Program Overview

---

Dance & Choreography BA(Hons)

Course Overview

With a focus on creativity and collaboration, you’ll emerge from this course as a technically skilled dancer and an experimental choreographer.

On this Dance & Choreography degree you’ll be given the freedom to develop your own ideas and style, creating your own performances from day one while training in our exceptional, state-of-the-art dance studios under guidance from experienced industry professionals.

You’ll be immersed in an inspirational, creative community, benefiting from Falmouth’s interdisciplinary culture. You’ll be surrounded by other artists in a department buzzing with performers, musicians, filmmakers, theatre designers and more. You're encouraged to be proactive and collaborate with students from a range of disciplines; expanding your skillset, knowledge and sense of creative identity while establishing your own innovative approach to dance and movement, ready for a career in performance, communities or allied professions.

This is a course ideally suited to those who want to build their physical skills and technique as a dancer, alongside developing a distinctive choreographic voice as a curious, independent dance artist.

You Will:

• Study on one of the only degrees of its kind, placing equal weight on nurturing your individual choreographic voice and developing technical dance skills from day one
• You’ll be challenged to imagine new futures for dance by developing projects in collaboration with musicians, illustrators, fashion designers, photographers, filmmakers or game developers as well responding to contemporary issues such as social justice, health, climate change or activism
• Build industry links through workshops, guest lectures and visits from internationally renowned practitioners – previous guests have included Company Chameleon, Theo Clinkard, Ayesha Fazal and Honorary Fellow Julie Felix MBE
• Benefit from our year-round performance programme, which attracts top dance, theatre and music performers such as Protein Dance, Thick and Tight, Lea Anderson and Aakash Odedra
• Learn to utilise our extensive range of technical sound, lighting and recording equipment, to enabling you to realise your own production ideas and visions

Course Details

BA(Hons) Dance & Choreography Course Video

Dance & Choreography | Open Improvisation with Body & ...

Collaboration is at the heart of our Dance & Choreography BA degree, and the regular 'Body &' events offer students the chance to connect and experiment with students across our creative university.

On this Dance & Choreography degree, you'll have the opportunity to gain a BA(Hons) degree over three years or study Dance & Choreography BA(Hons) with a professional placement.

Our course structure, teaching and professional-standard facilities provide you with time and space to develop physical, technical and critical capabilities. On this dance degree, you'll receive a thorough grounding in dance techniques and develop your own innovative performance and choreographic practice.

There will be collaboration and cross-disciplinary working opportunities and chances to connect with wider communities from the dance industry. This dance and choreography degree will enable you to explore your own interests in dance and prepare you to make creative contributions to a range of professional arts contexts within which dance plays a vital role.

We think about dance and choreography 'outside the box’, with opportunities to explore site-specific and digital creation as well as studio-based work. Our students frequently work on projects with other students in our Fashion & Textiles Institute, School of Film & Television and on student-led activities including drawing/painting collaborations. Many students also take part in or lead societies across musical theatre, dance and sport.

"With state of the art facilities and creative art subjects close by for collaboration, this course is at the forefront of developing the next generation of dance artists."

• Kevin Edward Turner, Co-Artistic Director of Company Chameleon

Year One

Your first year provides a solid grounding in the skills and techniques used in dance performance and choreography.

Modules provide you with a focused, physically-centred experience. In addition to regular body-work classes during which there is a focus on grounding a safe and sustainable dance practice, you are encouraged to explore and challenge your ideas of performance and choreography through studio practice (individual and group work), lectures and seminars. Your bodywork classes include contemporary dance and a range of supporting styles and approaches, such as Pilates, yoga, flow, ballet and, improvisation.

Year one also provides the opportunity to engage with site-based dance in a variety of settings and locations, and to develop strategies for making connections between practice and theory in preparation for year two.

Modules

• Contemporary Techniques & Improvisation 1
  • You’ll define physical and technical skills in movement, and in the making and execution of dance performance or studio practice through the basic principles of dance techniques and improvisation - independently and with others.
• Performance & Choreographic Practices
  • You’ll engage with movement as practice-based research in order to develop knowledge in a range of choreographic methodologies, structures and approaches to performance.
• Embodied Learning: Theories & Practices
  • You’ll demonstrate an understanding of the underlying concepts of ‘embodiment’ which emerge from, and inform, technical training and theoretical perspectives in dance, performance and choreography.
• Contemporary Techniques & Improvisation 2
  • Building on the first module, you’ll develop physical and technical skills in movement and in the making and execution of dance performance or studio practice through the principles of dance technique and improvisation - independently and with others.
• Dance Cultures, Histories & Practices
  • You'll demonstrate - through writing and research - an understanding of current debates in dance performance and choreography, and its cultural contexts.
• Site-Based Practices
  • You’ll initiate, plan and implement small-scale collaborative site-based performances informed by an understanding of issues relating to embodiment, place/space, context, audience and site.

Year Two

Your second year involves directed, supervised and self-generated dance and performance projects.

