching Dance Technique to further hone the skills for the effective delivery of dance lesson content to different groups of participants.
Teaching Dance and Creative Practice
This module builds on the experience gained in Teaching Dance Technique to further hone the skills for the effective delivery of dance lesson content to different groups of participants.
Dance Placement
(Module information to come)
Dance Criticism
(Module information to come)
Body Politics
In this module a wide range of dance practices, both historical and contemporary, popular and ‘high art’, Western and non-Western, will be analysed in relation to twentieth- and twenty-first-century debates about the politics of the body.
Dance Movement Psychotherapy
This module will examine the theory and practice of DMP, exploring a range of theoretical bases which may underpin practice. The module covers psychodynamic, humanistic and transpersonal approaches, and explores integrative creative practice.
International English Studies
International English Studies
Teaching and assessment
The Dance department is a leading provider of excellence in dance education and draws on the expertise of the teaching team. The team is made up of international professional dancers, choreographers, researchers, writers and directors. Each member of the team is renowned for his or her theoretical and practical expertise. You’ll work with, and learn from, a wealth of professional specialist tutors whose backgrounds stem from highly respected performance companies.
The team aims to foster the next generation of dance performers, choreographers, writers, dance filmmakers, teachers, somatic practitioners and community artists.
Your learning will encompass the development of dance knowledge and skills intrinsic to dance practice. Learning is supported by theoretical inquiry and debate, to provide you with the ability to contextualise your learning within academic frameworks.
You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including written essays and reflection, practical demos, performance, presentations, group project work and practical exams. You will be encouraged to monitor your own progress, giving you the opportunity to discuss any issues with your lecturers during your course.
