Professional Practice, Arts and Creative Industries (specialisation) BA Honours

Upon finishing his National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre at Urdang Academy in London, Tom began working in fringe theatre productions in the UK before carrying out performance contracts abroad.

I am currently working overseas as a singer and dancer. My previous placements includes Ibiza and more recently The Dominican Republic. The duration of these contracts has spanned six to eight months, providing a fantastic opportunity to travel let alone the ability to continue working as a professional performer. These contracts have offered diverse entertainment programmes with shows featuring vocal styles that extend beyond my formal training. This has proved a welcoming challenge in helping to develop my craft as a performer.

After signing with a new agent a few years back, I was being sent for a number of auditions including West End and UK touring productions. I had not given much thought to working abroad until an audition came up and I was subsequently offered a role as a singer and dancer for the summer in Ibiza. At the time of accepting the job, I was already close to completing my second module on the BAPP Arts Professional Practice programme with Middlesex University. With my professional inquiry as part of module three studies approaching I felt that a six-month contract would provide plenty of time for collecting research data to later use when writing my dissertation.

One of the best aspects the course has to offer is its work based learning approach, affording the freedom to study around work commitments. This is extremely beneficial to prospective students who also working in the arts due to the unpredictable nature of the job. The theory provided via the module handbooks as well as the course’s emphasis for utilising previous arts-based training helped me develop a new found awareness as a performer. Extending upon formal training, the course can give perspective to areas of the practitioner’s profession that had not previously been considered. Tutors are always on hand for advice and there are a wide variety of campus and online resources available to students during studies. If anyone in the arts is looking to build upon their existing knowledge of the arts the BAPP Arts Programme can do just that.

After completing her National Diploma at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, Leeds-born Laura-Beth Hill enrolled in the BA Professional Practice programme at Middlesex University. Following her graduation in 2011, she relocated to Los Angeles where an unexpected career as a stand-up comedian has taken off.

Being a stand-up comedian isn't something I ever thought I'd do. For my dissertation at Middlesex I looked at continued professional development (CPD), the differences for actors in London and LA and whether it makes you more employable as an actor. The answer to my question was that it might not make you more employable directly but it does indirectly through networking and meeting new people and honing your skills.

I would advise people to do as much CPD as possible. When you're here you should do everything you can and get involved in as many things as possible. Don't turn anything down because there will always be somebody there who it will be good to meet. Nearly everyone in LA is involved in the industry in some way.

Read more about Laura's story

I decided to enroll on the BAPP course to enable me to further my studies and go on to train and become a secondary school dance teacher. I was working as a performer at the time and wanted a form of study that would enable me to still pursue my career. The BAPP programme was great and I could fit my studying around my own commitments. The handbooks are so clear and the communication network is fantastic and tutors are always there on the end of an email or skype call.

I went on to study at The Royal Academy of Dance and completed a PGCE in dance teaching. I am now Head of Dance in a comprehensive secondary school teaching KS3, 4 and 5. I am so happy that the BAPP programme helped me achieve my dreams and would recommend it to anyone looking for an alternative way of studying whilst still pursuing a career. It helped me to develop as a practitioner and a person and I am now studying on the MA in Dance Technique Pedagogy with the distance learning team.

My advice to anyone considering this course is go for it! You will learn so much about yourself and your practice and It will open new doors for you.

Chloe is a professional dancer and trained at Laban before joining Transitions Dance Company, based at Laban, and more recently working with Smallpetitklein.

As part of my studies here I worked on a project to create my own dance company. Undertaking BAPP has given me a greater understanding of my professional practice to date and is giving me tools to help me guide and further my career in the dance world.

Jess has been involved artistically with The Chickenshed Theatre since 1994. During this time she progressed as a company member and also completed a Foundation Degree in Inclusive Performance.

I undertook a major work-based project to discover and present the most constructive methods for engaging Chickenshed's support staff in the artistic work of the theatre. I feel I have developed into a self-managed learner. I am aware of the importance of continuous reflection and self-monitoring of one's work so as to continually learn and gain new skills. I have also learnt how to be self-motivated.