Building on the intensive physical training in your first year, you will continue to develop your technical and skills training through applied techniques, while developing your knowledge and experiences in choreography and performance and its cross-disciplinary contexts.

You will also attend to your potential as a change-maker and contributor to the wider field of dance and engaged practices through considerations of your sustainable dance future. You will also develop your writing skills through critical evaluation of social, historical and/or political dance contexts.

Modules

• Applied Techniques 1
  • You’ll demonstrate physical and technical skills in movement and in the making and execution of dance performance and studio practice, through the developing principles of dance technique and improvisation.
• Performance & Choreographic Skills
  • You'll demonstrate an awareness of and engagement with core performing and choreographic skills and be able to critically and contextually analyse your performance /choreographic practice. You will have the chance to perform and choreograph in this module.
• Dance Futures
  • You’ll be introduced to a range of approaches and strategies for operating sustainably and professionally in the field of choreography and performance and to examine the wider cultural, social and political contexts for this practice.
• Applied Techniques 2
  • Building on the first module, you’ll demonstrate physical skills in applying underpinning dance technique to different dance styles and approaches.
• Researching Dance: Theories & Contexts
  • You’ll demonstrate and apply an understanding of research methodologies, modes of writing, reading and critical analysis, drawing on choreographic practices in relation to cultural contexts and contemporary issues in dance performance.
• Cross-Disciplinary Practices
  • You’ll demonstrate and apply an understanding of research methodologies, modes of writing, reading and critical analysis, drawing on choreographic practices in relation to cultural contexts and contemporary issues in dance performance.

Professional Placement (Optional)

You can choose to take a professional placement after your second year on a three-year programme.

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the employability team.

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying.

How You’ll Study During Your Professional Placement

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks.

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation.

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth.

Year Three

Taking charge of your learning in your final year, you'll undertake two major research projects (including practical and written work) both of which focus on your chosen areas of interest.

Throughout the year, you'll advance your physical training and creative, choreographic skills. This culminates in a professional practice project, in which you'll collaborate to produce, market, choreograph and perform an original work for public performance – mirroring professional practice.

Modules

• Advanced Technique 1
  • You’ll identify your technical development needs and support a student-led approach to addressing these areas within your practice as you combine highly complex movement phrases and execute them with technical accuracy and prepare for audition workshop/class.
• Independent Research Project
  • You’ll get the opportunity to grow your confidence and ability to undertake an innovative, independent research project in a chosen topic, and produce practical and written research outputs consistent with contemporary academic discourse, critically engaging with dance and choreographic practice. Your research and presentation skills will develop in line with current demands of working as an independent dance professional.
• Advanced Techniques 2
  • Building on the first module, you will fine-tune your contemporary technique and develop a value-driven approach to technical training in your personal practice so that you have the skills and confidence to participate in and contribute to sustainable professional level dance activities.
• Professional Practice Project
  • You’ll demonstrate a self-sustaining practice through the production of a professionally informed piece of performance work, bringing together your three years of study in dance and choreographic practice.

Facilities

• Two 200-capacity flexible performance spaces.
• 11 high-specification performance and rehearsal studios, featuring production lighting, projection and sound facilities.
• 700m2 of fully sprung dance floors.
• Analogue and digital recording complex.
• Breakout areas.
• Professional theatre venue hosting visiting companies and artistes.

Performance Facilities

The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA) is a purpose-built live venue housing an assembly of flexible performance spaces.

Library Facilities

Offering extensive collections, our two libraries provide a wealth of digital resources, magazines, and more.

Sports Centre

Our Sports Centre, on Penryn Campus, includes a spacious gym with up to 90 of the latest, new stationery equipment.

How You’ll Learn & Be Assessed

How You’ll Learn

As part of this innovative choreography and dance degree, you'll participate in dance classes, workshops, seminars, lectures and self-generated projects. Based in a supportive environment, you'll be encouraged to push your practice through taking creative risks and pushing the discipline through collaboration.

You'll work both individually and collaboratively and have the chance to grow alongside professional artists and our industry partners.

We also host off-curriculum activities such as recent project Body &... where students can play with improvisation environments including live music, projection and textiles.

How You’ll Be Assessed

Assessments for this course are 100% coursework and performance-based, with no exams.

Students are assessed either through class observations, individual submissions, solo or ensemble performances, or written submissions/essays.

When work is being viewed within an ensemble performance, tutors assess your personal demonstration of the skills outlined in the learning outcomes, and you are given an individual mark.

Staff

You’ll be taught and supported by a team of professional dance practitioners and academics who are engaged in a range of performance, participation and research activity and who have active professional working profiles in the dance sector.

Staff skills include contemporary dance techniques, choreography, performance, physical theatre, movement direction for theatre, dance and health, participatory/community dance, and new technologies for performance amongst many others.

Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.

Dr Sue Smith

Course Leader, Dance & Choreography BA(Hons)

I became Course Leader in summer 2021 having worked with colleagues in Theatre Arts as an Associate Lecturer and then as a Senior Lecturer in Dance and Choreography.

