Advanced Dance Performance MA

Develop your dance practice by being part Dance City’s postgraduate company, The Collective. Create new and exciting work, led by nationally and internationally acclaimed choreographers and get taught by leading arts practitioners and educators.

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Overview

This MA is offered by North East dance organisation, Dance City, in partnership with the University of Sunderland. The course is based at the Dance City Sunderland studios, with visits throughout the year to Dance City Newcastle studios and theatre.

The course lasts 38-weeks and is a practice-based qualification that offers new and recent dance graduates the opportunity to develop their dance practice and technique, learn and develop choreography, and perform in work by leading choreographers.

The course has a broad and current approach, which includes physical theatre and experimental forms, and is designed to produce strong, highly employable dancers who will be able to work in a range of settings.

The focus of this MA is for the dancing of the students to meet the public. The primary vehicle for this is 'The Collective', Dance City’s touring company. The Collective creates work that is physically captivating and relevant today, presented in theatres across the country as well as in offsite locations and through digital platforms. There are opportunities to engage with a range of partner venues and participants through the wraparound work of the company.

Dance technique:

Advanced technical training in ballet and a number of contemporary dance forms
Complementary techniques – pilates, yoga, and visiting artists who provide up-to-date material including kuchipudi, voguing and contact improvisation

Dance performance:

Development and performance of three newly commissioned works each year
Touring of created works
Offsite/digital performance work, created with the company

Professional contexts:

Development and realisation of a choreographed work, delivery of teaching sessions or a cross-arts project (film, installation etc).
One-to-one tutoring with an experienced member of staff.

Why us?

Access state of the art facilities at Dance City
As a University of Sunderland student, you will also benefit from all of the University facilities and support on offer

Increase your earning and employability potential
Learn from leading sector professionals

Join our creative community: @SunderlandCreative #WeAreCreative

Course structure

All three modules on the MA Advanced Dance Performance take a longitudinal approach with assessment points throughout the year of study. Individual progress, personal development and future employability underpin the delivery and are at the heart of all teaching and learning. As the course prioritises physical and technical development, the modules in Advanced Dance Technique and Advanced Dance Performance are worth 70 credits each.

The modules complement each other and it is expected that you use a cross-curricula approach to all aspects of their learning. For example, classical ballet is taught as a core technique in the Advanced Dance Technique module, however you will not be performing classical ballet pieces when touring, rather you are expected to use the knowledge gained in classical sessions to enhance your contemporary work and to draw on the choreographic explorations required in the Advanced Dance Performance module. By using this approach you are developing an embodied and deep understanding of your technical options and gaining an advanced awareness of your own physicality. Classical ballet is also an important requirement for dancers when auditioning for work with professional companies and so is considered a relevant and realistic employability skill.

Practical sessions are led by highly experienced tutors who are experts in their fields. Detailed and in depth physical exploration into practical concepts is explored and the application of feedback is a necessary part of the learning throughout the course. Tasks are specifically designed to enable you to discover and understand links between techniques, choreographic ideas and abstract concepts. You will be given individual and group feedback which you will critically evaluate in relation to your own physicality and apply it appropriately to your practical work.

As the course progresses you are expected to problem solve and adapt your practices more confidently. Tutors become increasingly removed from technical problem solving and you are expected to apply your knowledge with more awareness of your body and to make positive decisions about artistic style. You are always supported throughout the course but it is vital that you begin to trust your own judgement and this is encouraged as the course evolves.

The course focuses heavily on continuous assessment. You are expected to develop reflective skills using a journal or video diary to assist you in evaluating and analysing your own development. All performances are live graded. At the end of the Advanced Dance in Performance module you will submit a show reel for assessment while the Professional contents module is assessed against the learning outcomes in a mode which you select.

