Course Content
Common to those strands are the concepts of creating and performing dance; and the dance infrastructure. Through the course students engage in developing their knowledge, skills, understanding and experience of these concepts.
Creating and Performing Dance:
- Physical Skills – developing individual practice by focusing on a range of current dance techniques and styles to develop an enhanced understanding of the body through application of movement principles; supported by analysis of practice through real-time video feedback and the application of healthy dance practice.
- Composition & Choreography – approaches to researching and exploring ideas; making and devising processes; evaluating and realising in performance through collaborative group work.
- Performance Practice – formal & informal settings.
The Dance Infrastructure:
- Dance Culture - historical, cultural and social perspectives, appreciation and critical analysis;
- Dance Systems - management, funding, administration, politics & policy;
- Dance Context - dance as art and the interrelationship between dance theatre, community dance and dance education.
Dance in Wales and the UK:
The picture of dance in Wales is one of continuous development. The worlds of creativity, performance, programming, participation and viewing intersect to give strength to the vibrant dance ecology. In order to further its ambitions for dance in Wales, the sector is consolidating existing strengths and building on achievements, whilst developing new initiatives and strategies, and pursuing vital partnerships at national and international level.
Consequently the needs of the dance industry, not only in Wales but across the whole of the UK, demand a highly skilled and innovative workforce. Life and career pathways are crucial to dance; through encounters with dance in school years to study and patterns of training at higher levels; and from there to the employment and retention of practitioners and the sustainability of practice and companies. The importance of preparing those who wish to pursue a career in dance cannot be over stated and as such, any education and training, whether at initial entry points, undergraduate, postgraduate or continuing professional development (CPD), needs to reflect this preparation and development.
A more strategic approach to dance education, training and CPD in Wales has emerged in recent years with a clear growth and development in the range of provision. Our dance degree has made a significant contribution to that growth as the first single honours dance degree in Wales and its design and structure has taken account that all students need to be aware of, and sensitive to the issues and debates that are topical to dance and the need to develop a broad experience of creative, performance and teaching based dance work.
Year One:
You will undergo foundation training in core dance activities. As well as technique classes (in contemporary, ballet and classical jazz) to develop physical and performance skills, you will also study the following areas:
- Dance Practice – exploring the potential of the physical body by engaging in a variety of dance and movement informed techniques.
- Research and Practice in contemporary choreographic approaches will enable students to work towards creating new dance work for performance as well as developing reflective communication skills through opportunities to work collaboratively.
- Healthy Dance Practice – understanding how the body functions anatomically & physiologically, body conditioning, safe & effective practice, psychology and motivation; and nutrition are a few of the topics that dance practitioners need to understand for working in today’s dance industry.
- Historical, contextual and social theory that underpins current contemporary dance practice.
- Dance Pedagogy to develop leadership skills within formal & informal settings.
You will also be introduced to research processes; academic skills and developing professional & personal profiles to underpin your studies in years two and three.
Years Two and Three:
You will continue to develop and challenge your learning in all core activities in year two with a focus on application of practice. A student-centred approach ensures learning experiences are informed by current professional practice and dialogue. In year three student learning shifts from dependence to independence through new experiences in researching, managing and creating dance companies to perform in non-theatre settings; supported by continued practice in technique. Opportunities to place student learning within a professional context are realised through placements within the industry in a variety of settings. All year 3 students are supported in the writing of an independent research study – a dissertation.
Career Potential
There has been an increase in the range of career opportunities in the field of dance in recent years, fed by the increased demand for dance activity in a variety of settings. This course is purposefully designed to meet those demands by preparing the skilled dance practitioners of the future. As such the course will prepare students for a range of careers in the dance industry, particularly dance performance work and that which takes place in community and education settings. Career opportunities include: work as community and education dance practitioners, choreographers and performers; dance project managers; dance development officers, dance company education officers; and researchers.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate potential, motivation and a sound level of current dance experience of which experience in contemporary dance would be an advantage. Candidates should have 5 GCSE passes (Grades A – C) including English Language, plus one of the following:
- 280 points to include grades BB at A Level or Scottish Advanced Highers to include a relevant subject. Welsh Baccalaureate Core is considered as 3rd subject; General Studies excluded
- BTEC QCF Extended Diploma: Distinction Merit Merit within a relevant subject to include 12 Distinctions overall
- 280 points from the Irish Leaving Certificate at Highers to include 3 x B1 grades within a relevant subject
- Pass Access with 45 credits at Level 3 to include 15 credits with Distinction within a relevant subject; or Foundation course in Dance plus 100 points at A Level equivalent
- Qualifications equivalent to the above are also acceptable and the course welcomes applications from non-standard applicants.
If your qualification isn't listed above, please refer to the UCAS website
Key Facts
UCAS Code(s): W500
Campus: Cyncoed
School: Cardiff School of Sport
Course Length: Three years full-time
Also available part-time and can be up to eight years. The part-time students join the full-time students for all modules. Therefore most of the modules are completed between 9.00am and 6.00pm on weekdays.
Assessment:
A wide range of assessment methods are used, which relate to the aims of the individual modules these include: practical assessments; presentations; written coursework assignments, such as essays, reports, journals; project assessments; work placement assessments, examinations.
How to Apply:
Applications for this course should be made online to UCAS at http://www.ucas.com/. Part-time applications should be made direct to the university.
For further information please visit our How to Apply pages at www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/howtoapply.
International Applicants:
Before making an application, international students (those outside of the EU), should contact the International Office at Cardiff Met to discuss the necessary procedures in relation to studying with us. For further information visit www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/international.
Selection Procedure:
Selection is on the basis of the UCAS application and an audition. Whilst you may not have an academic profile specifically in dance, it is expected that you will have a sound level of current dance experience.
Tuition Fees and Financial Support:
For up to date information on tuition fees and the financial support that may be available please refer to www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/fees.
Bursaries & Scholarships:
The university also offers a bursary and scholarship scheme to help students whilst at university. To see if you are eligible, visit www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/scholarships.