BA (Hons) Dance Theatre
Our programme will develop your technical and artistic ability, encourage
versatility, individuality and creativity as a dancer, and build upon your
inventiveness and originality as a choreographer. Armed with highly
developed skills and knowledge you will be more than ready to face the
challenges of a performance career in dance. See the success of our
ex-students in our extensive alumni portfolio.
Daily, rigorous and
challenging technical training will underpin your development as a
versatile and resourceful performer and as a collaborative creator.
You
will be able to develop skills and interests in related areas, such as
visual design, health and kinesiology, sound composition and teaching
dance technique. In your final year, you will pursue a particular aspect
of your artistic practice in greater depth through a major independent
project.
'The unique thing about Laban is its strength in
teaching both performance and choreography, and its focus on developing
the individual.'Matthew Bourne - former student and Artistic Director,
New Adventures
This programme will provide you with the technical, artistic and creative
skills you need to embark on a career in dance in the twenty-first
century. You will have numerous opportunities to perform and create your
own choreography, and to work directly with leading dance artists. You
will also be able to explore particular areas of interest, develop your
individual strengths and reflect upon your own and others' dance practice.
EDUCATIONAL AIMS
The programme seeks to:
I prepare students to meet the challenge of a multi stranded career within the
Dance Profession and to be the creators of its future
II offer students extensive experience as performer and choreographer through
intensive creative processes and regular performance opportunities
III provide interaction with the profession through regular working
opportunities
with practising dance artists
lV instate principles of safe practice as a basis of physical efficiency and
longevity in the Dance Profession
V develop students' understanding of how their technical expertise resources
their creative contribution to diverse choreographic and performance contexts
Vl provide a means whereby students engage with analytical and critical
perspectives on dance and foster their capacity to reflect on their practice
and
that of others
VIl make connections between strands of learning within a context of
contemporary artwork and ideas
VIIl foster the development of the student's individual artistic voice
alongside the
acquisition of skills
lX facilitate the development of student autonomy progressively through the
programme
Programme Content
Year One
You will enhance your understanding of movement and develop
your technical and choreographic skills, leading up to a performance
project at the end of the year. Developing frameworks for reflection on
contemporary dance practice will be integral to your practical studies.
Year
Two
You will continue your technical training in a variety of dance
techniques while working creatively on choreographic and performance
projects. Theoretical and analytical engagement with dance and its broader
contexts will support your understanding of the art form. You will be able
to choose specialised areas to study in further depth, and the placement
at the end of the year will allow you to work within the professional
dance world.
Year Three
Company-like experience of intensive
performance projects led by visiting artists starts the final year. You
will tour the created work and bring your choreography and technical
training to a culmination with presentations in performance. You will also
undertake a substantial independent project in an area of your choice. A
degree show marks the end of your studies as a final year student.
Assessment
In Year One you will be assessed though practical tasks, performances,
projects and presentations. In Years Two and Three, you will shape your
own portfolio of assessments, with tutorial guidance, focusing on areas of
strength and interest. Your final degree will be determined on the basis
of your portfolio.
