The BA Dance Performance degree embeds high quality vocational and theoretical training that underpin the creative industries and equip you with the ‘tools’ for an exciting career in dance.
Performing Arts at Middlesex has a long established tradition of excellence in training and educating students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and is one of the top universities in the UK for dance, recognised nationally and internationally for its high caliber teaching and research.
Your lecturers have a depth of experiential expertise to share as you engage with your dance technique, performance, choreographic and collaborative skills. In addition, we facilitate your study in areas such as dance science, critical and reflective analysis in order to develop and challenge your theoretical thinking, nurture an enquiring mind, and support your creative artistry. You will gain the skills, experience and networks to launch your career in dance and the creative industries.
We pride ourselves on offering a vibrant and inclusive environment, instilling you with a sense of confidence, passion, and achievement. This, together with the vicinity of London's many theatre and dance venues in this global city, and access to our state-of-the-art facilities, makes for a unique student experience.
Course highlights
You will intensively engage with the skills of dance practice; encompassing dance technique, dance performance and creative/innovative choreography. You will do this through expert guidance in the core dance techniques of the Graham-based, Humphrey-based, Cunningham-based, and Release-based, supplemented by classes in ballet and body conditioning. A range of optional classes such as jazz dance, repertoire, improvisation, as well as involvement in interdisciplinary opportunities contribute vitally to the development of technique and performance skills.
The theoretical modules are designed to develop your academic analytical skills, nurture enquiring minds alongside the performance and creative components. A range of studies such as anatomy, science of movement, dance history, critical and reflective analysis will help develop your independent thinking providing you with a solid academic foundation if you wish to further your studies by enrolling in one of our postgraduate degrees.
Daily practical classes in contemporary dance will develop your technical skills.
Performance work is an important part of the curriculum – we have a purpose built dance theatre alongside large studio performative spaces. Final year Dance Performance takes place in the Arts Depot, a thriving theatre in North London.
Choreography plays a fundamental part in years 1 and 2. As well as developing your creativity, choreography assessments provide students with regular performance opportunities
Theory classes play a key role in enhancing students’ study and practice by helping them gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the contexts within which dance is embedded.
Although there is more contact time devoted to practical classes than to theory, students are expected to support this with independent study and research. Theory and practice are weighted as equally important when it comes to assessment.
Dance Technique, Dance Performance, Choreography: Compositional design, Participatory Arts (Community dance)
This module contains core material paramount to the understanding and practice of dance and is the key foundation for progression of all other modules in Year 2 and 3. You will practice and study the fundamental principles involved in dance technique, composition, performance and dance in participatory arts contexts in the UK. You will establish an awareness of the physical creative complexities involved and how these disciplines can be applied in a broader context.
Anatomy for Dancers, Dance History
This module will equip you with an understanding of anatomy in relation to the dancing body. The module will also deepen your knowledge of the historical and social influences on the arts. The module will develop your independent research and critical thinking.
Arts in London, effective learning skills, seminar presentation, research strategies, written skills
This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to be an effective learner, with particular relevance to dance and the performing arts. You will be introduced to research, library research/ source location, reading and writing skills through different strategies and modes of learning. The module forms the basis for both BA (Hons)Dance Performance and BA(Hons) Dance Studies programmes and sets dance, as artistic expression, into an artistic and academic context.
Dance Technique, Choreography, Dance Analysis. This module aims to extend and develop your level of knowledge and understanding in dance technique, choreography and performance acquired in the Dance Practices 1 module. This module introduces dance analysis by building on knowledge from the Dance Studies 1 module and skills from the Learning in Context module enabling you to identify, contextualise, analyse and interpret key issues relating to professional repertoire in order to enhance your knowledge and appreciation of dance. The module is designed to encourage a balanced and holistic approach to the study of Dance by establishing and reiterating logical connections between practice, composition and theory.
Critical Studies, Science of Movement.This module aims to deepen the knowledge gained in both components of the Dance Studies 1 module. You will explore how issues of cultural and philosophical relevance can usefully illuminate contemporary dance theory and practice. Science of Movement allows you to develop your understanding of the moving body introducing postural and movement analysis in relation to dance performance. It will prepare you for the Dance Science Research Project, the Independent Research Project and the Choreography Research Project modules in Year 3.
