BA (Hons) Professional and Commercial Dance with foundation year

Program Overview

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Course Details

The 4-year BA (Hons) with foundation year course, delivered by Shockout Arts, offers you the opportunity to acquire and develop essential technical, artistic and theoretical competence through professional training in preparation for study to an advanced/level 6 standard. By choosing this pathway, you’ll have the additional benefit of a foundation year. During the foundation year, we’ll work with you to address any gaps we identify in your technical, artistic or theoretical knowledge. However, after you start the foundation year, we may counsel you to transfer over to the 2-year FdA, and complete at level 5 if we feel this is in your best interests.

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, 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 the ability to research, and understand, the historical, cultural, societal and political factors that influence UK and international dance practice.

Teaching staff at Shockout Arts are professional practitioners and 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.

For full details about Shockout Arts, their open days and accommodation, please visit www.weareshockout.com/courses/

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Highlights

Shockout Arts is a dynamic and innovative dance school – the first in the country to offer higher-level qualifications in professional and commercial dance.

This course provides you with the chance to interact, learn and work alongside professional artists from the dance industry. These can include professional dancers, directors, producers and choreographers.

We offer you the chance to strengthen your CV and benefit from valuable networking opportunities.

Shockout students have worked with some of the biggest artists in the music and performing arts industry. Credits include Janet Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, Little Mix, Stormzy, Mabel, X Factor and many more.

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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.

You’ll also have access to the University’s e-learning resources, an extensive e-library and the support of University librarians.

We offer you opportunities to learn and work with industry professionals from the UK and around the world.

Program Outline

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

Being able to provide our students with the best possible progression route is highly important to us. As a result of their hard work, our past and present students have performed with some of the biggest names in the dance and performing arts industry.

Credits include: Janet Jackson, Dua Lipa, Zara Larsson, Alexander Burke, Tinie Tempah, Rita Ora, Kendrick Lamar, Ludacris, Mabel, Hrvy, Steff London, Jax Jones, Mariah Carey, Cheryl Cole, Pixie Lott, French Montanna, Demi Lovato, Kylie Minogue, Paloma Faith, Zayn Malik, Will.I.Am, Jess Glyne, Black Eyed Peas, Lady Leshur, Flo Rida, Bebe Rexha, Fifth Harmony, Little Mix, Spice Girls Tour, Rai Elle, Stormzy, MTV VMA’s and EMA’s, BRIT Awards, The MOBO’s, X Factor, The Voice, Jingle Bell Ball, V Festival, Wireless, Parklife, Lovebox.

What can I do with this qualification?

Graduates can take advantage of opportunities in a wide range of careers relating to performance, creative producing, education, community, and curatorial and arts administration. Opportunities exist in commercial dance for TV, cruise ships and in promotion and commercial events and popular music performances.

A career in performance is often complemented with employment in teaching or choreography. Self-employment may be another option, where you could establish your own dance-related business. Alternatively, you may choose to further your studies at postgraduate level, or train to become a dance teacher in the education sector.

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Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Some of these careers include:

Teaching and education

Arts administration

Broadcasting

Theatre stage management

Event management

Acting

Dance therapy

Sports training

Marketing and PR

Advertising

Community arts

Musical theatre

Journalism and writing

Mental health and wellbeing

Dance critic