BA (Hons) Dance and Drama with Physical Theatres

Summary 2012/13

• Dance ranked top in the UK and Drama top in the North West for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2011;
• Able to study Dance and Drama with Design, Music and Sound or Aerial Performance;
• Create, collaborate and reflect critically on contemporary performance practice working in state-of-the-art environments to the highest professional standards.

If you have a flair for the physical in the performance space and are interested in creating work that focuses on the body in performance, then you should consider this degree. Some dance experience, or study of movement would be preferable. If you exhibit physical fluency, confidence, are open-minded and imaginative, can work independently and as part of a team you will benefit from this course.

Working in professional performance spaces, developing your artistic vision and critical and artistic skills, you will engage in creative performance making practices, both individually and with others.

Please note, alternative specialist Dance and Drama pathways are available, leading to degree titles in Design, Music and Sound, and Aerial Performance.

2012 Entry Requirements

Typical offer 280 UCAS tariff points overall, preferably to include Drama or Performing Arts or a related subject, although relevant experience will be taken into account.

Applicants must demonstrate, in their personal statement, experience of some movement disciplines, eg. from sports, martial arts, circus skills or dance in any style.

All offers are made on the basis of an audition workshop. The audition workshop means you get to spend an afternoon with us to get to know our working environment and experience working with us in a class. We use the audition workshop to assess your practical aptitude through a variety of dance and physical theatre exercises. It is recommended that you wear appropriate clothing for the workshop, bare feet and no jewellery allowed. We also ask you to write us a short essay. You then get the chance to look round our department facilities, as well as see the rest of the University, taking in accommodation tours and talks relating to finance.

Summary 2013/14

• Dance ranked top in the UK and Drama top in the North West for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2011;
• Able to study Dance and Drama with Design, Music and Sound or Aerial Performance;
• Create, collaborate and reflect critically on contemporary performance practice working in state-of-the-art environments to the highest professional standards.

If you have a flair for the physical in the performance space and are interested in creating work that focuses on the body in performance, then you should consider this degree. Some dance experience, or study of movement would be preferable. If you exhibit physical fluency, confidence, are open-minded and imaginative, can work independently and as part of a team you will benefit from this course.

Working in professional performance spaces, developing your artistic vision and critical and artistic skills, you will engage in creative performance making practices, both individually and with others.

Please note, alternative specialist Dance and Drama pathways are available, leading to degree titles in Design, Music and Sound, and Aerial Performance.

2013 Entry Requirements

Typical offer 280 UCAS tariff points overall, preferably to include Drama or Performing Arts or a related subject, although relevant experience will be taken into account.

Applicants must demonstrate, in their personal statement, experience of some movement disciplines, eg. from sports, martial arts, circus skills or dance in any style.

All offers are made on the basis of an audition workshop. The audition workshop means you get to spend an afternoon with us to get to know our working environment and experience working with us in a class. We use the audition workshop to assess your practical aptitude through a variety of dance and physical theatre exercises. It is recommended that you wear appropriate clothing for the workshop, bare feet and no jewellery allowed. We also ask you to write us a short essay. You then get the chance to look round our department facilities, as well as see the rest of the University, taking in accommodation tours and talks relating to finance.

Details

What will I gain from this programme?

You will gain skills in a mixture of dance, drama and movement practices including modern/contemporary dance, theatre techniques, viewpoints, urban moves, techniques, acting and directing skills, contact improvisation, dance for camera, installation and immersive performance work.

This provides a rich palette which you can apply as you learn the skills to become a practitioner. Alongside this you will gain expertise in performance and how to make it work in both theatre and non-theatre settings. Underpinning this you will learn about the theories and concepts relating to dance, drama and performance and utilise this knowledge as a foundation for autonomous work and enterprise.

How we will support you

You will experience the interface of theory and practice in developing an embodied knowledge of dance, drama and interdisciplinary performance practice.

The course offers a fluid approach to learning through lectures, regular classes and project-based learning experiences. Assessment is made through a mixture of practical and written work which includes essays, portfolio productions, seminar presentations, workshop performances and full productions.

All practice demands theoretical justification, so most modules will require either a piece of writing or an oral presentation. You are required to reflect on your learning in each assessment and summarise your development regularly.

What will I study?

You will develop knowledge of the evolution of drama and dance performance whilst looking at them in the context of physical theatre. In the core modules you will engage with important theories about the evolution of performance, analysis, audience reception and the politics, cultures and interpretations of the various forms of performance.

Physical theatre will include the study and practical exploration of practitioners such as Artaud, Meyerhold, Lecoq and Grotowski and companies which may include Complicite, Frantic Assembly, Gardzienice, as well as forms as varied as T'ai chi and Laban movement.

In Year 1 you will be introduced to the evolution of modern dance, drama, theatre and performance. You will study various dance theatre practitioners as well as the role of physical theatres in interdisciplinary practices. This will enable you to make new work through various devising strategies and tutor-directed and choreographed pieces. You will explore the fundamental elements of performance in terms of historical and socio-political contexts, performance analysis and the role of interdisciplinary practice in contemporary performance.

In Year 2 you will study important theories about the process and purpose of performance in the modern era, and the politics, cultures and interpretations of contemporary performance. You will study and debate the purposes of modern dance and drama, and key modern theatre practitioners in the process of creating and staging your own performance work.

