Type: Higher Education
Qualification: Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) Cultural Dance Forms
Duration: 1 year (full-time) September - July
This course is designed to prepare you for further in-depth professional training. Develop your creative skills and explore techniques in a diverse range of dance styles, including:
Encounter the history of these dance forms and understand their global impact and relevance.
This one year intensive course functions like a foundation year and introduces students to a variety of dance styles, equipping them to make decisions about further training before committing to a 3 year degree programme. It is also suitable for 16/17 year-olds as a full-time alternative access route to Higher Education.
Applications for 2023 entry are open - Apply by 19 March
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Students on this course study a variety of different styles such as Hip Hop (including breaking/BBoy, krumping, popping & locking), House, Dancehall, Afrofusion and Vogue. Contemporary and Ballet enrich the curriculum, as well as a number of creative and performance opportunities, so that students can develop their own unique movement language. Through contextual studies, students learn how cultural dance forms can communicate the stories of individuals, communities and regions.
Please note: this one year intensive course is suited to individuals who want to further develop their technique and creative skills in a breadth of styles before applying to a full 3-year degree programme. This programme is also suitable for 16/17 year olds as a full-time alternative access route to Higher Education.
NSCD programmes of study are validated by the University of Kent. The Programme Specification is available here: CertHE Cultural Dance Forms Programme Specification
All of the dance styles taught on this course are explored through a variety of technique classes/workshops, creative practice, contextual studies and performance opportunities. Over half of the programme is devoted to dance techniques to prepare the body, offering a foundation for creative and performance work. Creative practices include improvisation and freestyle and choreographic structures/ tools you can use in your own work.
All of the practical work on this course is underpinned by historical, social and cultural contexts, adding background, meaning and depth to your understanding.
Entry is through successful audition. Additionally candidates should have normally gained four 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.
*Exceptions are made for very talented 16/17 year olds & mature applicants. 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
You are taught through a combination of practical classes and workshops, lectures and seminars. Seminars and small group tutorials enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups. In addition, you have timetabled meetings with your academic tutors. You use industry-standard facilities throughout your course.
At Level 4 (as a guide) you typically have around 21 contact hours per week, typically consisting of:
NSCD employs a wide variety of assessment methods including formative, continuous and summative assessment.
Assessment evidence is collected through:
Students receive ongoing feedback in practical classes and through the tutorial system, where professional and academic development are considered and evaluated.
The course operates on a modular basis. Most modules count for either 15 or 30 academic credits. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10-20 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study, directed study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 37-45 credits per term. All students take a total of 120 credits for the CertHE as a whole.
Based on a comparison with other HE Dance programmes of the same price. We are devoted to the experience we give our students and to what we try to offer them as ‘value added’ for their course fees:
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