This module aims to further develop practical dance and performance skills in relation to the specific stylistic demands, conventions, and principles within the jazz dance genre. This module works alongside dance technique, performance and choreography, developing the dancer's versatility, through focusing on the application of complementary technique and performance skills specific to diverse jazz techniques and styles.
This module will explore the breadth of improvisation as a discipline both as a mode of development in creative dance making and as a principle of performance. Focus will be given to key methodologies such as Contact Improvisation, Action Theatre, and Authentic Movement. In addition the module will highlight the creative possibilities such as task setting and the use of scores towards the development of a choreographic lexicon. This module will serve to support choreography as part of the Dance Practices 2 moduel, release technique, and performance practice.
This module has been designed to provide, through practical experience, an artistic understanding of selected contemporary dance repertoire to allow you to form cohesive links with theoretical areas covered in dance history, critical studies and composition and the physical and stylistic aspects of dance technique. You will gain experience of learning from and rehearsing under a professional director. You will have the opportunity for developing your discipline with regards to self-directed practice, as this is an essential part of the learning process.
Dance techniques and technique evaluation. This module will provide, through study and practice, a depth of knowledge of dance techniques. You will acquire increased technical, stylistic and interpretative abilities through further development of the dance techniques encountered in Year 2.
Dance Performance: repertoire/new work, performance evaluation. The module will provide through study and practice a depth of knowledge of choreographic works from the modern/contemporary dance genre. Students will acquire increased technical, stylistic and interpretative abilities through participation in either new or recreated dance works. They will have the opportunity to investigate, develop and apply varying rehearsal techniques. The module draws upon tutors' professional performance, directional and/or choreographic experience.
Overview of subfields within the dance profession, with optional choice of components. On this module, you will gain an awareness of career paths in dance, especially those outside the routes of choreography and performance. The module will cover a range of professional areas, providing information on opportunities for employment and skills required for navigating a journey through the dance profession in the UK. You will also gain a grasp of funding structures and an overview of the dance ecology that supports dance and the performing arts in the UK. This module allows you to step outside of the safety of university life and make vital links both in research and practice with the wider dance profession. You will then have a choice of one component out of three possible strands:
The module aims to equip you with the skills, methods and procedures to enable you to research and present a major, individually chosen, designed and managed research project. It will draw upon the research and study skills acquired in previous modules such as library searches, data analysis, academic writing, argumentation, critical thinking, discussion skills, analysis, and scholarly presentation as appropriate for the chosen topic.
Including Science of Movement lectures. This module aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and methods required to research and present an individually chosen, designed and managed dance science related research project. It will extend and develop knowledge gained from anatomy and science of movement components, and build upon the research and study skills acquired in previous modules such as library searches, observational analysis, data collection, critical thinking, discussion skills, and scholarly presentation, as appropriate for the chosen topic.
You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Module and programme information is indicative and may be subject to change.
A degree in Dance from Middlesex opens up a wide range of careers:
The performing industry
Middlesex graduates have worked as choreographers or dancers for:
Flawless, C-12 Dance Theatre, New Adventures (Matthew Bourne), 2012 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies (as choreographer and dancers), Zoo Nation, Alter Ego, CandoCo Dance Company, Uchenna Dance Company, Mavin Khoo Dance, Vocab Dance Company, Loop Dance Company, Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), Attik Dance Company, Shaded Voice, Earthfall Dance Theatre Company, Amici Dance Theatre Company, Delve Dance Company, Shobana Jeyasingh, Scottish Dance Theatre, Akram Khan Company.
The arts administration/management industry
Middlesex graduates have worked for:
English National Ballet, Arts Depot, The Place, Dance UK, Jackson's Lane Theatre, London Studio Centre, Richard Alston Dance Company, DanceDigital, Regional Dance Agency, Dance4 National Dance Agency, Laban (Education/Outreach), Big Dance, 2012 Olympics, The Royal Ballet School, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, National Dance Teachers Association (NDTA).
The education industry
Middlesex graduates have worked as teachers in schools, further education colleges, universities and other higher education institutions, community settings, and studios including London's world famous Pineapple dance studios. Many of our graduates have been successful in gaining sought-after PGCE places, and a high percentage of our graduates now hold Head of Dance positions in secondary schools.
The health industry
Middlesex graduates have worked as massage therapists, personal trainers, Pilates teachers, and fitness professionals. Some of those with an interest in dancers' health have continued their studies by taking an MSc in Dance Science.