Year 1 (national level 7):

Advanced Dance Technique (70 credits), and:
Advanced Dance in Performance (70 credits)

The Advanced Dance Technique module and the Advanced Dance in Performance module significantly inform each other and the interplay between technique and choreography are acknowledged and developed through a holistic approach to your individual development. The ability to select contemporary and classical techniques appropriate to each choreographic work is a key feature of this programme and is a realistic and important aspect of employability.

Professional Contexts (40 credits)

The Professional Contexts module assesses you against the learning outcomes in a mode which you select. For example, if a choreographic work is devised as the final project this will be assessed, if a lecture demonstration is delivered, this will be assessed. This flexibility in approach ensures that your individual learning and goals are recognised and allows you to take control of your own development.

More about MA Advanced Dance Performance at Sunderland

Discover more articles

Yes

Dance City is a major UK and international centre for dance. They have buildings in both Newcastle and Sunderland, which are purpose-built environments with studios, meeting rooms, cafés, and a theatre. They host performances throughout the year from visiting professional companies, and provide opportunities for regional dancers to showcase their work. They deliver 70 community classes each week and have many years’ experiences of delivering degree and BTEC courses with performance, education and community at the heart of their work.

They are linked to the National Dance Network, a meeting point of organisations in the UK who support and develop artists from across the world.

Dance City
Temple Street
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 4BR

Dance City Sunderland
The Fire Station
High Street West
Sunderland
SR1 3EX

Tel: 0191 261 0505
Email: info@dancecity.co.uk
Dance City
The library is your gateway to information resources and services both on and off campus, all through a single search box. We have resources and support tailored for your course including: Dance in Video, hours of dance productions and documentaries from the most influential performers and companies; International Bibliography of Theatre and Drama the definitive research tool for theatre and performing arts; and Box of Broadcasts (BoB) an on-demand TV and radio streaming service. See the performing arts key resources for more information.

Access 1400 study places, including quiet and silent zones, 300+ PCs, group work hubs, online module reading lists and study skills support, all in our quality learning environments. You’ll have full use of two libraries, both with extensive opening hours. And ‘Live Chat’ enables you to access library support and help, from anywhere, 24/7.

We’re much more than a library, the University Library and Study Skills team are on hand to guide you throughout your studies on and off campus from embedded skills sessions, digital skills support to one-to-one and drop-in advice on research and academic skills.
Library Services - performing arts

Facilities

The course is delivered at Dance City Sunderland in the city centre. The building was officially opened in 2018 and is a restored Fire Station, built in 1907. Dance City occupies two of the studios. The group makes frequent visits to Dance City Newcastle across the duration of the year.

You will also access the library, a range of student support services, student accommodation and generous scholarships through the University of Sunderland.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

We require an undergraduate degree in dance and/or relevant professional performance experience.

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is £9,500 if you are from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.

Please note that this course is not available to international students.

Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

You will develop advanced skills and an understanding about working at an advanced level as a professional dance artist or practitioner in a range of contexts such as health, education and community engagement. You will leave this course with the knowledge required to work at the highest level in the dance sector.

Dance City

Dance City is a vibrant and friendly place where people come together to take part, enjoy, experience and talk about dance; where professional and aspiring dancers meet, learn and train; somewhere to watch world-class dance performances and somewhere for everyone to come along and get involved in dance.

People come to Dance City to socialise, learn new skills, keep fit and active, train professionally and find out more about dance.

This all takes place in purpose-built dance studios in both Newcastle and Sunderland. You'll be based at the Dance City Sunderland studios, with visits to the Dance City Newcastle studios throughout the year.

What can I expect to develop?

Improved dance technique across a variety of styles
An advanced understanding of the choreographic practice
An advanced understanding of how to work with choreographers
An advanced understanding of how to work as part of a team/company
An advanced understanding of creative choreographic input within a company
An on-going understanding of the dance touring landscape and opportunities
The capability to reflect on learning and express this knowledge to others
A deeper understanding of current choreographic/dance trends
Ability to absorb different learning methodologies and embody them

Related courses

BA (Hons) Professional Dance

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.

Page last updated: 07 December 2021

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