Type: Undergraduate
Qualification: BA (Hons) Dance (Contemporary)
Duration: 3 years (full-time only)
Validated by: University of Kent
Our students become performers with highly-tuned technical and creative skills, developed through dance experiences in a variety of professional, studio and community contexts. NSCD’s approach is founded on an openness to explore related theory and practice. You are encouraged to be curious about the place of contemporary dance within the broader landscape of the professional arts. We provide opportunities for you to work in collaboration with other Arts organisations and professionals, and for you to engage with different audiences in a variety of settings.
Applications for 2023 entry are open
Data from The National Student Survey > see more
The BA (Hons) Dance (Contemporary) degree is a course of study specifically designed for the education and training of professional contemporary dance artists, performers, choreographers and artist facilitators. Our students become dance artists with highly tuned specialist knowledge, technical and creative skills, plus experience as a producer and teacher with understanding of project management and dance pedagogy. The range of technical training undertaken during the programme is designed to train the body, whilst developing artistic intelligence and an understanding of movement that enables the dancer to respond to the varied and changing demands of contemporary choreography. Students are encouraged to be curious about the place of contemporary dance within the broader landscape of the professional arts scene. We provide opportunities for students to work in collaboration with other arts organisations and professional settings, and for you to engage with different audiences at different stages of your professional training. Through the programme students embrace a range of industry relevant modes of working, such as dance film, site-specific practice, social responsibility in dance, collective working, as well as a thorough grounding in traditional theatre practice.
NSCD programmes of study are validated by the University of Kent. The Programme Specification for this course is available here: BA (Hons) Dance (Contemporary) Programme Specification
Entry is through successful audition and interview. Additionally candidates should normally have gained five GCSE passes (grade C/4 or above), which must include English Language, and two A Level passes or a L3 BTEC National diploma or professional/vocational training at an appropriate level. Equivalent qualifications may also be accepted depending on the strength of the grades achieved. Equivalent level overseas qualifications are also accepted. Further details can be obtained from admissions@nscd.ac.uk
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Students are taught through a combination of practical classes and workshops, lectures, seminars and ‘laboratory-style’ practical sessions. In addition, you have timetabled tutorials with your academic tutors, the possibility to book adhoc tutorials as necessary and interaction over email and/or the School’s VLE. You use industry-standard facilities throughout your course
On average throughout the academic year you will have around 24 hours per week of structured face-to-face learning activity. This is underpinned by directed study tasks, such as responding to moodle forums, or reading/watching relevant material for analysis, and the expectation of at least 2 additional hours study per module, per week to engage with resources provided.
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NSCD employs a wide variety of assessment methods including formative, continuous and summative assessment.
Assessment evidence is collected through:
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, directed study tasks, independent study, academic tutorials and an expectation that you will engage with enrichment activities and opportunities to see work at Riley Theatre. Contact time averages at around 24 hours per week, although this is module-dependent. During each 5-week creation, rehearsal and performance period (once per year) this increases to approximately 30 hours per week.
In addition to structured learning activities there is a clear expectation that you will engage with independent study of at least 2 hours per module per week. Actual contact hours will vary depending on the optional modules you select.
Download Course Fact FileWe are devoted to the experience we give our students. Based on a comparison with other HE Dance degrees of the same price, we offer the following as ‘value added’:
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Future Now is an evening of performances by students graduating from NSCD’s BA (Hons) course. In 2022, students performed original choreography as well as works by guest choreographers Eleanor Sikorski, Phil Sanger and Mathieu Geffré.
