FdA Professional and Commercial Dance - Full-Time

Foundation degree

In Bolton

£ 9,250 VAT inc.

Description

  • Type

    Foundation degree

  • Location

    Bolton

  • Duration

    2 Years

  • Start date

    Different dates available

Designed to give you the edge to succeed in the busy performing arts market place, the Foundation Degree (FdA) Professional and Commercial Dance is a partnership between the University of Bolton and Shockout Arts, based in central Manchester.

You’ll be based at Shockout Arts, studying and training in their purpose-built, high-specification dance studios that are equal to professional industry standards. Alongside your intensive practical dance training, you’ll have regular performance opportunities to help you develop a diverse range of performance and production skills.

In addition to exploring the core techniques of ballet, jazz, street, hip hop and contemporary dance, you’ll be encouraged to build your skills in acting and singing ready to take advantage of employment opportunities in musical theatre performance. You’ll also be guided to develop a knowledge and understanding of the historical, cultural, societal and political factors that influence UK and international dance practice.

Teaching staff at Shockout Arts are professional practitioners and include BAFTA-nominated choreographers. They are keen to make the time you spend with them as stimulating and rewarding as possible, and enjoy a well-deserved reputation for being approachable and interested in your progress. As teaching often takes place in small groups you’ll have access to individual support and guidance at every stage.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Bolton (Greater Manchester)
See map
Deane Road, BL3 5AB

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

Careers in dance are many and varied. When most people think of dance they think about performance. There are many different performance opportunities but all require hard work and perseverance. The most common employers of performing arts graduates include arts organisations, education institutions, leisure companies and voluntary organisations. Short-term or freelance contracts, generating opportunities through networking, attending auditions, collaborating with other artists and putting on your own shows are all part of a performer's lifestyle.

This foundation degree offers an industry relevant specialised education designed to develop your skills, knowledge and expertise in a range of dance genres to a professional level. In addition, you can gain a range of key transferable skills such as confidence, self-presentation, teamwork, self-awareness, communication skills, and the ability to cope with criticism.

There are many different career options open to those interested in working in the dance profession, including teaching dance in the community, schools and colleges or in independent studios. Opportunities exist within commercial dance for TV and film, work on cruise ships and within the leisure industry, promotion and commercial events and popular music performance.

A career in performance may need to be complemented with employment in teaching or choreography. Self-employment may be another option, where you could establish your own dance-related business.

You could also choose to build on your foundation degree to get an honours degree, by applying for and studying a final year top-up BA (Hons) programme in a related subject area.

Alternative Career Options
Teaching and education
Arts administration
Broadcasting
Theatre stage support
Event management
Acting
Dance/drama therapy
Sports training
Marketing and PR
Advertising
Community arts
Musical theatre
Mental health and wellbeing

Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3, but subjects that include experience of dance are preferred.

You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent) including English.

This course is open to UK and EU students. Applications from International students cannot usually be accepted because the study location for this course does not have a Tier 4 licence. Therefore, if you require sponsorship under Tier 4 (i.e. a Tier 4 international student visa to study in the UK) then unfortunately we’ll be unable to consider your application for this course.

Key Features:
The practical elements of this course involve workshops and structured training in a range of dance types, supported and underpinned by theory elements delivered through lectures, presentations, seminars and tutorials.
You could develop transferable skills such as critical analysis, creative problem solving, working with other people, planning and time management, oral and written presentation, decision-making, and computer skills.
A link tutor provides academic communication between Shockout Arts and the University of Bolton’s academic school, so that the experience you receive as an off campus student is equivalent to that of an on campus student.
As an off campus student you'll also have access to the support of the university’s dedicated off campus team and resources, to help make you truly feel part of the institution.
You’ll also have access to the university’s e-learning resources, an extensive e-library and the support of university librarians.

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

Subjects

  • IT
  • Dance
  • Industry
  • Skills and Training
  • University
  • Jazz
  • Ballet
  • Dance Technique
  • Full Time
  • Musical Theatre
  • Teaching
  • Theatre
  • International
  • Musical

Course programme

Modules

Modules listed below are a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules as part of the course.

  • Core Techniques 1
  • Musical Theatre 1
  • Introduction to Professional Practice
  • Introduction to Commercial Dance
  • Creative Arts 1
  • Core Techniques 2
  • Musical Theatre 2
  • Choreographic Devices
  • Professional and Commercial Showcase
  • Creative Arts 2
Teaching, Learning And Assessment

We use a variety of teaching and learning strategies throughout the programme to develop appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills and help you achieve the intended learning outcomes. We take a blended learning approach that includes practical sessions, lectures and workshops as well as online support via the university’s virtual learning environment, Moodle. The practical sessions take place within the dance studio environment and are designed to teach each of the core technical forms as well as the specialist area of commercial dance and musical theatre.

In addition, you’ll be expected to spend time on guided independent study; for example, engaging in general background reading, preparing for seminar activities, working on assignments and in rehearsing and training. The development of employability and information literacy skills and personal development planning (PDP) is also explored.

You'll be expected to attend traditional lectures, seminars, practical sessions, workshops and tutorials. You may also have opportunities to work on live projects as part of your practical modules. Through these, you can gain unique insights and a thorough understanding of the performing arts industry operating in international markets and across many sectors.

Some of the key assessment forms for this programme are in-studio technical assessments, practical skills assessments, showcase performances, practical project reports, portfolios, oral presentations, written coursework and a major research project. You’ll receive feedback on your assessments so that you’ll know what you have done well and where you can improve.

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up to date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.

FdA Professional and Commercial Dance - Full-Time

£ 9,250 VAT inc.