Become a versatile dancer whilst having the opportunity to explore your creative and performance skills across a variety of different areas such as stage and digital productions and dance for camera.
of students are in work and/or further study 15 months after graduating
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University of the Year finalist
Recognised for our graduate success, we’re shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2025.
Overview
Whether you’re interested in developing your technique, creating your own choreography, or building your performance skills, this course is built around practical, skills-based learning. You’ll explore a range of styles, including contemporary, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical/ballet, and commercial dance, helping you build versatility, experience, and confidence as a performer.
You’ll be taught by lecturers with professional and industry experience who will help you develop and refine your technical skills. This course is taught through focused group learning, with a small class size to give you more direct contact with your lecturers, more detailed feedback, and more time to develop your technique in depth. Regular one-to-one support with your lecturer will give you targeted feedback to help your development as a performer.
Our assessment methods have a practical focus. These include performances, choreographed work, and building up a portfolio. Whether you want to perform, teach or work in the wider industry, this course will provide you with the knowledge and practical experience to achieve your goals.
Work placements
We offer placement and project modules, allowing you to gain real-world experience and explore various fields within the dance industry. Past students have taken part in performance opportunities, touring dance productions, and creative projects learning about the production side of performance such as camera operation, set design, and stage lighting. These opportunities are designed to help you build the confidence and skills for a sustainable creative career, and prepare you for your next steps after graduation.
Along the way, you’ll be supported in exploring exactly where you fit within the performing arts, developing your own direction as a performer, teacher or creative practitioner.
Dance at Worcester
Course content
Each year you will study a mix of mandatory and optional modules. This flexible course lets you explore different subjects and career paths in dance and performance before choosing to specialise in your final year.
We regularly review our courses to reflect the latest research and developments in the subject area, as well as feedback from students, employers and the wider sector. As a result, modules may change to ensure the course remains current and relevant.
Optional modules will run if enough students choose to study them. It is not guaranteed that all modules will be offered every year.
Careers
We'll prepare you for a range of careers, including working as a professional performer. Alongside the creative content, the course equips you with the creative and entrepreneurial skills to set up as an independent or freelance practitioner. Many of our dance graduates progress successfully onto PGCEs and work as dance specialists in secondary or primary schools.
Our students have become:
- Performers
- Choreographer/creatives
- Dance teacher in schools
- Private dance teacher (outside of schools)
- Arts administrators
- Community dance practitioners
The flexible skills and abilities (such as confidence, creativity, and communication) gained throughout the course greatly enhances your broader employability.
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support through the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will enable you to flourish and be successful.
Teaching and assessment contents
You’ll experience a mix of practical and academic teaching designed to build your skills, creativity, and understanding of the industry:
- Technique classes – regular sessions to develop your physical skills, strength, and versatility as a dancer.
- Creative workshops – you’ll create your own work, exploring different approaches to choreography and performance.
- Theory and practice – classroom-based learning is always linked to practical sessions, so you can apply ideas in the studio.
- Work-based learning – opportunities to gain real-world experience and develop employability skills to support your future career.
You’ll also be supported throughout your studies with regular one-to-one meetings with a personal tutor (at least four in your first year, and at least three in each following year).
Alongside your core modules, you may have access to a range of additional opportunities, such as:
- Working with visiting artists and industry professionals
- Performance and company work
- Collaborations with students on other courses
- Optional short courses or additional qualifications
These opportunities can vary each year but are designed to broaden your experience and help you get the most out of the course.
Meet the team
Dr Daniel Somerville
Daniel Somerville is an artist practitioner, senior lecturer and practice researcher. His research interests are in the fields of performance, theatre, gender and opera studies, with particular focus on the concept of the ‘operatic’ and how it manifests in terms of movement, performance practice and convention, and how this may be applied to contemporary performance making. As an artist practitioner he has choreographed, directed and performed nationally (including at Edinburgh Fringe, The Place, Chisenhale Dance Space and Duckie in London, and for Birmingham Rep) and internationally (including National Theatre Namibia, Market Theatre - Johannesburg, Liberdade Provisoria - Lisbon and on a tour of the Czech Republic).
Dr Paul Golz
Paul is an experienced teacher, choreographer, dancer and researcher. Following his initial training at the Centre for Professional Dance Training in Edinburgh he trained as a Graham dancer, however, it is a somatic-based technique that remains his true passion, especially in contact improvisation and creative partner work.