The journalism industry
Middlesex graduates have worked as dance writers or critics. Jennifer Teale, a 2010 Dance graduate, was the recipient of the Chris De Marigny Dance Writers Award. Other graduates have written for: Resolution, Dance UK, Dance Direct Blog, Cloud Dance Festival.
Dance at Middlesex counts many distinguished names among its graduates:
Adam Benjamin trained in Dance and Fine Art at Middlesex. He is the co-founder of CandoCo Dance Company, one of the world's premier companies for disabled and non-disabled dancers, and the author of the widely-read book Making an Entrance. Theory and practice for disabled and non-disabled dancers.
Mavin Khoo took both his undergraduate dance degree and postgraduate degree in Choreography at Middlesex. Malaysian-born, he performed with many of today's leading choreographers, including Akram Khan and Wayne McGregor. He is also celebrated as one of the leading male solo Bharata Natyam performers, both in India and around the world.
Jenny Sealey did her undergraduate dance degree at Middlesex. She was the Co-Artistic Director of the 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, and is Artistic Director of Graeae, a major disabled-led theatre company in the UK. She was awarded an MBE in 2009 for services to disability arts.
Our Employability Service can help you to develop your employability skills and get some valuable work experience. We provide workshops, events and one to one support with job hunting, CVs, covering letters, interviews, networking and so on. We also support you in securing part-time work, placements, internships, and volunteering opportunities, and offer an enterprise support service for those looking to start their own business.
Anne had a long career as a dancer with London Contemporary Dance Theatre, (under the name Anne Went) performing internationally including the Olympic Arts Festivals at both the Los Angeles 1984 and the Seoul Olympics 1988. In September 2014, Anne came out of ‘Performance Retirement’ to dance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London and was nominated, alongside the cast of the Elders Project, for the Lawrence Olivier Award for the most outstanding achievement in Dance. She has served on international dance panels and is currently a mentor for One Dance UK Dance Teachers Mentoring Programme. Her research coheres around the specific focus on the mastery of Robert Cohan’s method of teaching.
Louise has performed in repertory by Doris Humphrey, most recently working under the direction of Lesley Main in re-staging Humphrey’s solo Two Ecstatic Themes which was presented at ‘Transmission: A Performance Symposium’, London (2014) and ‘Framing Justice Symposium’, Chicago (2016). She is Artistic Director of Shaded Voice Dance Company and the breadth of her choreographic practice sees her create new work for children, undergraduate dancers and professionals. Louise was selected to be part of One Dance UKs ‘Dance Teaching Mentoring Programme’ in 2017.
Dr Bernkopf has danced as a professional ballet dancer in Austria, Germany, the Czech and Slovak Republics. She studied pedagogies of ballet (MA with distinction) at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where she also taught ballet. She then commenced her studies at the University of Surrey, Guildford, where she now holds a PhD. Her research focuses on the narrative of the ballet scenario for which she has created a method of narrative analysis and approaches to analyse dance through written source materials.
Adesola is a choreographer and artist-scholar, training initially at The Rambert Academy. She began her career as a dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem, later working with Green Candle Dance Company and Union. She now directs her own company DancingStrong which tours UK and North America. Her choreographic awards include One Dance UK Champion Trailblazer, Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award and ADAD Trailblazer Award. For her work in community dance and education she was awarded Woman of the Year in Community Dance by the Town of Islip, New York. Adesola has published in the field of dance scholarship as well as cultural and social studies. She holds a PhD from Canterbury Christ Church University and MA (Distinction) from Middlesex University.
Helen is a dancer, choreographer and movement practitioner and has toured as a performer, taught within a variety of settings in and beyond formal education and presented work at venues, festivals and conferences across the UK, Europe and USA. As a movement practitioner, Helen specialises in release-based techniques and improvisation. She is currently co-curator and choreographer for the trip project (Turning Research Ideas into Practice) with DancingStrong and is a member of TIN (TransDisciplinary Improvisation Network). Helen has previously served as an executive board member for DanceHE, worked as Artistic Assessor for Arts Council England and is an External Examiner for other HEIs.
Start: October 2018, EU/International - September 2018
Duration: 3 years full-time
Code: W501
Start: October 2018, EU/International induction: September 2018
Duration: 3 years full-time
Code: W400
Start: October 2018, EU/International induction: September 2018
Duration: 3 years full-time, Usually 5 years part-time
Code: W301