Kuldip Singh-Barmi

Senior Lecturer, BA(Hons) Dance & Choreography

Kuldip's fascination with the body and its capability for expression and physical exploration through movement has led him to work in a variety of contexts including education, community and professional performance.

Dr Katrina Brown

Senior Lecturer Dance & Choreography

Dr. Katrina Brown is a choreographer with an interdisciplinary hybrid practice across movement, visual art and writing.

Dr Ruth Pethybridge

Senior Lecturer, Dance

Dr Ruth Pethybridge is a choreographer, facilitator and researcher. She has delivered dance in a range of contexts including education, community and professional performance.

Simon Birch

Senior Lecturer, BA(Hons) Dance & Choreography

In addition to my post at Falmouth University, I am a freelance choreographer, rehearsal director, movement director and performer.

Gemma Wright

Lecturer in Voice

Gemma joined Falmouth University in 2017. Previous to working at Falmouth, Gemma taught voice and acting at various institutions including the University of Exeter and the University of Plymouth.

Dr Sarah Levinsky

Lecturer in Theatre and Performance

I am a theatre, dance, and digital performance maker, as well as researcher, consultant arts strategist and writer.

Careers

Our dance & choreography graduates have worked as:

• Freelance dancers, choreographers or community facilitators
• Dance production or management consultants
• Working with established dance companies, theatre, film, opera, TV or music videos
• Community arts and health practitioners
• Dance teachers or workshop facilitators

Our alumni have gone on to secure residencies, commissions and internships with Dance4, Dance Base, South East Dance, Yorkshire Dance, BadCo Zagreb, Dundee Rep,Theatre Bristol and London's Jerwood Space.

They have toured across the UK and Europe, made work at BIDE in Barcelona, the Edinburgh Fringe and Battersea Arts Centre, performed with Rosemary Lee and C-Scape Dance Company and received commissions from Random Acts Channel 4 and funding from Arts Council England.

Our graduates are transforming the sector as successful freelance dancers or choreographers, and as company founders and facilitators.

What can you do with a dance degree?

You could become a professional dancer, a freelance performer, work as a teacher or as a community arts practitioner.

How to Apply

Ready to Apply for 2025?

You can apply for our undergraduate degrees via UCAS. You'll need our university UCAS code (F33) as well as your course code (which you'll find on your course page) for your application.

Apply via UCAS

Course route | UCAS code ---|--- Course routeDance & Choreography BA(Hons) three year degree | UCAS codeW511 Course routeDance & Choreography BA(Hons) with professional placement | UCAS codePY03

Application Advice & Interview Information

Go to Toolkit

Deadlines

For starting your studies in 2025

UK applications: 29 January 2025 (for equal consideration)

Applications after the 29 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.

International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.

Entry Requirements

We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.

Course routes & entry requirements BA/BSc(Hons) three year degree: 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points BA/BSc(Hons) four year degree with professional placement: 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points

Check the title of your course to see if it's a BA or BSc award. UCAS Tariff points will primarily be from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, T Levels, a BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma.

Check how many points your qualifications are worth

Language Requirements

For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.

If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you may need to take a recognised language test. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.

What We’re Looking For

We want someone who:

• Shows physical aptitude, potential and motivation, can assimilate movement and respond to information.
• Has devising skills, can develop movement material and communicate ideas.
• Can collaborate, effectively communicate and work with others.
• Can think independently and effectively on a supplied topic.

Fees, Costs & Funding

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for students starting the course in September 2025

Annual tuition fee | Student ---|--- Annual tuition fee£9,535 per year | StudentFull-time UK Annual tuition fee£17,950 per year | StudentFull-time EU/international Annual tuition fee£1,905 per professional placement year | StudentFull-time UK and EU/international

Tuition fees for students starting the course in September 2024

Annual tuition fee | Student ---|--- Annual tuition fee£9,250 per year | StudentFull-time UK Annual tuition fee£17,950 per year | StudentFull-time EU/international Annual tuition fee£1,850 per professional placement year | StudentFull-time UK and EU/international

Tuition fees for September 2026 will be confirmed in summer 2025.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

Typical Course Costs

• Public Programme season tickets (student rate) costs found: amata.org.uk/livepass
• Suitable, comfortable clothing appropriate for practical classes - approx. £70-£100 per year
• A personal laptop or desktop computer for written submissions – approx. £300-£800

If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.

Funding

For information about funding available, please visit our student funding pages.

Ask a Student

What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students?

From course details and academic support, to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Similar Courses

• Sound Design BA(Hons)
• Music Business BA(Hons)
• CertHE Music Courses
• Musical Theatre BA(Hons)
• Theatre & Performance BA(Hons)
• Technical Theatre Arts BA(Hons)
• Acting BA(Hons)
• Music BA(Hons)
• Popular Music BA(Hons)
• Creative Music Technology BA(Hons)