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. You will also engage with more generic skills designed to extend your knowledge in relation to the demands of independent research. For instance, you will learn to select appropriate topics for research; use valid research methods including retrieval skills; engage with critical analysis and the evaluation of source material and structure a coherent argument or line of enquiry in relation to both written and practical elements of the dissertation.

Dance Technique

Daily classes allow you to develop and refine technical skills through reflective practice directed toward performance artistry. Corporeal expressivity manifests the embodiment of breath, flow, weight, skeletal articulation, and use of timing, space and focus required for skilful dance performance. Phrasing is considered in relation to use of transitions, development, and elements of risk combined to extend use of physicality and technical range. Complex movement phrases and improvisational situations challenge you to work in greater depth, allowing for development of individual style. Contextual aspects dance styles and approaches to technique arise through practice and discussions, supported by self, peer and tutor appraisal. You are expected to apply and develop key elements of ‘dance fitness' in your personal preparation and practice of this module. This includes building strength (core stability), stamina, coordination, body placement, and kinesthetic awareness. You will be able to warm up, cool down and work with awareness of personal physical abilities and limitations in order to work safely in daily classes.

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 (costume, lighting, visual effects, objects and/or set) are explored in relation to imaginative, project-specific problem-solving. Methodologies and techniques are revisited and used to define and refine thematic content in works- in-progress. Choreographic process is considered and analysed through a critically reflective lens, supported by pre-assessments furthering self and peer-appraisal of works in progress. Theatre production enables students meet the demands of public dance performance

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. Choreographic works are analysed in relation to key elements of Postmodern theory and discourse, such as intertextuality, parody, pastiche, irony, hyper-reality, recognition of the 'other', crisis in subjectivity, and an anti-meta-narrative stance. These are appraised through practical application leading to choreographic production

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. It builds on previous modules, providing applied experience of choreographic, performance, teaching and communication skills. You will consolidate your written skills in a project report which analyses and evaluates your individual involvement.

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. Where possible the group will observe or work/team teach with groups outside of the University to experience real situations in preparation for their final practical teaching assessment. Micro teaching and group experiential sessions will focus on exploring appropriate lesson content and teaching methods.

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. Where possible the group will observe or work/team teach with groups outside of the University to experience real situations in preparation for their final practical teaching assessment. Micro teaching and group experiential sessions will focus on exploring appropriate lesson content and teaching methods.

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, for example: the role of the body in mass culture; the extent to which the body is controlled by or resistant to the state; the role of the body in colonisation and decolonisation; the role of the body in negotiating local, national and global identities; the role of the body in constructing sexual and gender identities; the relationship between the body and technology.

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. The module also draws upon the related models of Authentic Movement and movement-based expressive arts therapy (deriving from the Halprin/Tamalpa model). Within all these different approaches, students will be encouraged to explore the core concept of embodying metaphor.