To ensure all students can gain maximum benefit from Northern School of Contemporary Dance’s Higher Education programmes, and that all students, staff and guests feel confident and comfortable in the building we have devised a code of practice. Professional dance artists need to work effectively with others, whether in a company setting or working on independent projects and it is through the classes you undertake at NSCD, in all curriculum areas, that you will begin to fully explore and appreciate the benefits of a collaborative approach to learning. Please read and carefully consider the following information and advice in order to help us all maintain a positive, healthy and professional working environment.
Expectation of the Higher Education student
- Familiarise themselves with information provided by the School and follow all recognised procedures
- Attend all orientation, induction sessions and meetings with School staff inc. student support staff
- Be punctual, attend all timetabled sessions and participate in classes and group learning activities
- Take responsibility to manage own learning including undertaking the requirement of private study
- Ensure that essential absences are agreed in advance and/or are notified through the academic administration team
- Submit assessed work by the stated deadlines, log onto the NSCD-VLE to receive and learn from feedback
- Demonstrate high standards of conduct through respect in their interaction with the school, peers and the local community
- Participate in opportunities to develop and improve NSCD’s provision, such as being/supporting student representatives and completing online module surveys, NSCD’s student experience survey and other relevant feedback forms
- Take responsibility for engaging in appropriate arts activities outside of their curriculum to enhance their employability skills
- Be an effective and professional representative of the School whilst on a work placement or during a period of outside study.
Care of the working space
- It is very important that each of us works together in taking responsibility for maintaining the School facilities. The School tries to maximise space around the building and ensures facilities are fit for purpose, clean, safe and in a good state of repair.
- Please help us with this task by thinking about the following:
- Help the cleaning and catering staff to make sure our environment is a pleasant one by tidying away litter and ensuring that you return things to their rightful place after using them.
- The floors in the studios must be safe for you to dance barefoot and therefore outdoor shoes must not be worn in them as grit or glass may be left behind.
- Outdoor shoes should be left in the shoe-racks provided outside the studios and bags, folders and coats should be kept in lockers whilst you are in class to ensure the corridors and studios are free from clutter.
- Corridors and the areas surrounding doors should always be kept clear to ensure speedy evacuation of the building should it ever be necessary and to make sure people don’t trip and hurt themselves whilst making their way around the building.
- Food and drink should not be taken into studios except for water in a plastic bottle, as cans, glass bottles and hot drinks are potentially dangerous.
- Hair gel and body oil can leave studio floors slippery. Aerosol deodorants or other perfume sprays can aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions so please don’t use them anywhere in the building except the changing rooms.
- Make use of your lockers and don’t leave personal belongings around the building and studios, particularly your valuables.
Use of the Bodywork Studio:
- Please remember that the Bodywork Studio is a shared working space. It is used for many reasons; muscle toning, Cardiovascular training, restorative work, stretching practice. For all our comfort please have in mind the following:
- Return equipment after use in other studios
- Store equipment in the correct place
- Treat equipment with care
- Dispose of rubbish
- Respect students doing rehab work and give priority to those on Alternative timetable
Clothing and appearance
- Whilst different types of clothing will be appropriate for different activities, wearing clean and appropriate clothing in the studio will ensure your comfort and safety. The teaching of dance by necessity involves a ‘hands on’ approach; there will be times when tutors and classmates make physical contact to make modifications to posture or alignment for example. Below are some general points to consider ensuring everyone’s comfort in the studio:
- Remember it is at your tutor’s discretion to prevent you from participating in class if they do not feel you are suitably dressed.
- Ensure you have enough suitable dance clothing for your practical sessions, allowing for you to clean your clothing regularly.
- Students should wear supportive underwear such as dance supports or sports bras as necessary. This is to ensure comfort, safety and to adhere to professional standards.
- Students are asked not to wear cropped tops for practical classes, the leg-length of dance tights/all in-ones/jogging bottoms should reach at least mid-thigh.
- All hooped jewellery, including face piercings, should be removed. Small studs are permissible, but students should be clear that there is an increased risk of injury they are choosing to take. Guidelines around jewellery and piercings are in place to ensure that when working with partners, or receiving hands on feedback, piercings are not unintentionally caught and ripped out, which would be unpleasant for all concerned. If you can’t remove your piercing please tape it down, but it should be noted that the School will not provide tape for this purpose.
- Consider a hairstyle which doesn’t cover your eyes or face or inhibit your participation in any element of all classes.
Preparation for practical sessions
Preparing for a class is very important in order to ensure you get the most out of it! Practical sessions vary and, with guidance from staff, you will need to work out what helps you most as an individual. Your approach to warming up for the first class of the day will be different to how you think about preparing for a session after lunch, and it is vital you take responsibility for preparing your body and mind thoroughly for every session you participate in to avoid injury and gain maximum benefit. Careful consideration of the advice given in the full code of practice document will help you to develop an appropriate and professional approach to preparing for studio based work.
