The MA Dance has been developed for: choreographers; performers; teachers; lecturers; community dance practitioners; people working in dance promotion and production; and recent dance graduates.
However the programme is likely to appeal specifically to individuals working within the dance sector, including education and community practice, who wish to develop their skills, knowledge and capacities as artist researchers and who aspire to increase their employment opportunities by undertaking this MA qualification.
Reflecting today’s dance practice, this course focuses on the further development of the thinking artist as well as the practicing scholar. In other words, the course applies a holistic approach to theory and practice whereby students not only achieve mastery in their chosen areas within dance, they also acquire appropriate contextual knowledge and research (or practical) skills to complement their strengths.
This approach is intended to enable students to work in their own specialisation whilst allowing them breadth to work in related dance areas or to collaborate with specialists based in those areas.
The first two core modules, Research Methods and Frameworks and Practices are intended to complement one another. Research Methods seeks to introduce candidates to research methodologies and strategies appropriate to the study of performing arts and exemplars of application. Frameworks and Practices provides a range of conceptual frameworks and a discourse of theory into practice, that informs, supports and contextualizes performance practice research within the context of artistic, cultural and educational discourses. This study will inform and underpin the practice- based modules in the rest of the programme.
The Dance Practitioner is designed to offer candidates the opportunity to develop the skill of reflective practice, practical workshops will explore and test, working processes related intention and context, the self as dancer and/or dance maker. Candidates will be expected to develop an appropriate methodology for evaluating responses to their work and the ways in which they can learn from this feedback as a reflexive practitioner. Creative Platforms is a double module that develops candidates’ knowledge in creative and collaborative processes in dance. It is allows opportunities for candidates to further develop their creative and collaborative capacities and at the same time focuses more on reception and evaluation. This enables candidates to make more informed decisions concerning their own research path on the remaining modules on the programme.
Research Report gives candidates the chance to undertake a written research essay that develops their abilities to articulate their theoretical understanding. For the final triple module students can choose to concentrate on the construction of further performance or practical work with an evaluation (Major Practical Project), or the writing of a dissertation (Research Dissertation). Of course, in the latter case it would be entirely acceptable to place the student’s own practice within a broader frame of reference and it is possible to relate further practical exploration in a related or distinct field – the notion of practice as research to be presented in the dissertation.
All programmes in the Department of Performing Arts aim to develop thinking artists and practitioners through rigorous engagement with theory, process, practice and notions of professional practice. The programme is structured to help students locate and extend their practice in relation to current bodies of knowledge and professional practice in dance. Teaching and learning methods selected for this MA are designed to facilitate the students' ability to develop their own artistry and practice and to stimulate links between this, the practice of others and current related theoretical knowledge and concepts. Throughout the programme the curriculum design and content encourages the integration of theory and practice, where no division is seen between the studio or the seminar room.
The programme commits to pedagogical principles that:
promote professional engagement and reflective practice; encourage independent and autonomous learning; and support continuing professional development.
Students will be exposed to a variety of teaching and learning methods including workshops, seminars, lectures, field visits, the viewing of live and mediated work, mentored rehearsals, tutorials, performances, group work and independent study.
Assessment methods across the MA have been selected to enable students to develop their knowledge and skill as dance practitioners using an appropriate critical and analytical framework within which to place and evaluate their own concepts and practical work. With this in mind, assessment tasks will be designed to allow the student sufficient opportunity to explore this framework.
All the modules are assessed through coursework activities, and in support of practical work a reflective component in the form of a reflective journal, supporting documentation or an oral examination will take place. Throughout the programme formative assessment in the form of work in progress pesentations and draft written work, will be encouraged to ensure students are supported through their learning experience.
This is essentially a vocational programme and students who graduate from it are equipped to pursue a range of careers in the dance professions.
These include teaching, performance, community arts, choreography, and/or further study towards a postgraduate degree to teach in secondary, further or higher education or continue an academic career towards doctoral studies.
Applicants should be in possession a good undergraduate degree (normally a 2.2 or above) in Dance, Performing Arts or similar field. Candidates will be expected to attend an interview and workshop. Where candidates are not progressing directly from a first degree, relevant professional experience and expertise will be taken into account.
If you are in any doubt about your suitability for the programme please contact the programme leader.
