BPA (Hons) Contemporary Dance

The BPA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance is a full-time three-year training programme which aims to develop versatile dance artists with strong technical skills and deep artistic awareness. This is achieved through a rigorous curriculum predominantly focused on studio-based practice and creative exploration, underpinned by key elements of theoretical study.

The main areas of study are:

• Technical training
• Performance, choreography and movement studies
• Contextual studies and supplementary courses

The Technical Training

The range of technical training undertaken at NSCD is designed to develop a high level of skill and versatility combined with an understanding of movement which enables the dancer to respond to the varied and changing demands of contemporary choreography.

Classes offer a holistic approach to developing the body as an expressive instrument where strength, stamina and flexibility are progressed simultaneously. Fifteen to twenty hours per week are allocated to technique classes and students are expected to supplement this work as necessary with their own physical conditioning regime.

The main technical elements of the course are contemporary dance and classical ballet, which are normally taught every day. In order to develop strength and resilience early contemporary classes are normally Graham based, with Cunningham based technique introduced at a later stage.

To complement this study students also experience a range of Release-based dance techniques and other somatic approaches to movement. This structured approach is crucial to enabling the development of dance artists who are both highly skilled and adaptable.

In order to maximise the effectiveness of this approach, and to cater for the differing levels of experience of individual students, NSCD operates a ‘vertical streaming’ system. Technique classes are taught at seven levels, allowing students to be placed at the level which best meets their individual needs. Progress and application are continuously monitored and students may be transferred to another level at any time.

Performance, choreography and movement studies

It is vital for students to make the connection between technical training, creative exploration and performance. Accordingly, performance study draws together these elements providing students across all year groups with a variety of opportunities to perform their own work and work created by visiting professional choreographers.

Performance projects are directly concerned with preparing students for a successful performing career. Emphasis is placed on communication through performance and on realising choreographic ideas and intentions.

Integral to this approach is an on-going programme of visiting professional choreographers who introduce students to different choreographic methods and styles. Completed performance projects are presented at NSCD’s Riley Theatre and other venues. Further information about the professional choreographers who have created work for NSCD can be found here.

NSCD’s approach is founded on the belief that creative exploration and growth are central to the developing dance artist. Choreographic study is designed to nurture individual artistic expression and to challenge and deepen students’ understanding of choreographic and creative processes.

The nature of choreography is explored through an in-depth investigation of its expressive elements and through the development of movement language and performance contexts. This study is further extended through a consideration of the relationship between dance and other modes of artistic expression such as music, visual art and literature.

Through specific tasks and assignments students are encouraged to explore areas of individual artistic interest and to develop their own choreographic voice.

The Movement Studies course involves research into movement as a source of individual artistic growth, promoting the development of a diverse range of physical and expressive skills. Coursework also focuses on developing students’ ability to generate and experiment with new movement material, to reflect on the creative processes involved and to articulate the findings.

Contextual studies and supplementary courses

Contextual study supports the technical, creative and performance elements of the degree programme. Specific areas of study include:

Year 1
Critical and Reflective Studies
An exploration of current contemporary dance practice through investigation of historical and theoretical perspectives and reflection on personal practice.

Physical Awareness and Development
A practical and theoretical exploration of anatomical and physiological considerations for the dancer, including the causes and prevention of injury and issues related to fitness, nutrition and well-being.

Contemporary Music
Designed to develop and extend understanding of contemporary music and its relationship to choreography and performance.

Year 2
Ideas in Art
A study of the wider context of contemporary dance and its relationship to other art forms such as music, visual art, theatre and film. Students can choose to build on this study by focusing on a specific independent research project in their final year.

Year 3
Dance Artists in Education
An opportunity for students to develop practical teaching skills that can be transferred for use in a range of education or community settings.

Dance and Media Arts
Students undertake a practical and theoretical investigation into the use of film and multimedia technologies in the creation of dance performance.

Collaborative Arts Project
Students have the opportunity to explore the nature of collaborative working processes through their participation in an intensive creative project. This project presents the possibility of working with artists from other disciplines to produce interdisciplinary work which may be presented in a variety of performance settings.

In addition to the taught elements, a range of short supplementary courses complement studies across the programme. These courses provide important experiences that draw upon key ideas informing contemporary dance training and performance practice, including disciplines such as Physical Theatre, Contact Improvisation, Feldenkrais Method and Yoga.