Paul has worked professionally with Misfitted Dance and Birmingham Opera. In 2011, he set up his own company, Ephemeris Dance following his interest in Dance and Digital. He has choreographed work in this arena under Arts Council grants for both his own company and ReadySaltedCode. He currently performs and creates for Riverside Dance Collective.
Dr Ildikó Rippel
Ildikó is a performer, writer and lecturer. She is co-founder and artistic director of Anglo-German performance company Zoo Indigo, devising autobiographical performance that engages with social and political themes of gender, cultural identity, displacement and migration. Zoo Indigo’s work combines dark humour, song and multimedia in a postmodern and kaleidoscopic approach, producing politically charged performances.
Dr Daniel Somerville
Daniel Somerville is an artist practitioner, senior lecturer and practice researcher. His research interests are in the fields of performance, theatre, gender and opera studies, with particular focus on the concept of the ‘operatic’ and how it manifests in terms of movement, performance practice and convention, and how this may be applied to contemporary performance making. As an artist practitioner he has choreographed, directed and performed nationally (including at Edinburgh Fringe, The Place, Chisenhale Dance Space and Duckie in London, and for Birmingham Rep) and internationally (including National Theatre Namibia, Market Theatre - Johannesburg, Liberdade Provisoria - Lisbon and on a tour of the Czech Republic).
Dr Paul Golz
Paul is an experienced teacher, choreographer, dancer and researcher. Following his initial training at the Centre for Professional Dance Training in Edinburgh he trained as a Graham dancer, however, it is a somatic-based technique that remains his true passion, especially in contact improvisation and creative partner work.
Paul has worked professionally with Misfitted Dance and Birmingham Opera. In 2011, he set up his own company, Ephemeris Dance following his interest in Dance and Digital. He has choreographed work in this arena under Arts Council grants for both his own company and ReadySaltedCode. He currently performs and creates for Riverside Dance Collective.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff points required: 104
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| A-level | BCC |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DMM |
| T-level | Merit |
Please note graded examinations in dance such as ISTD, IDTA, RAD, BBO often have UCAS points associated with them. We do accept Access to HE Diplomas and other qualifications which may not exactly match the combinations above.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
In 2026/27 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £9,790 per year.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International students
In 2026/27 the standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees is £17,200 per year.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
Student case study
Lucie Halstead
"The course has been extremely helpful post-graduation, as it gave me a wide variety of experiences, and allowed me to develop a wide range of skills within the dance field, which subsequently I have been able to apply to my work. This included different areas of performance, teaching and choreography. Alongside practical skills, the course also allowed me to develop my theoretical dance knowledge, and my practical advice/knowledge in areas such as being self–employed. The main reason I initially chose the Dance course at Worcester was due to the wide range of areas covered, and the opportunities available, and I can safely say the course exceeded my initial expectations!"
Holly Hughes
“At University we looked at employability. We went out to schools to speak to teachers, as teaching is a popular choice for theatre graduates, and we discussed career paths and our personal goals. It was important for me to go straight into a role where I could perform. I didn’t want to lose that and it has been really great; I’m so glad to have been given the opportunity to do this straight away.”
Holly Hughes secured a role inspiring others as part of a Show Team at a holiday park, which puts her at the heart of a dynamic entertainment role where she can blend live performing with her people skills and her ability to entertain.
Lucie Halstead
"The course has been extremely helpful post-graduation, as it gave me a wide variety of experiences, and allowed me to develop a wide range of skills within the dance field, which subsequently I have been able to apply to my work. This included different areas of performance, teaching and choreography. Alongside practical skills, the course also allowed me to develop my theoretical dance knowledge, and my practical advice/knowledge in areas such as being self–employed. The main reason I initially chose the Dance course at Worcester was due to the wide range of areas covered, and the opportunities available, and I can safely say the course exceeded my initial expectations!"
Holly Hughes
“At University we looked at employability. We went out to schools to speak to teachers, as teaching is a popular choice for theatre graduates, and we discussed career paths and our personal goals. It was important for me to go straight into a role where I could perform. I didn’t want to lose that and it has been really great; I’m so glad to have been given the opportunity to do this straight away.”
Holly Hughes secured a role inspiring others as part of a Show Team at a holiday park, which puts her at the heart of a dynamic entertainment role where she can blend live performing with her people skills and her ability to entertain.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applying through UCAS
UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.
Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.
Dance and Performance BA - WW5K
Contact
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Admissions Office
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