Dance: Choreography BA(Hons)

Why study BA(Hons) Dance: Choreography at University College Falmouth?

Performance courses - additional information (994.71 KB)

Focusing on innovative choreographic practice that crosses the boundaries between artforms, this course will give you the creative edge necessary for the interdisciplinary nature of a career in choreography and performance today.

Falmouth's BA(Hons) Dance: Choreography degree is the only choreography course in the country that focuses on choreography making at BA level. Our aim is to enable you to graduate as choreographer/performer with the ability to both dance and choreograph to a high standard. We offer body work training alongside choreography training, as well as theory and contextual study. We teach more physical technique training classes than any other university and are close to conservatoire level, providing varied classical and contemporary technique training as well as somatic practices.

You'll also learn about the practical side of putting on performances and promoting them, including production management, marketing, fundraising, lighting, and audiovisual approaches. With our Schools of Art & Performance, Design and Media providing an incredible array of expertise on campus - from theatre to music, design to fashion, film to photography, Falmouth offers some amazing opportunities for cross-disciplinary work.

Tell me more about the BA(Hons) Dance: Choreography course

Looking closely at dance, site, music and theatre, you'll be encouraged to approach your study in an independent and professional way. Site-specific modules, physical training for dancing outdoors or in specific contexts and locations, and music and dance exchanges to make work with Falmouth's music and composition students are just some the examples of working practices at the College which will inspire you with the creative possibilities of your choreography.

Through a mix of practical and written work, you'll look at the specific needs of a variety of contexts - including theatre, site-specific, film, fashion, public showings, and regional venues - and explore composition with contemporary theatre, dance on screen, new media and many other performance relationships. Collaborating on performance projects, you'll enjoy plenty of cross-disciplinary time with theatre, fine art, design and performance writing students, as well as having the opportunity to travel abroad (for example, one of our groups is regularly producing public events in Berlin). You can also make the most of extra-curricular projects like this summer term's initiative where choreography students are creating and performing part of the BA(Hons) Fashion Design final year fashion show.

Our BA(Hons) Dance: Choreography and BA(Hons) Dance: Performance courses are closely linked, so you'll attend some the same classes together - looking at the same issues from your different choreography or performance perspectives. You'll have plenty of opportunity to create your works with these upcoming dancers, who'll be working in tandem with you to hone their dance, collaboration and performance skills. You may even form companies with them by the time you graduate, as many of our students have done in the past.

A thorough exploration of dance history of the last century, the history of technique, anatomy, and contemporary culture will help you consider standard choreographic practices and begin to develop your own movement language. In the second year, you'll develop your critical analysis skills by looking at issues of identity, race, gender, and ability, with the opportunity to become involved in a wide range of community projects - for example, Falmouth has close links with Candoco Dance Company, a contemporary company of disabled and non-disabled dancers.

Our outstanding tutors and host of visiting artists are successful practitioners with their fingers on the pulse of the latest developments in the arts. Regular visiting artists include Kirsty Simson ("one of the legends of British dance and one of the greatest exponents of contact improvisation" - Time Out) and Marie Gabrielle Roti, a Japanese Butoh expert who has presented works at the Royal Opera House, Laban and the Royal National Theatre. They both run week-long workshops with our students, focussing on specific areas of expertise. Together with our staff - many of whom are practitioners active with their own dance companies - they'll help you formulate ideas, develop physical skills and explore the languages of movement, while encouraging your individual and collaborative composition methods.

Recent visitors also include Jasmine Vardimon (associate artist of Sadler's WellsH2 Dance ("a determinedly defiant and forceful piece of 21st-century dance theatre" - The Guardian); Colin Poole (former associate artist at The Place); and Kwesi Johnson (artistic director of Kompany Malakhi and founder of The Akademy - the UK's first Hip Hop Academy in Bristol). since 2006);

Locally, we work with CScape Dance and nationally acclaimed theatre companies Kneehigh and Wildworks. Many of our workshops are run in conjunction with Falmouth's theatre students, so you'll also have the chance to work with innovative performance groups like Gob Squad and Goat Island.

Falmouth's BA(Hons) Dance: Choreography degree also places a strong emphasis on professional development and has a special Artists in a Professional Context module. You'll have one term during which you can either go on a placement or exchange with one of our partner universities or colleges in America and Europe (for example SNDO in Amsterdam or CalArts in California), or do a research project either in the UK or abroad. This enables you to experience what it's like working in the real world in your chosen field before you graduate, whilst benefiting from the support of weekly contact with your tutor throughout.

You'll complete your degree with a major performance project presented at a public festival and showcase, so that you graduate ready to carve your own successful career in choreography.

Winter Dance Gathering

December 2009 saw over one hundred dance artists from all stages of their career at University College Falmouth's first annual Winter Dance Gathering.

Dancing in the dark, partnering with the walls, choreographing over the internet, critiquing female dressing room neuroses, tap-dancing to live music, wrestling with giant flags and creating mass improvisation events were just a few of the ‘doings' that celebrated diverse and energetic engagements with dance performance.

Taking place at UCF's Dartington Campus in Devon the gathering featured work by students, staff and alumni over a weekend of performances, workshops, discussions and film screenings that were all free to the public.

Dancing Means Doing. Review of the Winter Dance Gathering (150.78 KB)

Facilities

From 2010, all performance courses will be based at our new £15 million Performance Centre at our Tremough campus, Penryn. This high-specification facility is purpose-built for students' specific needs with the very latest equipment and will encourage collaborations between the three Schools to create exciting new performance, installation and exhibition projects.

Specific facilities for dance students include a large theatre and dance studio with a fully sprung Harlequin floor, plus two more large dance studios also with fully sprung Harlequin floors. All studios will be equipped with contemporary production lighting and sound facilities.

Answers and advice about the course

If you have any queries about the course please visit our HelpMe Forum

HelpMe Forum

Career opportunities

• Freelance Choreographer
• Choreographer for dance company
• Choreographer for theatre, film, opera, television or music videos
• Lighting and design consultant for dance productions
• Community work
• Teaching
• Postgraduate study

Course entry requirements

A minimum of 220 UCAS points, a minimum of two subjects with at least one Grade B if applying from A level, or other appropriate level 3 qualifications/experience. Please see our How to Apply page for more information.

For further information about BA(Hons) Dance: Choreography at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@dartington.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01803 861620 (new course for 2010 entry).

Interview dates and selection process

Selection days will commence in December.

Selection days will involve improvisation and working in small groups.

Applicants will be expected to:

• Come prepared with a simple phrase of movement for development within the session (no sound or props etc needed).
• Bring a written critical response to two performances you have recently seen and two books on dance/choreography that you have recently read. This writing should be accompanied by a bibliography and should not be more than 1000 words.

Location: Dartington Campus and London, Bristol and Birmingham

Related courses

• Dance: Performance BA(Hons)