Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Dance

Postgraduate

In Leeds

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Postgraduate

  • Location

    Leeds

  • Duration

    1 Year

The course is designed to facilitate the transition from training into professional practice by focusing on the extension of existing artistic, creative and technical skills. Through this focus it functions as a framework in which students can further develop as professional dance artists whilst increasing their employability and career opportunities. Suitable for: Graduates of vocational training courses, or dance artists with some experience

Facilities

Location

Start date

Leeds (West Yorkshire)
See map
98 Chapeltown Road, LS7 4BH

Start date

On request

About this course

Entry is through successful audition and interview. The Postgraduate Diploma is open to graduates of two/three year dance training programmes at higher education level or to dance artists with some professional experience.

Questions & Answers

Add your question

Our advisors and other users will be able to reply to you

Who would you like to address this question to?

Fill in your details to get a reply

We will only publish your name and question

Reviews

Course programme

The Postgraduate Diploma was established in response to the identified lack within the industry of young dancers with company experience. This one-year full-time programme provides an opportunity for graduates of vocational training courses, or dance artists with some experience, to refine their skills and undertake extensive professional development.

The course comprises three programme pathways:

  • the Postgraduate Company, Verve
  • the Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme
  • and the Advanced Training Scheme

Validated by: The University of Kent

Verve the Postgraduate Company

NSCD’s postgraduate company, provides students with professional-level experience through working as a member of a touring contemporary dance company. Verve normally comprises ten to twelve dancers and tours a programme of new work over a six-month period to a diverse range of professional venues throughout the UK and selected European cities.

The course is designed to foster a realistic appreciation of working in a middle-scale company environment, which encompasses participation in rehearsal and production processes, working with leading choreographers and fully meeting the challenges of a professional performance schedule. This experience also exposes company members to the processes involved in successfully collaborating with other dance artists, directors, composers, musicians and designers.

Working as part of the Company promotes the career development of each dance artist by providing opportunities for the advanced development of individual strengths, versatility and artistic distinctiveness. Verve’s extended performance tour presents the Company to UK and European dance audiences including invited artistic directors, producers and dance commentators. This introduction to professional level work may also be relevant for dance artists who aspire to create their own companies in the future.

Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme

The distinctiveness of this pathway lies in the opportunity for professional development through a work placement of between three and nine months with a professional dance company as a Graduate Apprentice.

The apprenticeship opportunity allows students to experience the processes involved in creating, rehearsing, producing and touring a professional performance programme, including any related education and community outreach work. The placement experience is supported by a programme of intensive technical training and movement development workshops delivered at NSCD.

On completion of this pathway students will have gained an in-depth understanding of the specific ethos and artistic direction of their host company.

Professional dance companies where students have undertaken placements include:

– ACE dance and music
– Arc Dance Company
– Akram Khan Dance Company
– Attik Dance
– Ballett Theater München
– Bonachela Dance Company
– CandoCo
– Henri Oguike Dance Company
– Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company
– Ludus
– Motionhouse Dance Theatre
– Phoenix Dance Theatre
– Protein Dance
– Retina Dance
– Ricochet
– Scottish Dance Theatre
– Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company
– The Cholmondeleys and The Featherstonehaughs
– Tilted Productions (Maresa von Stockert)
– Union Dance Company

A significant number of Apprenticeship Scheme graduates have gone on to work professionally with one or more of the companies listed above or have secured employment through contacts made during the placement. This introduction to professional level work may also be relevant for dance artists who aspire to create their own companies in the future.

Advanced Training Scheme

This pathway is designed to help students develop their dance technique to the level required for entry into professional contemporary dance performance. Students undertake an intensive training programme in contemporary, ballet and selected release based techniques, supported by an individually tailored physical development programme. The pathway also provides opportunities to further refine creative and performance skills through the creation of a dance piece and participation in collaborative projects and open choreographic platforms.

The Advanced Training Scheme equips students who have previously undertaken contemporary dance training to diploma/degree level with the skills needed to enhance their employability in the field of professional contemporary dance performance.

Individuals who have worked professionally or semi-professionally in a related art form (e.g. classical ballet, physical theatre) would also benefit from the intensive training and contemporary dance performance focus of the pathway.

Students undertake the following modules of study:

Dance Technique
Designed to develop and extend technical skills through intensive training in ballet technique and a range of contemporary dance techniques.

Performance Enhancement
This study complements the technical training through the development of a practical and theoretical understanding of the functional use of the body, focusing on its physiological structure and on key aspects of fitness, health and physical development. Areas of study include anatomy and physiology, Release-based dance techniques and additional practical classes in alternative approaches to physical training.

Live Performance
Performance skills are extended and refined through participation in a live performance project. This project is supported by studio based practical workshops where students are encouraged to focus on the development of their individual strengths and qualities as performers.

Additional information

Payment options:

The student contribution to postgraduate course fees for 2010/11 has yet to be confirmed but will not be less than the current year's fee (£4,175). International Students Non EU international students will be required to pay the full cost of their tuition. Fees for 2010/11 have yet to be confirmed but will not be less than the current year's fee (£12,470).

Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Dance

Price on request