Dance & Choreography BA(Hons)
Launch your career as both a dancer and an artist with this skills-focused dance degree.
Course overview
You’ll benefit from the collaborative environment at AMATA, where you’ll have the opportunity to work with students from multiple disciplines and gain access to world-class dance studios, as well as practice and performance spaces. Throughout this course, you’ll explore the twin strands of dance and choreography, developing your own innovative practice.
You will:
- Develop your physical and technical skills, as well as performance and choreographic capabilities, while engaging with dance histories, theories and contexts
- Build industry links through workshops, guest lectures and visits from celebrated international practitioners such as Company Chameleon, Ballet Lorent and Siobhan Davies
- Benefit from AMATA’s year-round performance programme, which attracts top artists and performers from all over the world, such as Aakash Odedra Company and Jamaal Burkmar
- Learn to utilise our extensive range of technical sound, lighting and recording equipment, to enable and realise your production ideas and visions
Course details
Our course structure, teaching and world-class facilities will 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 opportunities for collaboration and cross-disciplinary practice, and to engage with the wider communities of the contemporary dance industry. This dance & choreography degree will enable you to make creative contributions to a range of professional arts contexts within which dance plays a vital role.
You'll explore and challenge your ideas of performance and choreography, make and perform work in different settings and locations, and develop strategies for making connections between practice and theory.
Modules
Contemporary Techniques & Improvisation
Performance & Choreographic Practices
Embodied Learning: Theories & Practices
Contemporary Techniques & Improvisation 2
Dance Cultures, Histories & Practices
Site-Based Practices
You'll continue to develop your technical and creative skills, while developing your specialist interest in choreography or performance. You'll further develop your research skills, gain a greater understanding of the contexts for your practice and start to consider your own future in dance.
Modules
Performance & Choreographic Skills
Dance Futures
Applied Techniques
Researching Dance: Theories & Contexts
Optional modules
Devising Performance
Choreography in Context
Cross-Disciplinary Performance
Choreographing the Screen
Taking charge of your learning, you'll undertake two research projects (one practical and one written), both of which focus on your chosen areas of interest. Throughout the year, you'll advance your physical training and creative and 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.
Modules
Written Research Project
Practical Research Project
Advanced Bodywork 1
Advanced Bodywork 2
Professional Practice Project
The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details.
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 though taking creative risks.
You'll work both individually and collaboratively and have the chance to grow alongside professional artists and our industry partners.
At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning & teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here.
How you'll spend your time
|
Year |
Timetabled teaching and learning activity |
Guided independent study |
Placements |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
40% |
60% |
0% |
|
2 |
37% |
63% |
0% |
|
3 |
29% |
60% |
11% |
How you'll be assessed
|
Year |
Written exams |
Practical exams |
Coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
0% |
67% |
33% |
|
2 |
0% |
76% |
24% |
|
3 |
0% |
86% |
14% |
The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.
Assessment methods
Assessment is both practical and written, ranging from presentations of practical work, essays and case studies, to performances and video projects.
Assessed practical work is shown in either a studio context to staff and peers or to public audiences on and off campus.
What our students do
Read about the students and graduates from our Academy of Music & Theatre Arts community.
Lecturer to Chair new Cornwall Music Education Hub
09 June 2022
A consortium led by Community Interest Company (CIC) ASONE Perform has been granted funding of more ...
Student secures internship with legendary recording studio
07 June 2022
Second year Creative Music Technology BA(Hons) student Kalev Villem has secured an internship at leg...
“Nothing’s ever wasted.” Rising star Mog Jones discusses lessons learnt on creativity
30 May 2022
For someone who describes herself as “quite reserved and nervous”, Mog Jones is making some bold...
Interior Design students create concept designs for AMATA
18 May 2022
Two second-year Interior Design BA(Hons) students have teamed up to create concept designs for an ex...
From Falmouth to the West End
12 April 2022
Popular Music graduate Kelly has landed her dream role as a bassist for Six the Musical. In Augus...
Olivier Award win for Associate Lecturer Simon Harvey
11 April 2022
Pride & Prejudice* (*Sort Of), co-directed by Associate Lecturer Simon Harvey, has won Best ente...
Fresh From Falmouth: March Edition
30 March 2022
After a brief hiatus, Fresh From Falmouth returns with even more exciting stories from our wonderful...
Photo of Sink the Show event at Printworks
From frontman to backstage guru: Meet Technical Theatre Arts graduate Ned Siuipy
17 February 2022
From starring in a pop band in Lithuania to a backstage lighting role at London’s biggest ...
AMATA’s Live from Studio K sessions are back
15 February 2022
Live from Studio K kicks off its spring line-up with three-piece band Rayne, comprised of Popular Mu...
The Soundery: Graduates making big sounds for big brands
02 February 2022
Graduates Luke Brown and Liam Iliffe set up their audio composition agency The Soundery in 2017. Tod...
Graduate DJ speaks to BBC Radio 6 Music about the Bristol club scene
27 January 2022
Music alumni Daisy Moon is now a staple of the Bristol DJ scene. On 15 January, she spoke to Gilles ...
