Dance

Course summary

This course is an exciting choice if you are interested in studying Dance in depth through the creation and performance of choreography, and the analysis of dance repertoire. You do not have to be pursuing a dance career to take this course, and the skill set gained from analysing dance repertoire, developing essay skills and taking the role of both a choreographer and performer in a practical setting provide a range of favourable skills for both employment and university. It should be stressed that this is an academic subject, with 50% of your time and assessment on practical, and 50% on written theory. The subject is not purely a practical one. You do not need to have studied GCSE or BTEC Dance before, but having prior practical experience is essential. Practical is predominantly in the contemporary style, and students are required to already have a competent technique in dance on admission. You should also make sure to attend the Wyke Start practical audition workshops to be accepted on the course. Teaching staff in the dance department include Toni Knight (Head of Performance Faculty) and Laura Bulless (Head of Dance, Drama, Performing Arts, Music & Digital Music Production), alongside extra-curricular teachers Julie Lovewell (Head of Dance at NAPA) and David Danville (founder of Skyline Studios). The department uses a rehearsal and performance space that has a fully sprung dance floor, mirrors, sound and lighting facilities. It has access to the college Library and classroom facilities as well as the state-of-the-art College ICT facilities. You will have four lessons a week which are split into 2 practicals, and 2 theories. Practical lessons are a mixture of technique and choreographic tasks. Theory lessons are split into the history of Rambert and an in-depth analysis of ‘Rooster’ (Bruce, 1991). Extracurricular rehearsal time will be required in addition to timetabled lessons to produce and practice practical exam work.