Course length:: Part time. Normally one and a half years

September 2013 starts:: To be advised

Course leader:: Helen Kindred

Course Location:: Hendon

The MA Professional Practice in Dance Technique Pedagogy is a highly flexible postgraduate qualification designed for newly qualified or experienced dance teachers working in and beyond schools.  Developed in collaboration with The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), the programme has been developed especially to allow you to continue working and integrate your professional expertise with academic learning.

The development of ‘self’ as a practicing artist/educator is a central focus of this programme, alongside critical reflection on and advancement of one’s individual pedagogic practice.

As a core part of the programme you will make a claim for academic credits for your professional experience, and / or your professional qualifications, whether credit bearing or not. This then forms the basis for a major project with a focus on technique pedagogy.

Find out about our postgraduate scholarships worth up to 50% of the tuition fee.

Professional Practice Team

The Professional Practice Team consists of academics, administrators and support staff. Their job is to help you make the best of your studies at Middlesex University. You will become familiar with the academics on the team as they lead you through various assignments and tasks that are set for you and through staff blogs. They will provide feedback at other points, for example, at campus sessions. The academics will work together to assess work for grading. You will also be assigned a programme adviser who will be an academic member of the team. The programme adviser will provide pastoral and academic support and guidance. The learning resources specialists provide access to a wide range of support, from standard library provision, to IT and learning support and are an important source of help in your studies. The WBL operations administrator (Arts) is a key person in your studies, as they will help you with all of the administrative issues that you will encounter.

Helen Kindred, MFA, PGCHE, BA (HONS)

Programme Leader

Biography:  Helen Kindred trained at Roehampton University, London gaining a First Class Honours degree in Dance Studies before embarking on further training at Goucher College, USA, where she completed a Post-Graduate internship.  Professionally Helen danced with Modem Dance, London, Daghdha Dance Company, Ireland, and has choreographed works for Breaking Boundaries, HYDC:InPulse (a DanceDigital commission), numerous school, college and university dance productions as well as for her own company KindredDance.  Helen was the Artistic Director of HertsDance (now DanceDigital) from 2001-2004, before returning to study and gaining her MFA Choreography in 2007. Teaching at Roehampton University as a visiting lecturer initially, Helen then took up her post at Middlesex University.  Helen is currently a Senior Lecturer specialising in Release-based technique, choreography/performance and community dance practice. 

Helen is an advocate for dance, has presented papers on community dance development in the USA and in the UK at the ‘Community Dance in the 21^st Century’ conference at De Montfort University in 2008.  Her choreographic work most recently has been presented at SIFDANS International Choreographic Festival, University of Bedfordshire, on-line through www.eleven.com and at The Pentland Theatre, Arts Depot, London.  Helen has worked as an Artistic Assessor for the Arts Council England and is currently the Regional Representative (south) for DanceHE (formerly Standing Conference on Dance in Higher Education).

Dr Adesola Akinleye, FRSA

Biography  Adesola Akinleye is a dancer, choreographer and researcher. She trained at Arts Educational School and Rambert Academy. Her professional career has included dancing with The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), Union Dance Company and Carol Straker Dance Company. She founded her own company and school Saltare Foundation for the Arts in New York 1994, for which she was awarded Woman of the Year 1999 for 'Distinguished achievement in the field of community dance' presented by the Town of Islip, New York. She was trained in choreography while working at DTH, by Bessie Schoenberg. Her choreographic work has been performed in Europe, the Caribbean and North America. She has been commissioned by Arts Council, Winnipeg (CA) and England, Suffolk County (USA), Dance North West, Dance in Herts (now Dance Digital), Dancin’ Oxford, Manchester International Festival and Ludus Dance. Adesola was awarded the Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award in 2006 and awarded a Trailblazers Fellowship by ADAD (UK).

Her work has a strong focus on site-specific work, new technology and light. She has lectured in choreography, dance (practical and theory) and human movement principles at New York State University and later at the University of Manitoba. She holds an MA (with distinction) in Work Based Learning: dance in education and community. Adesola directs her company DancingStrong, and has just completed her PhD thesis 'Body, Dance and Environment: an exploration of embodiment and identity'. She is a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).

Alan Durrant MA, PGDip, PGCHE,BA (Hons),FHEA

Head of Work Based Learning (Arts and Education)

Biography Alan Durrant was trained as a designer at Hornsey College of Art. His professional career has included work as a designer and craftsman in the jewellery and optics industries. He has run his own design and manufacturing companies, as well as managing a large wholesale and manufacturing jewellery company. His experience in the games design industry has included publication of several game products.

His academic career has included senior roles in learning and teaching development and programme leadership. His current research is focused on Work Based Learning and its application to establishing professionals in the creative and cultural sectors. He is a member of the Centre for Excellence in Work Based Learning, a University Teaching Fellow, a registered Practitioner of the Higher Education Academy and holds a Principal Lectureship at Middlesex University.

Rosemary McGuinness

Senior Lecturer in Professional Practice

Biography  Before becoming a lecturer in 1998 I evolved into a professional practitioner through experience in a range of organisations including cultural (British Council), third sector (Choice Consortium) and conflict resolution (International Alert). As chair of a creative writing group I have developed performance spaces at local festivals in London e.g. Stoke Newington, Brent, & Hammersmith and as treasurer of a community bookshop I established outreach collaborative events such as poetry and politics and poetry and photography in local libraries, theatrical pubs and festivals at Hay-on-Wye and Brighton.  I previously worked in delivering professional programmes at London Metropolitan University and Work Based Learning programmes in Queen's University Belfast. My current research interests include ethics in the Web 2.0 world and the interpretation of biographical data in understanding professional practice.

Dr. Paula Nottingham

Lecturer in Professional

Practice Programme leader for BA (Hons) Professional Practice 

Biography  Paula Nottingham has recently been working as a facilitator in Work Based Learning at the Institute of Professional Studies for Birkbeck, University of London. She is in her final year of doctoral research at Birkbeck focusing on the topic of Work Based Learning in UK higher education. Paula has also just completed work as a learning consultant and coordinator for a Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund project at London South Bank University. Previously, Paula worked as a European Social Fund project coordinator for a project delivering internationally recognised work-related training in the creative industries. Paula has a background in the arts, with a BA in Fine Arts and an MA in Fine Arts based in printmaking, and teaching experience in studio arts. Paula also has an MSc in Applied Professional Studies in Lifelong Learning. Her other areas of interest include employer engagement and knowledge exchange, staff development, and e-learning and Web2 technology.

Avni Shah

WBL Operations Administrator (Arts and Education)

Biography   I worked in international admissions for one and a half years, then moved to the student office in Archway then HSSc student office in Enfield after which we were all relocated to Hendon. My experiences doing student support work has been extremely enjoyable. Being the first point of contact for students and helpingthem has been very fulfilling.

Adam Edwards BA, MSc, MCLIP

Liaison Manager, IWBL, Learning Resources

Adam Edwards is based in the Sheppard Library at Hendon and supports staff and students in the Institute for Work Based Learning (IWBL) in their use of the library.  This includes access to e-resources, access to other libraries and help with references and citation.

Biography  I've been a Librarian in higher education since 1986.  I've always been interested in supporing distance learners and was one of the group that set up what is now SCONUL Access, the scheme through which, if you are UK or Ireland based, you can borrow books from the university library nearest you.