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What makes Dance Theatre at the University of Worcester special?

Love dance and performance? Our Dance Theatre BA is a new, unique course in which you will creatively explore ways of working with dance and performance. You will develop your dance skills, whilst extending your skill base to include the exciting emerging forms of circus, aerial and outdoor performance.

 The focus of this course is on supporting your development to help you achieve the career you want. We will train you as a performer, develop your creativity, including using film and digital media, and allow you to explore a range of related careers such as dance teaching, set designer or dance therapist. This course is ideal for those who want a lifelong career in the performing arts.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • Develop skills in aerial and circus
  • Demonstrate your learning through practical, real-world assessments
  • Ideal for those considering becoming a dance teacher
  • A small, friendly course that can adapt to our student's needs and interests
  • Learn about dance therapy and the growing number of careers in this area
  • Explore lots of different dance styles including urban and contemporary.
  • Fun, creative projects including working with set, costume and lighting
  • Performance opportunities including touring

Register your interest

Enter your details below and we will keep you up to date with useful information about studying at the University of Worcester.


Female student lying on the floor, facing camera with multi-coloured scarves Male and female dancers Two students sitting on wooden floor, stretching to reach their toes Student with long hair stretching to reach toes on floor Women in dark suits stand among pillars Female student in black throws hair back in cloud of dust Three dancers on footbridge silhouetted against blue sky Group of dance students in dance studio Students sit on pyramid climbing frame Male and female dancer leap in front of mirror
Entry requirements

What qualifications will you need?

104
UCAS tariff points

Entry requirements

104 UCAS Tariff points

Please note graded examinations in dance such as ISTD, IDTA, RAD, BBO often have UCAS points associated with them. If you are a mature student returning to education, your experience is taken into account as well as formal qualifications. Some mandatory modules will require a DBS check for working with young people (payable by the student).

(From Sept 2023)

This degree requires previous dance experience equivalent to level 5 (Advanced-Intermediate). This might be from a graded examination, such as from ISTD, IDTA, RAD, BBO, etc, or from a level 3 qualification such as a BTEC or A-level in dance/performing arts with strong dance element.

If you do not have these, or do not have formal dance training, we are able to provide an in-house assessment of your dance experience as appropriate for the course. Please contact the Admissions office or course team for more details.

International applicants

For applicants with international qualifications, please visit our country pages for information tailored specifically to your home certificates. If you cannot find your country on our list, please contact international@worc.ac.uk

We accept IELTS, Pearson and many Cambridge certificates as a proof of English language fluency on our degree courses, as well as many other English language qualifications.

Undergraduate courses usually require a minimum IELTS of 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in any component) or Pearson 59 (with no less than 51 in each component) or various Cambridge certificates. Other equivalent English qualifications will also be considered. For more information, please visit our Language Requirements and Support page.

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Course content

What will you study?

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course.

Year 1

Mandatory

  • Dance Techniques
  • Devising & Physical Theatre
  • Performance Design & Production
  • Visual Storytelling
  • Choreographic Practices
  • Aerial technique and Contemporary Circus Skills

Year 2

Mandatory

  • Directed Public Performance
  • Leading and Teaching in the Performing Arts
  • Dance Technique and the Thinking Body
  • Performance and Digital Media
  • Creative Movement Practices
  • Repertoire

Year 3

Mandatory

  • Touring performance
  • Final Performance Project (dissertation equivalent)
  • Independent Project (dissertation equivalent)
  • Professional Practice with Placement
  • Immersive & Site-Responsive Performance
  • Working with Camera and Media
  • Dance and Movement Therapy
Teaching and assessment

How will you be taught?

We enable you to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement.

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.

Dance Theatre

Develop your skills in our dance studio.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars, and practical work. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures. Practical work, in our fully equipped drama and dance studios, introduce you to the possibilities of lighting, sound, video, and space in performance. Circus and aerial work will be housed in a gym equipped with ropes, harnesses and other appropriate equipment.

Trips to see dance and theatre will inform your understanding and experience of performance, and incoming shows and workshops hosted in our Drama Studios will enable you to meet a range of theatre professionals. Level 6 modules will explore how to set yourself up as an independent practitioner, with appropriate business and entrepreneurial skills, as well as develop your skills as a potential performance or workshop leader/tutor in dance/theatre.

In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least four occasions in the first year as part of the mandatory modules, and three occasions in each of the other years of a course.

Contact time

In a typical week you will have around 12-16 contact hours of teaching. The precise contact hours will depend on the optional modules selected and in the final year you will normally have slightly less contact time in order to do more independent study. Typically contact time will be structured around:

  • 9-12 hours of interactive workshops
  • 3-4 hours of lectures/seminars

Independent self study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 22-25 hours of personal self-study per week.

Typically, this will involve personal and group practice, working on individual and group projects, rehearsing with your group, preparing coursework assignments, and reflecting on learning.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including our state-of-the-art dance studio, theatre and our virtual learning environment.

Duration

  • 3 years full-time
  • 4 years full-time including third year abroad

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that whilst we try to be as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week; and some classes can be scheduled in the evenings.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The teaching team includes professional dance/theatre-makers, whose work has been produced in theatres across the country. The team also includes specialist in circus and aerial performance.

