Dance MA / PGDip / PGCert

Program Overview

This MA program in Dance Performance and Choreography fosters artistic development through self-discovery. Students explore creative practices, research methodologies, and theoretical frameworks to enhance their dance skills and research interests. The program culminates in a practical research project or written dissertation, preparing graduates for careers in dance performance, choreography, education, and other creative fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This MA program is designed for students who wish to develop their creative practice as dance performers, choreographers, filmmakers, or educators. The program aims to challenge students and help them step into new territory, developing their creative dance skills, theoretical understanding, and research interests. The core of this program is the belief in artistic development through self-discovery, equipping students to create highly engaging and creative work.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Research Methods (Compulsory):
• This module covers a range of research methodologies, including fieldwork methods, ethnography, practice-based research, retrieval skills, referencing, and academic writing.
• Aims to equip students with the ability to understand and utilize appropriate research methodologies, ensuring they can reference contemporary academic theory and practice effectively.
• Major Practical Project (Optional):
• This module allows students to deepen their artistic expression through a substantial project.
• Students can work individually or collaboratively with peers, undergraduate students, or external contacts and agencies.
• Aims to facilitate the development of a large-scale research-led project, encourage the student to interrogate their own creative practice, and foster documentation of methods and processes.
• Research Dissertation (Optional):
• This module provides the opportunity for students to produce an academically informed piece of research.
• Students are required to identify and justify a viable area for research, frame a research question, demonstrate extensive knowledge of previous research in the field, and make informed decisions about the appropriate methodology.
• Aims to demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of a particular aspect of the discipline, facilitate the application of various research methods to test a hypothesis or offer original interpretation, and allow the student to demonstrate complex and systematic critical analysis skills.
• Creative Platforms (Compulsory):
• This module encourages students to explore and investigate compositional and creative practices, developing their own personal research agendas.
• Seminars and workshops (live or online) connect students with current debates and practices in relation to dance performance, choreography, perception, and reception.
• Aims to enable the implementation of a practical research strategy, encourage the production of work engaging with solo and/or collaborative dance authorship, interrogate creative practice and new working methodologies, and facilitate the investigation of methods of documenting, recording, and evaluating dance-making processes.
• Creative Platforms 2 (Compulsory):
• This module expands upon the skills and knowledge developed in Creative Platforms 1, deepening the inquiry into personal research agendas and the production of new work.
• Seminars and workshops (live or online) explore more experimental and creative dance approaches.
• Aims to further develop the students' planning, managing, and executing skills for creative platform events, enable the use of theory as a creative tool in performance making, develop research methods applicable from intention to reception and evaluation of the inquiry, and provide guidance in further developing strategies of documentation.
• The Dance Practitioner (Compulsory):
• This module encourages students to interrogate dance practice within various contexts and cultural positions, mapping out emerging territories of current discourse, theoretical frameworks, and practice-based research.
• Aims to identify and map out the territory of current dance practitioners, practices, and theoretical frameworks, examine the relationships between intentions, contexts, and receptions, and facilitate the emergence of a personal methodology of practice supported by scholarly research.

Assessment:

• Assessments include critically informed practical presentations, performances or practical pieces, oral examinations, written work, documentation of performances and practical work, portfolios of written and visual evidence, and other traces of performance.

Teaching:

• Teaching takes place in the Creative Campus, Kingsway, which offers a variety of facilities including a 200-seat lecture theater, dance and performance studios, a learning resource center, IT labs, and catering outlets.
• Modes of learning include lectures, practical studio-based workshops, presentations, seminars, performances, and one-to-one tutorials.
• In the final phase of the MA, students will undertake either a practical research project leading to the production of a substantial piece of work (such as a creative or performance project, workshop(s), lecture(s), or event) or a written research dissertation.

Careers:

• Job prospects include dance performer, choreographer, rehearsal director, artistic director, screen dance artist, dance development artist, school teacher, community arts practitioner, dance therapist, dance company manager, education officer, creative learning practitioner, private dance studio teacher, further education lecturer, dance producer, creative producer, and arts facilitator.
• These roles are found in various settings, including local authorities, theatres, arts centers, community centers, national dance agencies, secondary schools, colleges, professional dance companies, sports and recreation, social services, health services, and other areas of the creative industries.

Other:

• The University of Chester offers an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences through the curriculum, employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice, and guidance.
• The Careers and Employability service aims to deliver a service that is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed, and tailored to personal goals and aspirations, enabling students to develop as individuals and contribute to the business and community in which they will live and work.
• The Careers and Employability service provides access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops, and practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications, and mock interviews.
• They also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and offer a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

Home Students

• £9,360 per year (2024/25)

International/EU Students

• £14,750 per year (2024/25)

Additional Costs

• Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees.
This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.
• If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Bursaries and Funding

• The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.
• Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees & Finance section of our website.