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Students
Tuition Fee
GBP 17,000
Per year
Start Date
2025-09-01
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
1 years
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
Masters
Major
Dance | Dance Education | Performing Arts
Area of study
Arts
Education type
On campus
Timing
Full time
Course Language
English
Tuition Fee
Average International Tuition Fee
GBP 17,000
Intakes
Program start dateApplication deadline
2025-09-01-
About Program

Program Overview


Dance: Performance and Professional Practices (Emergence)

Overview

Join us to expand yourself as a performer, an artist, a collaborator, and a well-rounded dance professional in the thriving cultural scene in Salford and Manchester.


Introduction

This MA Dance Performance and Professional Practices (Emergence) programme is a professionally focused course, co-designed and co-delivered with our industry partner, Joss Arnott Dance (JAD). In this intensive course, you will focus on an eclectic mix of contemporary dance styles and contemporary dance performance at the highest level. The programme also addresses the wider needs of the dance professional including modules on producing, teaching and workshop design/delivery – allowing you to develop skills, knowledge and experience to expand their professional opportunities upon graduation.


Course Details

All about the course

If you’re an emerging or established dancer who wants to add another dimension to your performance technique, as well as gain an understanding of what it’s like to dance professionally, our MA dance course is for you.


Trimester one

  • Dance Repertory Development
    • In this first semester, you will establish the new student company and work intensively with international choreographers to create new pieces of repertory. Whilst practically focused, you will also be developing your skills as a reflective artist through engagement in reflective writing and critical analysis.

Trimester two

  • Portfolio Career Practices: Performance
    • In this module, you will embark on a journey of personal artistic and career development, positioning yourself as an emerging dance artist. You’ll explore the competencies essential for a successful dance professional through three key strands: Performance- Technical Development ,Pedagogy , andProducing.
    • The Performance strand, the learning shifts from an intensive creative mode into a deeper period of rehearsal and development. This module supports you to reflect on your specific development as a dancer and collaborator, building on strengths and addressing areas for development: physically, creatively and professionally. The module is delivered throughout the spring and will include the premiere performance of the new programme of work.
    • The Pedagogy strand you will deepen your practical and theoretical understanding of workshop development and teaching strategies for a range of client groups, preparing you to tackle current challenges in dance education and facilitation.
    • TheProducing strand will equip you with vital knowledge about the performance industry, covering funding, programming, and audience development, all taught by visiting industry professionals. This comprehensive approach ensures you are well-prepared for a dynamic career in dance.

Trimester three

  • Final Major Project
    • In the Final Industry Project module, you will immerse yourself in real-world dance experiences by participating in a small-scale collective, engaging in external projects at venues across the North West, including a dedicated MA Dance showcase in New Adelphi. Throughout the course, you will collaborate with industry partners, engage in technical rehearsals, and deliver workshops, all while honing your skills in choreography, production, and audience development. You assume various company roles to create impactful dance events that align with community outreach programs. The module emphasises the practical application of learning, industry networking, and critical reflection, culminating in a comprehensive Final Project Portfolio that cases your research and creative outputs and demonstrates your growth and professional readiness in the dance industry.

What will I be doing?

Teaching

  • As part of this postgraduate dance performance course, you will usually have scheduled classes running over four days per week. There are times of the year where you will be expected to be in the studio at weekends and evenings when devising new works and when on tour. Your classes will be based at our Peel Park campus and will be in dance studios in New Adelphi and Maxwell.
  • The course includes masterclasses from a range of key Industry professionals. We have established relationships with fantastic independent artists and regularly work with companies including: Company Chameleon, New Adventures, ACE Dance and Music, Phoenix Dance, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre amongst many others.

Assessment

  • Through a combination of formal and informal assessments, you’ll gain a better understanding of your personal and professional development.
  • You’ll be assessed on the devising and rehearsal processes, performance, portfolios of creative, reflective and analytical work and creative and practical workshop delivery and presentations.

Employment and Stats

What about after uni?

  • This Master’s degree in Dance Performance has links with a number of strategic bodies for Dance including Arts Council England, One Dance UK, Without Walls and, regionally, The Lowry, The Centre for Advance Training, Factory International and Company Chameleon.
  • Each academic year, we run a range of Masterclasses to develop your knowledge of the wider dance ecology and to assist you in developing your personal career trajectory. Recently, this has included work with artists such as New Adventures, Miguel Altunaga, Gary Clarke, James Wilton Dance, Natasha Gooden, Faye Stoeser and Gemma Nixon, among many others.
  • Our industry collaborators include respected north-west based companies such as Coalesce Dance Theatre, Hawk Dance Theatre, Night People Events, Move Manchester, Company Carpi along with independent dance artists. Through this scheme, our students benefit from workshops, apprenticeships, performance opportunities, and mentoring. Each academic year, we offer a variety of Masterclasses designed to expand your understanding of the broader dance ecology and assist you in advancing your career trajectory.

A taste of what you could become

  • A professional dancer
  • A freelance dance artist
  • A performer within a dance company
  • A creative educator
  • An arts marketer or administrator
  • And more...

Career Links

  • Completing an MA in Dance and Professional Practices will open numerous doors for a successful career in the dance industry. This program equips you to cultivate a diverse and vibrant professional path, whether as a dance maker, producer, educator, dance administrator, photographer, project manager, or freelance artist.
  • Studying on this course will provide you with a broad range of transferable skills applicable across various roles and industries. You will learn how to generate, develop, and present your ideas to a professional standard, along with honing strong research and evaluation skills—all of which are highly valued by employers.
  • Our annual dance artist-in-residence scheme includes renowned companies like Company Chameleon, Hawk Dance Theatre, and Kapow Dance Theatre, alongside independent dance artists. Through this scheme, our students benefit from workshops, apprenticeships, performance opportunities, and mentoring. Each academic year, we offer a variety of Masterclasses designed to expand your understanding of the broader dance ecology and assist you in advancing your career trajectory.
  • Our faculty and extended dance team comprise active and influential members of the UK's professional dance community. We are dedicated to maintaining a strong alumni network, advocating for our Dance@Salford graduates by connecting them to professional opportunities and fostering collaborations.

Requirements

What you need to know

  • Are you an enthusiastic and committed dancer? Would you like to improve your technical ability and enhance your career prospects? Do you envision yourself dancing as part of a company?
  • If so, we’d love to hear from you. Our MA in Dance Performance is designed for dancers at all stages in their career. We’re looking applicants who have either been working professionally or have studied on a related undergraduate course.
  • You should be dedicated to pursuing a career as a professional dancer, performing in a company model. You’ll need to be prepared to undertake intensive rehearsal and touring, as well as rigorous independent research.

Standard entry requirements

  • To join this MA you should have a second class honours degree, 2:2 or above.

International students

  • International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0, with no element below 5.5, is proof of this.
  • We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
  • We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.

Alternative entry requirements

  • Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
    • We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
    • The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
    • Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

Fees

Type of study | Year | Fees

  • Full-time home | 2025/26 | £10,590 per year
  • Full-time international | 2025/26 | £17,000 per year

Additional costs

  • You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.

Scholarships for International Students

  • If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.
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