The department is supported by theatre expertise from our technical staff who specialise in lighting, sound and set design. All the permanent staff within the teaching team have doctorates in the performing arts area, and most are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. Specialist staff are also employed on the basis of their professional experience e.g. in circus and aerial performance.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignments such as work-in-progress performances or draft written work.

Each module has one or more formal or ‘summative’ assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade.  Assessment methods include a range of coursework assessments such as collaborative practical projects, rehearsal logs, critiques and reviews, essays, portfolios, presentations and a final year independent performance project, or research project.

The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to the mandatory and optional modules taken, but a typical formal summative assessment pattern for each year of the course is:

Year 1

  • 3 practical assessments
  • 1 rehearsal log
  • 1 performance review or critique
  • 2 essays
  • 1 staging/technical portfolio
  • 1 presentation

Year 2

  • 1 large group production, plus portfolio of research materials
  • 3 solo or small group practicals
  • 2 essays
  • 1 rehearsal log
  • 1 presentation

Year 3

  • 1 large group production
  • 3 solo or small group practicals
  • 1 project proposal
  • 1 presentation
  • 1 example funding application
  • 1 practical workshop

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate.

We aim to provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.  

Dance Theatre Lockdown Challenge

Our Dance Theatre students took part in an intriguing dance challenge over lockdown 2020

Meet the team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course

dr-jane-george

Dr Jane George

Jane George's teaching and research interests focus upon devising and contemporary performance, particularly site-related performance. She is also interested in interdisciplinary practice, particularly performance writing and multi-media performance.

Jane has worked professionally as a director, writer and dramaturg and continues to develop her creative practice in collaboration with a number of performance companies and practitioners including contemporary performance company Reckless Sleepers, choreographer Lizie Giraudeau (formerly of Siobhan Davies Dance Company) and Pegasus Theatre, Oxford.

Jane is Course Leader for BA Drama & Performance.

Paul Golz

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.

Ildiko Rippel

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. The company has an established reputation for creating innovative interdisciplinary theatre, blending bilingual text, movement and multimedia. Zoo Indigo’s work combines dark humour, song and multimedia in a postmodern and kaleidoscopic approach, producing politically charged performances. 

Ildikó has recently completed a Practice as Research PhD at Lancaster University, examining maternal performance and the presence of family members in contemporary theatre. Her current practice research with Zoo Indigo investigates multilingualism and dramaturgies of migration

Ildikó previously worked as a lecturer at De Montfort University, Leicester (Drama and Performing Arts) and at Nottingham Trent University International College (Art and Design), and as an elf in a Santa's Grotto.

daniel_somerville_profile

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).

Previous academic positions include as a research assistant and visiting tutor at Goldsmiths (BA and MA students), as a visiting lecturer at Laban (MA students), as visiting lecturer and mentor (BA students) at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and as a visiting lecturer at University of Wolverhampton (BA and MA students), and as an online tutor in Opera Studies at Rose Bruford.

Careers

Where could it take you?

The aim of this course is to prepare you for a range of possible careers, including working as a professional performer. Alongside the creative content, the course equips you with the creative and entrepreneurial skills and knowledge 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. Typical careers might be:

  • Performer
  • Choreographer/creative
  • Dance therapist
  • Dance teacher in schools
  • Private dance teacher (outside of schools)
  • Arts administration
  • Community dance practitioner

The flexible skills and abilities (such as confidence, creativity, and communication) gained through the very nature of the work greatly enhances your broader employability, and data for 2015/16 graduates indicated that 90% of graduates were in employment 6 months after graduating from courses in the Theatre & Performance Department.

You could also be eligible to move onto the Integrated Masters in Touring Theatre, MA Contemporary Theatre Practice or MRes in Theatre & Performance.

Halstead, Lucie - Milalani School, Africa & Asia Venture (AV)

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 Theatre BA (Hons) was due to the wide range of areas covered, and the opportunities available, and I can safely say the course exceeded my initial expectations!"

An Aerial Hoop Dance Challenge

Our Dance Theatre students have one month to learn the skills of Aerial Hoop
Two students are walkng next to each other and smiling

Careers and Employability

Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.

Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential.
Costs

How much will it cost?

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2022/23 academic year is £9,250 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2022/23 academic year is £13,400 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Part-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students registering on this course in the academic year 2022/23 are £1,156 per 15-credit module, £1,542 per 20-credit module, £2,312 per 30-credit module, £3,083 per 40-credit module, £3,469 per 45-credit module and £4,625 per 60 credit module.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying.  The amounts vary between courses.

No specialist equipment is needed for this course but comfortable working clothes and footwear are necessary.

Theatre trips and incoming shows are provided and paid for by the University, if the trip is mandatory and integral to your learning. Occasional optional theatre trips may also be available and, if you wish to participate in them, you will be expected to pay ticket or travel costs (around £10 – £15 maximum).

The 3rd year Leading, Teaching & Tutoring module will require a DBS check for working with young people.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Hall' at £111 per week to 'En-suite Premium' at £189 per week (2022/23 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.
How to apply

How do you apply?

Dance Theatre BA (Hons) - WW5K

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto full-time undergraduate courses in Higher Education in the UK.

Read our How to apply pages for more information on applying and to find out what happens to your application.

UCAS Code

WW5K

Apply Via UCAS

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Dr Jane George

j.george@worc.ac.uk
01905 85 5319

Admissions office

admissions@worc.ac.uk
01905 855111

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