Type: Postgraduate
Qualification: MA Contemporary Dance Performance
Duration: 1 year (full-time only)
Validated by: University of Kent
NSCD aims to have full degree awarding powers from September 2025 (subject to Office for Students approval). This is an exciting step, in the school’s history enabling us to take that next step in control of our curriculum and course portfolio. In the unlikely event NSCD does not achieve degree awarding powers in this academic cycle, our degrees will continue to be validated by the University of Kent.
VERVE is a one-year, full-time programme that offers dancers a safe and inspiring space to grow as an artist, rigorously challenge their physical skill and build an understanding of the professional working environment, as part of a touring contemporary dance company.
APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 ENTRY ARE NOW CLOSED
In 2025/26, students on this course will work with Alethia Antonia, Andrea Costanzo Martini and Oona Doherty.
To learn more about next year's artists > click here
VERVE is the touring company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance. This MA equips students with professional performance skills as members of a touring Contemporary dance company. Each year the company commissions choreographers from all over the world to create an artistically distinct, physically daring and engaging programme of dance work.
The programme offers emerging dance artists the opportunity to challenge and develop their skills across varied repertoire and newly commissioned works, guided by teaching staff, alongside an exciting range of visiting artists. VERVE provides dancers with a safe and inspiring space to grow their individual artistry and rigorously challenge their physical skills. Dancers develop their identities as performers, whilst building an understanding of the professional working environment to support them in their future careers.
The company tours to venues and festivals across the UK. VERVE seeks connections with partner institutions, industry professionals, choreographers and companies, to broaden and enrich the students’ experience and understanding.
Previously commissioned choreographers include:
Lea Anderson, Jamaal Burkmar, Mari Carrasco, Joan Clevillé, Maxine Doyle, Ben Duke, Akram Khan, KOR’SIA, Anton Lachky, LA(HORDE), Hannes Langolf, Sita Ostheimer, Douglas Thorpe, Faye Tan, Ben Wright, Noa Zuk
NSCD programmes of study are validated by the University of Kent. The Programme Specification is available here: MA Contemporary Dance Performance – Programme Specification
Entry is through a successful audition and interview. This course is open to graduates of two/three-year dance training courses at Higher Education level, or dance artists with professional experience and equivalent vocational dance training.
Students with English as a second language will need a 6.5 ESOL level (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and 5.5 in speaking and listening)
The course operates on a modular basis. Most modules count for either 30 or 60 academic Level 7 credits, with the final major research project being worth 60 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. Students on this programme take modules worth approximately 60 credits per term. All students take a total of 180 credits at Level 7 for the MA as a whole.
Our teaching is informed by research, and module content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline.
You are taught through a combination of practical classes and workshops, rehearsal and creation periods, and lectures, seminars and tutorials. All teaching takes place within industry-standard facilities. In addition, you have timetabled meetings with your academic tutors. Taught hours vary, reflecting the nature of the module and current professional practice. Average contact time is normally between 16 and 24 hours per week during directed teaching activity.
NSCD employs a wide variety of assessment methods. Assessment evidence is collected through the following:
Students receive ongoing feedback in practical classes and through the tutorial system in which professional and academic development are considered and evaluated.
We are committed to providing a holistic experience for our students. Based on a comparison with other courses of an equivalent price, we typically offer the following as ‘value added’:
