Dance Performance BA Honours

Overview

Develop your dance craft with practical performance training while deepening your understanding of the theory behind it.

Why study dance performance with us

An interest in dance and a flair for creativity can take you far and a dance course can really help to establish your skills and knowledge. Our course ranks as one of the UK’s top courses for dance, with national and international recognition for its high calibre of research and teaching. Your lecturers have years of industry expertise that they'll share in practical and theoretical contexts, so you get an understanding of what a creative career in dance looks like. Their experience includes performing internationally at the Olympic Arts Festival, nominations for the Laurence Olivier Award for Dance, as well as directing the 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony among others.

You'll engage with different aspects of dance performance like critical and reflective analysis, dance science and safe dance practices, to name just a few.

Develop your practical dance performance skills

A dance degree will equip you with everything you need to start a career in this creative field, from joining a dance company to working for an arts organisation. Your day will be made up of a variety of learning including theoretical and creative practices, and daily practical classes with live accompaniment where you’ll specialise in different dance techniques.

We have four fully-equipped dance studios. Additionally, our flagship Grove Dance Theatre has a seating capacity of 144, a dedicated dressing room, a specialist lighting rig, and many more extras to facilitate an authentic stage environment.

We have a long-standing partnership with the artsdepot, an award winning cultural hub in North London, where you'll have an opportunity to perform. You’ll also attend industry professional workshops and the student-led dance society will facilitate your interests and pursuits of different dance styles. Graduates have gone on to perform with the likes of Eddie Peake, Ross McKim, and Flawless among others.

Get the support you need

While you’re learning, you’ll be matched with a Personal Tutor directly related to your course. You’ll also get support from our Student Learning and Graduate Academic Assistants, who have experience in your subject area. We also have close links with the sport and rehabilitation clinic, so you receive support for safe dance training.

Teaching staff always work closely with students, going above and beyond to support them in their career goals and with their professional experience, they know the hurdles you'll face. Careers in the arts, dancing as part of a troupe or becoming a choreographer are all just an application away!

Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London, including updates on places available in Clearing for 2020 entry.

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Course content

What will you study on the BA Dance Performance?

You will intensively engage with the skills of dance performance, encompassing dance technique, safe dance practice, dance performance, dance repertoire, creative processes/innovative choreography. You will do this through expert guidance in a range of dance techniques of the Graham-based, Humphrey-based, Cunningham-based, Release-based, Urban/Hybrid supplemented by Ballet, open classes and opportunities to actively participate in interdisciplinary entities, all of which contribute vitally to the development of technique and dance performance skills.

The theoretical modules are designed to nurture enquiring minds alongside the performance and creative components developing your academic analytical and critical thinking skills, deepening your anatomical knowledge, of how the body works in relation to dance, understanding and applying safe dance practice, engaging with creativity and enterprise and learning professional practice strategies to help you navigate your journey through the dance profession.

The totality of the above will provide you with a solid skilled and academic foundation for your career in the creative arts and if you wish to further your studies by enrolling in one of our postgraduate degrees.

Year One will provide you with practice-based experiences to ground the inter-relationship between subject areas such as, dance techniques, performance, anatomy, choreographic processes, collaboration and independent work, cultural identities and connections of current and past practices.

Year Two allow you to develop your professional practice strategies and skills, dance techniques and performance opportunities, creativity and enterprise – varied modes of artistic presentation, academic frameworks relevant to dance, dance science and safe dance practice.

Year Three will give you the opportunity to further extend and apply your knowledge, understanding and skill within a professional practice context. Dance artistry develops building on the prior technique and performance skills embedded within Years One and Two to attain a sophisticated physical articulation.

What skills will you gain?

'Graduateness’ in the Creative Arts field in general cannot be defined in the singular but will involve a range of both subject specific and general skills you will gain. The transferable skills you will gain are much sought after in many industry environments. These skills include those of creative ingenuity and vision, communication (performance, oral, digital, written), practice-as-research and analysis, ability to work independently interpersonally and in groups to deadlines and under pressure and with flexibility, imagination, self-motivation and organisation. You will develop all these skills and practises across the Dance Programmes.

Modules

We’ve made sure that the skills and knowledge that you’ll gain on your course will not change during the coronavirus outbreak. If you’re applying to start this course or progressing into year one, two or three this autumn, your module information is below.

Year 1
- The Emerging Dance Artist (120 credits) – Compulsory
  
  This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of the diverse range of ideas, practices and skills embedded in the dance field and creative industries. Through participating in practice-based projects, you will explore the inter-relationship between subject areas such as dance techniques, performance, anatomy, choreographic processes, collaboration and independent work, cultural identities and connections of current and past practices.
Year 2
- Theorising Performance and Practices (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module develops key academic frameworks of methodological approaches and theoretical perspectives for analysis and interrogation of dance practices and works. The module will also introduce you to areas of professional practice, alongside developing your understanding of ethical considerations, strategies and skills required for navigating a journey through the profession.
- Dance Techniques and Performances (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  Through practical work you will explore various dance techniques, enhance your technical and artistic abilities and develop your knowledge and understanding of technique and performance. You will be introduced, learn and perform dance works ranging from twentieth century repertoire to current creations.
- Creativity and Enterprise (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module further develops your knowledge and understanding of collaborative creative processes and practices in dance. You will be introduced to different modes of presentation (screen, site specific and theatre) and engage in collaborative processes to produce a creative outcome. The module also introduces you to different approaches to framing, presenting and disseminating your creative work.
- Dance Science (30 Credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module develops your understanding of the moving body. You will be introduced to common postural changes in dancers, and the effects of this on dance performance. The module will equip you with the skills to recognise the importance of warm up/cool down, supplementary fitness training, and nutrition, for safe dance practice.
Year 3
- Applied Professional Practices (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module make links with the wider dance profession, develops key skills and attributes and engages you in practice-based experiences / work placements. Learning through reflection on your engagement with professional practice, you will gain vital employability skills necessary to effectively plan and pursue a career in the creative arts industry.
- Directed Performance (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module further develops your understanding of dance repertoire. You will be challenged to apply and expand your technical proficiency, acquire stylistic and interpretive skills through your engagement with rehearsals in a directed context. You will explore the multiple layers inherent in the rehearsal process and performance of dance repertoire.
- Dance Techniques (Performance) (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  This module focuses on the development of a sophisticated understanding and physical articulation of the artistic and technical skills embedded in dance technique. Alongside the technical training you are expected to advance your physical fitness.
- Creative Performance (30 credits) - Compulsory
  
  Through engaging with a professional choreographer you will develop a sense of personal artistic interpretation and an awareness of ‘self’, enhancing your understanding of the role the dancer plays within the creation and performance of new work. You will have the opportunity to investigate, develop and apply varying rehearsal techniques and perform in a professional theatre context.

More information about this course

See the course specification for more information about typical course content outside of the coronavirus outbreak:

Course specification

Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

Teaching

How is the BA Dance Performance taught?
You will engage in a wide variety of different subjects within dance which is reflected in our teaching. Choreography offers workshops on choreographic methods and draws on tutorials to help you have your creative vision.
Our theory classes are taught by leading academics with numerous international book and journal publications. These embrace topics as diverse as improvisation, contemporary dance and politics, ballet, science of movement, dance narratives, postmodernism, arts management/funding and key practitioners in dance. Many lecturers have taught at overseas universities and bring an international perspective to Dance at Middlesex. Most also have extensive practical knowledge of numerous dance genres and understand the realities of current dance.
For your dance techniques, you will have technique assessments of your classes. In choreography, your work is presented in class or in theatre or other appropriate settings to audiences. Theoretical assessments range from question papers in the first year to academic essays, oral presentation and reflective writing in the final year to develop you written and communication skills.

If you’re starting university in 2020, we’ll be teaching you in different ways to make sure you get the best learning experience possible. You’ll learn through live sessions with teaching staff and have the chance to study independently too, with access to all the online resources you need through our globally available student portal.

We’re planning different scenarios for teaching so that we can be flexible. While we’re social distancing, we’re aiming to teach you through some small group sessions on campus, with other interactive teaching as well as larger lectures delivered online and recorded sessions available to you on-demand. If you’re unable to make it to campus at first, or we need to limit access to campus in the future, your course can be delivered fully online.

The table below shows current plans for your learning across a typical week, including scheduled live online teaching and an indication of what we hope to teach face to face, where you can make it to campus. While some weeks might look different to this, due to how we schedule classes and make arrangements for any face to face sessions (for example, in some cases these could take place every two weeks with an increased number of hours), the table gives you an idea of what to expect based on the overall number of teaching hours on your course.

You’ll receive final arrangements for your teaching and a full course timetable before you start.

Scenario 1: course delivered fully online
Live learning	Contact time per week, per level:	Year 1: 12 hours Year 2: 13 hours Year 3: 13 hours
Self-paced learning time	Average hours per week, per level:	Year 1: 24 hours Year 2: 20 hours Year 3: 20 hours
On demand resources	Average hours per week, per level:	Year 1: 3 hours Year 2: 7 hours Year 3: 7 hours
Scenario 2: course delivered with a mix of online and face to face learning with social distancing in place
Live learning	Contact time per week, per level:	Year 1: 8 hours Year 2: 8.5 hours Year 3: 5 hours
Self-paced learning time	Average hours per week, per level:	Year 1: 25 hours Year 2: 20 hour Year 3: 19 hour
On demand resources	Average hours per week, per level:	Year 1: 2.5 hours Year 2: 7 hours Year 3: 7 hours
Face-to-face sessions	Contact time per week, per level:	Year 1: 5 hours Year 2: 4.5 hours Year 3: 9 hours

Read more about our scenarios for returning to campus and what they might mean for your teaching and learning experience, and how you’ll be able to access student support.

Future plans for teaching

We’re developing our timetable for face to face teaching with current government advice on social distancing to keep you safe. If social distancing requirements are lifted, we’ll start to safely move back towards our usual teaching arrangements with more opportunities for face to face learning. Some learning and support might stay online in this scenario. If more restrictions are put in place, or there is another lockdown, we’ll be prepared to deliver your learning and support fully online, with alternative arrangements made for any required placements. We’ll always give you notice of any changes that we make.

Definitions of terms

Live learning – Live learning will cover everything you’ll do with teaching staff like lectures, seminars, workshops and other classes, and we’ll schedule all of this for you. This might include some study outside your regular timetable, like taking part in discussion forums or online blogs where you’re supported by academic staff.
Independent learning – Independent learning is all the studying you’ll do outside your live learning sessions with teaching staff. This self-paced study will give you the chance to learn, prepare, revise and reflect in your own time as you need to, and you’ll have access to on-demand resources and materials to help you do your best.
- Self-paced study – Self-paced study will give you the chance to learn wherever and whenever you want to and at your own pace, outside your live learning sessions. This independent learning could include reading and reflection, preparation for classes, revision or homework along with access to other online activities such as quizzes.
- On-demand resources – You'll have access to on-demand resources like pre-recorded video lectures and workshops as part of your independent study. You’ll be able to review and revisit whenever you need to at your own pace.
Face to face sessions – Wherever it’s possible to do so, and we can make the necessary arrangements to ensure your safety, you’ll be able to attend scheduled sessions, workshops or appointments on campus as part of your live learning. The number of hours given in this scenario provides an indication of the number of hours of face to face learning you could expect, and a full timetable will be provided to you before the start of your course.

Support

You’ll have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.

Our support services will mainly be delivered online and you’ll have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.

You’ll have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

More on teaching for your subject in 2020/21

Read our guide to what’s been happening in your subject area recently and more about what to expect this autumn.

Teaching
You will be taught through a combination of practical dance classes and choreographic workshops in our purpose-built dance studios alongside lectures and visits to art venues or theatres. Lectures allow you to gain and develop knowledge in specific subjects. You can discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures and develop your dance technique in smaller groups usually made up of 20 - 25 students. You will receive support from our Student Learning Assistants who have completed the modules a year ago and work with you on assessment preparation. In addition, you can arrange one to one sessions with your personal tutor or module leader. You will also have access to and use resources to support your learning including databases of articles and recorded performances throughout your course.
During your first year (level 4), your weekly timetable will typically consist of:
- 6 dance technique classes
- 2 hours choreographic workshops
- 1.5 - 3 hours of theory lectures
- 1 hour of rehearsal time in our dance studios
- support from a Student Learning Advisor in preparation of assessments.
Independent Learning
When not attending your teaching, sessions mentioned above, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and examinations. Your independent learning is supported by the facilities available including the library and Study Hub, Laptop hire, and with online materials in MyUniHub (see student support section below).
Overall Workload
Your overall workload will include the activities listed above, and with each credit being completed equating to 10 hours of study time (You will complete 120 credits per level of study, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits). While your actual hours may depend on the optional module that you choose (if available), the following information will give you an indication of how much time is allocated to teaching and independent study on your course:
Level 4
47% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity:
Teaching, learning and assessment: 558 hours
Independent Learning: 642 hours
Level 5
40% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity:
Teaching, learning and assessment: 482 hours
Independent Learning: 718 hours
Level 6
47% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity:
Teaching, learning and assessment: 563 hours
Placement/Work Based Learning Activity: 50 hours
Independent Learning: 588 hours
Academic Support
You will have access to academic support services that you assist you in the following areas:
- Study Skills, including academic writing, reading and numeracy skills
- Employability, with workshops and tutorials on CV writing, interview and presentation skills
- Library Support, including sessions on finding, and choosing the right resources and software and tutorials on referencing and plagiarism
- Progression and Support Advisors to assist you with if you experience difficulties with your studies
- Well-being Services.
These services can be accessed through the UniHelp Desk in the Library building.
Assessment
We’re planning to deliver our assessment in a similar way to previous years. We will review this regularly, and let you know in advance of your assessment if we need to make any changes.
The course will provide you with opportunities to test your knowledge and understanding informally through ‘formative’ assessment. This will be completed before your formal ‘summative’ assessment which will count towards your final marks. Each module normally contains at least one piece of formative assessment from which you will receive feedback from your tutor. Formative assessments are developmental and any grade you receive from formative assessment does not count towards your final marks.
There is formal ‘summative’ assessment as part of the module, usually towards the end of the module. Assessment methods could include a range of different types of assessments such as practical dance technique and choreography assessments, performance assessments, timed question papers, oral presentations and academic essays, reflective evaluations, reviews as well as your final year extended research essay. The grades from the summative assessments count towards your module mark. Assessments are reviewed annually and may be updated based on student feedback, to suit content or based on feedback from an external examiner.
Percentage of course assessed by coursework
The balance of assessment will depend on the modules that you complete throughout your course. The approximate percentage of the course which is assessed by coursework is outlined below:
Level 4 25% coursework 75% practical exams
Level 5 50% coursework 50% practical exams
Level 6 40% coursework 60% practical exams
Feedback
You will receive feedback on the formative assessment, and written summative assessments. Feedback on examination performance can be requested from the module leader. Feedback is intended to help you learn and progress, and you are encouraged to review and discuss your feedback with your module or personal tutor.
We will aim to provide you with feedback within 15 working days of submission.
Details of progression and pass marks for assessment can be found in the university regulations.

Entry requirements

In light of the Government’s latest advice to delay the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we have taken the decision to change our on-campus applicant interviews into online assessments. We will be in contact with specific arrangements for your subject area, so please check your email. Visit information for new students in 2020 for updates.
Our entry requirements provide a guide to the qualifications that you’ll need to study our courses. We understand that recent changes to exams and assessments mean you might be worried about your qualifications, so we’re taking a flexible approach to admissions this year. We’ll do our best to consider your application on an individual basis and look at more than your grades when we’re making a decision.
Qualifications
This course is now available in Clearing. Follow this link or call 020 8411 6565 for more info.
Eligibility
UK/EU and International students are eligible to apply for this course.
Academic credit for previous study or experience
If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex University course in year two or three. For further information please visit our Transfer students page.
If you have relevant work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your Middlesex University qualification. For further information please visit our Accreditation of Prior Learning page.
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Entry onto this course requires an audition. Please view the Interviews and auditions tab for more information.
Our entry requirements provide a guide to the qualifications that you’ll need to study our courses. We understand that recent changes to exams and assessments mean you might be worried about your qualifications, so we’re taking a flexible approach to admissions this year. We’ll do our best to consider your application on an individual basis and look at more than your grades when we’re making a decision. You’ll still need to meet our English language requirements to be considered for your course.
Qualifications
This course is now available in Clearing. Follow this link or call 020 8411 6565 for more info.
Visas and immigration
You will not need a visa to study in the UK if you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. If you are a national of any other country you may need a visa to study in the UK. Please see our Visas and immigration page for further information.
English language requirements for international students
You must have competence in English language to study with us. The most commonly accepted evidence of English language ability is IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components). Visit our English language requirements page for a full list of accepted English tests and qualifications. If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer an intensive Pre-sessional English course.
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Audition
Your application is just the first step in our selection process. If it is successful, we will invite you to an audition.
You will attend a talk in which the programmes, curricula and resources are outlined and there will be ample opportunities to ask questions. You will then observe part of a dance technique class (during teaching term time) and take a contemporary dance class for about one hour.
Interview
Following the audition potential candidates will be interviewed either in a group or individually. This informal discussion will help us find out more about you and your aspirations.
Visit an Open Day
We strongly advise all prospective applicants to attend an Open Day. You will be able to talk to staff and students, listen to talks on the subject areas that interest you, ask questions and view some practical dance sessions.
Please apply via UCAS using this course’s UCAS code W500. For help with your application, please view our dedicated web page
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Audition
Your application is just the first step in our selection process. If it is successful, we will invite you to an audition.
You will attend a talk in which the programmes, curricula and resources are outlined and there will be ample opportunities to ask questions. You will then observe part of a dance technique class (during teaching term time) and take a contemporary dance class for about one hour.
Interview
Following the audition potential candidates will be interviewed either in a group or individually. This informal discussion will help us find out more about you and your aspirations.
Please visit our Interviews, portfolios and auditions page where you will find tips and advice to help you prepare and do your best on the day.
Visit an Open Day
We strongly advise all prospective applicants to attend an Open Day. You will be able to talk to staff and students, listen to talks on the subject areas that interest you and ask questions.

Fees and funding

The fees below refer to the 2020/21 academic year unless otherwise stated.
UK/EU students*
Full-time students: £9,250
*Course fees are subject to annual inflation.
For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our undergraduate funding page
The fees below refer to the 2020/21 academic year unless otherwise stated.
International students*
Full-time students: £13,400
*Course fees are subject to annual inflation.
For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our undergraduate funding page.
The following course-related costs are included in the fees:
- A free electronic core textbook for every module,
- All printing and copying required for your study,
- Self-service laptops available for loan for a maximum of 24 hours,
- Audio-visual equipment available for loan, including digital stills cameras, digital video recorders, digital audio recorders.
- Access to rehearsal spaces and technical support in preparation of choreographic assignments
- One SD card for each student choosing Dance on Screen in Year 2
- Access to library resources (books, online databases of texts and performances).
London offers a wide range of art and performance venues, which you may visit at your leisure to supplement your studies.
- visits to museums and galleries: use the free access to many London museums and galleries on offer to broaden your knowledge about art and history;
- performances: students are encouraged to make use of theatre discounts, standby tickets and student group discounts that many London theatres offer;
- sport and leisure: Middlesex University dance students receive 40% discount on membership to Middlesex Sport and Leisure.

Student work

Middlesex Dance students share their experiences on the BA Dance Performance.
Natalie Merrifield discusses her time as a student at Middlesex.

Careers

How can the BA Dance Performance support your career?

A degree in Dance from Middlesex opens up a wide range of careers:

There is such a wide range of performance opportunities available to you once you graduate. Recent graduates have performed with:

Akram Khan Company
Alter Ego
Amici Dance Theatre Company
Attik Dance Company
Avant Garde
Boy Blue Entertainment
C-12 Dance Theatre
CandoCo Dance Company
Eddie Peake
Ensemble Dance Company
Flawless
Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company
Loop Dance Company
MCDC - Michaela Cisarikova Dance Company
Mavin Khoo Dance
Melody Squire - Sol Dans Company
New Adventures (Matthew Bourne)
Olympic 2012 opening and closing ceremonies (as choreographer and dancers)
Reside Dance Company
Ross McKim
Royal Opera House (Covent Garden)
Sia and Zayn dance music video
Shobana Jeyasingh
Uchenna Dance
Vocab Dance Company

After graduation, you might wish to enhance your skills with an internship. Our graduates have taken advantage of a range of dance internships at studios and organisations such as Dance Research Studio, Dance Programme Support Graduate Intern at Trinity Laban, Ombetja Yehinga Organisation Namibia, Tanzplattform Rhein-Main Frankfurt, DanceXchange, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

There are also a number of arts organisations you could forge a career with and previous graduates have been successful at One Dance UK, The Lowry Theatre, Creation Box, MOVE IT, Capezio, East London Dance, DanceXchange, Big Dance Bus, Arts Depot, The Place, Dance UK, Jackson's Lane Theatre, London Studio Centre, Activate Performing Arts Richard Alston Dance Company, Dance4, Blac Canvas, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, National Dance Teachers Association (NDTA), The Royal Ballet School.

Interested in choreography? Our graduates have worked with the following companies GradLab ACE funded project, Young Choreographer South West, Resolutions!, ACE funded dance artist Ieva Kuniskis, Siobhan Davies Dance Young Artists Advisory Group.

You could also be successful in the journalism industry and several of our graduates are working as dance writers or critics for Resolution, Dance UK, Dance Direct Blog, and Cloud Dance Festival.

Distinguished graduates

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.

What support is available?

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.

Facilities

Our five fully equipped dance studios are the perfect complement to one of the most respected dance departments in the UK.

Campus life

International students

Study abroad

Work and career

Support services

Staff profiles

Anne Donnelly
Associate Professor in Dance and Director of Programmes

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.

Dr Astrid Bernkopf
Senior Lecturer in Dance, Programme Leader Dance Studies

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 Akinleye
Programme Leader (BA Professional Practice)

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 Kindred
Senior Lecturer Dance (Choreography and Professional Practice)

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.

Student profiles

Jac Coxall

Dance Studies BA graduate

One thing I loved about training at Middlesex University was getting the chance to be around such diversity. I loved working with people who had completely different strengths and interests within dance. The technique classes continually pushed me as I moved through my three years of training and helped me to develop such a strong technical base. Dance at Middlesex has so much to offer, so many amazing opportunities, so many incredible tutors and facilities. I took so much from my 3 years of training, things I still refer back to now, 2 years later.
Since graduating from BA Dance Studies I have gone onto perform with a contemporary and commercial company and started to explore a performance path. I competed in the Britain’s Got Talent live semi finals and also featured in Zayn Malik and SIAs music video ‘Dusk till Dawn’. I have developed a portfolio career working professionally within the fields of choreography, teaching and as a dance artist in London schools and universities. My big dream as my career broadens is to be booked for a world tour with a professional music artist and I’m getting closer to that dream every day! Middlesex University was one of the best decisions I ever made!
Joshua Chapman

Dance Performance BA student

Joshua explains what it was like working with renowned choreographer Robert Cohan building up to his final year degree performance.
Jennifer Vogtle

Dance Performance BA graduate

I chose to study at Middlesex because of the amount of practical hours and varied techniques the course offered and because I wanted a real university experience rather than a vocational or conservatoire route. The BA Dance Performance course introduced me to four very different contemporary techniques (Cohan, Release, Cunningham and Humphrey) that have formed a strong and well-rounded platform of movement vocabulary. The programme also made me start to delve into my own creativity more through choreography and improvisation. My three years not only progressed my physical training but also taught me about contemporary dance history, gave me skills to work and support myself as a freelance dancer, and an in-depth anatomy education that has been an invaluable asset across my portfolio career.
Being in London offered endless opportunities; while I was studying I had the incredible experience of working with Professor Robert Cohan, re-staging his work ‘Forest'. All the tutors are very passionate about their subjects and were always very helpful throughout the three years. They have become professional contacts and friends that I can still reach out to now.
If you are considering studying dance further this course will help equip you for any kind of career in the dance industry, from performing, choreography, admin and education to name a few! If you put the work in and make the most of the amazing resources available at Middlesex you will grow immensely as a dancer.
I'm currently dancing with Michaela Cisarikova Dance Co and Black Orchid Ballerinas and doing other work I've been contracted for with Regents University and various photographers. Also since graduating I have toured with Ensemble Dance Co, worked for Eddie Peake, and Yorke Dance Project and am currently getting into more circus related work with my aerial and acrobatic training.
Jessica Wilson

Dance Performance BA graduate

I began working as the Marketing and Communications Assistant for the Royal Academy of Dance the week following my final degree performance at artsdepot. Since I have also taken on the role of Editorial Assistant for the RAD's flagship publication, the Dance Gazette and the smaller member publication, Focus on Members.
Since graduating from the Middlesex Dance Performance course in 2012 with a First Class Honours, I have continued to write and review for a variety of external publications, both online and in print, including those such as Critical Dance, A Younger Theatre and 4dancers and Resolution! I have also continued to write and co-ordinate the blog for dance wear retailer Dance Direct, and write for retailer Dancewear Central under a pseudonym. Dance writing has opened up many opportunities for me, including being asked to guest lecture on Dance Writing in the Professional Studies module at Middlesex. In terms of performance, I have worked with Rambert's youth dance company, Quicksilver as well as being a senior dancing member of The Chelmsford Ballet Company since 2012.

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Level 4	25% coursework	75% practical exams
Level 5	50% coursework	50% practical exams
Level 6	40% coursework	60% practical exams

This course is now available in Clearing.Follow this link or call 020 8411 6565 for more info

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Develop your practical dance performance skills

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Modules

Year 1

The Emerging Dance Artist (120 credits) – Compulsory

Year 2

Theorising Performance and Practices (30 credits) - Compulsory

Dance Techniques and Performances (30 credits) - Compulsory

Creativity and Enterprise (30 credits) - Compulsory

Dance Science (30 Credits) - Compulsory

Year 3

Applied Professional Practices (30 credits) - Compulsory

Directed Performance (30 credits) - Compulsory

Dance Techniques (Performance) (30 credits) - Compulsory

Creative Performance (30 credits) - Compulsory

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Anne Donnelly Associate Professor in Dance and Director of Programmes

Dr Astrid Bernkopf Senior Lecturer in Dance, Programme Leader Dance Studies

Adesola Akinleye Programme Leader (BA Professional Practice)

Helen Kindred Senior Lecturer Dance (Choreography and Professional Practice)

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This course is now available in Clearing.
Follow this link or call 020 8411 6565 for more info

Anne Donnelly
Associate Professor in Dance and Director of Programmes

Dr Astrid Bernkopf
Senior Lecturer in Dance, Programme Leader Dance Studies

Adesola Akinleye
Programme Leader (BA Professional Practice)

Helen Kindred
Senior Lecturer Dance (Choreography and Professional Practice)