Enhancement Week gives AMATA students access to industry expertise
27 January 2022
Accent classes with a renowned coach, accredited unarmed combat sessions and intensive dance worksho...
Popular Music graduate takes The Guardian Playlist top spot
02 December 2021
BA Popular Music graduate Annie Hockey-Smith, who makes fascinating techno-infused tunes under the m...
Falmouth graduate joins Stink Films as music video executive producer
23 September 2021
BA(Hons) Popular Music graduate Dom Mckiernan has joined the independent production network Stink Fi...
AMATA hosts Cornish companies for The Edinburgh Fringe
28 July 2021
Falmouth's Academy of Music & Theatre Arts (AMATA) is delighted to announce the line-up for The ...
Students swap Italy for Falmouth to follow music career dreams
28 May 2021
Second-year Creative Music Technology students Giulia, Giosuè and Andrea – aka electro-pop group ...
AMATA to live stream performances at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
17 May 2021
In partnership with Pleasance Theatre Trust, Falmouth University’s live performance venue AMA...
Lecturer establishes historic Royal Musical Association study group
16 February 2021
Dr D Ferrett, Senior Lecturer in Popular Music, has become one of four academics to form the Popular...
Dance & Choreography graduate produces 2020 Rhythms
12 January 2021
Commissioned by East London Dance through their The Fi.ELD (Future Innovators. East London Dance) pr...
New album released by music lecturer Norah Lorway
18 December 2020
Award-winning Creative Music Technology lecturer Dr Norah Lorway has released her latest album Futur...
Staff
The dance staff are all professional practicing artists from the fields of performance, choreography, dance pedagogy, dance on screen and dance research.
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 dance, acting and theatre as ...
Simon Birch
Senior Lecturer, BA(Hons) Dance & Choreography
In addition to my post at Falmouth University, I am a freelance choreographer, rehearsal director, m...
Angus McLean Balbernie
Associate Lecturer, Choreography
Angus McLean Balbernie has created around 85 pieces, worked and taught around the earth, including m...
Dr Katrina Brown
Senior Lecturer Dance & Choreography
Dr. Katrina Brown is a choreographer with an interdisciplinary hybrid practice across movement,...
Dr Ruth Pethybridge
Senior Lecturer, Dance
Dr Ruth Pethybridge is a choreographer, facilitator and researcher. She has delivered dance in ...
Kuldip Singh-Barmi
Senior Lecturer, BA(Hons) Dance & Choreography
Kuldip's fascination with the body and its capability for expression and physical exploration throug...
Grace Sellwood
Associate Lecturer in Dance
I'm a dance performer, dance teacher, aerial performer, matwork and aerial pilates instructor,&...
Paul Joines
Technical Tutor
Since graduating in ‘Broadcast Studies’ from Falmouth College of Arts in 1996, Paul has spent ov...
Emily Dobson
Associate Lecturer in Dance & Choreography
Emily (Dobson) Alden is a dancer and choreographer who works across dance and theatre, liv...
Amely Instance
Associate Lecturer, Ballet Technique
After graduating in 1993 from the Royal Academy of Dance, I joined Angela Praed's contemporary dance...
"With state of the art facilities, on a picturesque campus with creative art subjects close by for collaboration, the BA(Hons) Dance & Choreography course at Falmouth is at the forefront of developing the next generation of dance artists. Led by experienced artists and lecturers who have nationally and internationally recognised careers, the course provides a fertile space for the nurturing and development of the skills young dancers need to take their practice to another level."
Kevin Edward Turner, Co-Artistic Director of Company Chameleon
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 f...
Library Facilities
Offering extensive collections, our two libraries provide a wealth of digital resources, magazines, ...
Sports Centre
Our Sports Centre, on Penryn Campus, includes a spacious gym with up to 90 of the latest, new statio...
Careers
Our dance & choreography graduates have worked as:
- Dancers
- Choreographers
- Dance production and management consultants
- Arts and health practitioners
- Educators
Dance & Choreography graduate produces 2020 Rhythms
12 January 2021
Commissioned by East London Dance through their The Fi.ELD (Future Innovators. East London Dance) pr...
Soaring Success
13 February 2019
High-flyer, Amy Nicholls, is equally happy whether she's writing an Arts Council funding application...
Industry Insights with Professional Dancer
13 September 2018
Since graduating in 2016, Dance & Choreography alumnus Bakani Pick-Up has been featured as a dan...
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
Ready to join us? You can apply for September 2022 through Clearing or for September 2023 through UCAS Apply and Track. You'll need to reference the course and University code (F33).
Applying as an international student?
International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.
| Course route | UCAS code |
|---|---|
| Dance & Choreography BA(Hons) three year degree | W511 |
Application advice & interview information
Go to ToolkitWe 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 route | Entry requirements |
|---|---|
| BA/BSc(Hons) three year degree | 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points |
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.
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'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.
For starting your studies in 2022
UK applications: 26 January 2022 (for equal consideration)
Applications after the 26 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.
For starting your studies in 2023
UK applications: 25 January 2023 (for equal consideration)
Applications after the 25 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
International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.
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.
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