In Year 3 you will deepen your study of contemporary performance practice and will be required to undertake increasingly independent and autonomous work. In this year you will begin your Performance Laboratory where you will engage in making contemporary theatre productions. You can choose to develop critical specialisms which may include interdisciplinary performance history, radical performance forms, and 'mediatised' environments such as immersive video installation performance.

How will I study?

Through formal lectures and seminars, practical workshop classes, production projects, independent ensemble work and personal research, you will acquire critical and creative skills which will be of use in a wide range of future careers. You will develop a personal portfolio and prepare CVs for employment, and you will be supported in your independent learning through sessions in personal development planning (PDP).

Who will be teaching me?

The Performing Arts team works closely together in an acknowledgement of the collaborative nature of performance. Our team of academics, practitioners and technical staff, together with industry professionals, offer a wide range of learning experiences.

The Dance team are highly respected in the professional dance community at both national and international level. They have expert knowledge and specialist experience including dance making and performance, dance for camera, film and installation, experiential anatomy and interdisciplinary performance practice.

The Drama team’s research interests include neuroscience and the ‘imaginal actor’, theories of acting and consciousness, avant-garde performance and disease, acting and stage violence, stage-fighting, devising theatre, applied theatre in schools and communities, 'viewpoints', 'happenings', street theatre, popular theatre, and play-writing.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is through a mixture of practical and written work, including essays, portfolios, seminar presentations, workshop performances and full productions. All practice within the course is supported by theoretical justification, such as a piece of academic writing or oral presentation. In the third year of study, all students take an independent dissertation module in which they may make an assessed, substantial piece of performance of their own. You are required to reflect upon your learning in each assessment and summarise your development regularly.

What are my career prospects?

You will be prepared for a career in performance, media, teaching, community or social work, professional companies, arts administration, community arts, further study, postgraduate performance training and training for the teaching profession.

Further study at Edge Hill University

• MA Making Performance

Related Programmes

• BA (Hons) Dance
• BA (Hons) Dance and Drama
• BA (Hons) Drama

A Great Study Environment

As a Performing Arts student at Edge Hill University, you will enjoy excellent facilities and technical support, and benefit from having a purpose-built professional venue, The Rose Theatre, integrated into the department’s buildings. Our £5 million Centre for the Performing Arts contains a second fully-seated auditorium; three dance studios; four additional performance studios; three rehearsal studios; seminar rooms; costume, props and scenic design workshops; a fully-equipped scene dock; and state-of-the art equipment for developing skills in theatre technology.

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities, more than 1,400 rooms in halls of residence and fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply online through UCAS at www.ucas.ac.uk.

Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/apply for more information on the application process and our Admissions criteria.

Fees and Finance

For academic year 2012/13, Edge Hill University will charge £9,000 for full-time BA, BSc and LLB degrees. Eligible students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition. The cost of tuition will be paid by a loan which you will only start to repay once you have finished the course and are earning over £21,000.

Eligible full-time students can also apply for a maintenance grant, subject to household income, and a non-means-tested loan to help with living costs.

Edge Hill University offers a range of scholarships for prospective full-time students. These include £2,000 Entrance Scholarships rewarding determination, commitment and achievement in creative arts, performing arts, sport and volunteering. Eligible entrants with outstanding grades are recognised through the £1,000 High Achievers Scholarship.

The University will also be offering awards, worth £3,000 in cash benefits and fee/accommodation waivers for academic year 2012/13, to eligible prospective full-time students through the National Scholarship Programme.

For more information on scholarships, including eligibility criteria for each award, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships.

To find out more about fees, grants and loans for academic year 2012/13, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/undergradfees2012.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only. International students should check the fees and finance information at www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationalfees2012.

Not got the entry requirements?

Students returning to education may present their previous experience in work to support their application. Those returning to education with other access to higher education qualifications are welcome. Students with relevant study through either a professional body or appropriate academic course can apply to join the programme at an advanced stage. In all cases, you will also be required to go through the audition selection process.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many national careers fairs and UCAS events.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• Julia Griffin, Performing Arts Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 650856
• Email: griffin@edgehill.ac.uk

Overseas students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international or email international@edgehill.ac.uk for further information.

Modules

Year 1

PAR1071 Nature and History of Performance provides different learning environments in which you can begin to study the essential theoretical and historical study of performance. The module defines fundamental concepts, examines theoretical perspectives and explores diverse practices in the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field of performance, subjecting each to critical scrutiny. The module addresses, at an introductory level, the challenge of performance theory and its impact on our understanding of practice, seeking preliminary answers to some fundamental questions.

DAN1072 Making of Modern Dance Theatre 1 introduces the fundamental elements of modern dance theatre in terms of historical and socio-political contexts, choreographic treatment of norms and codes of dance theatre. The module is underpinned by modern dance techniques, performance analysis of theoretical and creative strategies in the making of dance theatre works and practice as research as a key learning concept.

PTH1073 Introduction to Physical Theatres: Concepts and Processes provides an overview of the areas of debate concerning definitions and concerns of physical theatres (the expressive body foregrounded; text), and the processes by which physical theatres find and capture their expression (devising; ludic and physical improvisation; notation).

Year 2

PAR2072 Process and Purpose of Performance places the development of dramatic performance in the modern era in the context of the arguments surrounding the essential processes involved in the making of performance events, and the essential controversies surrounding what the purposes of performance are said to be in its response to culture and society. In this module you are invited to enter into the crucial debate concerning the purpose, use and value of dramatic performance, initiated by Plato and Aristotle and continued since.

DAN2072 Making of Modern Dance Theatre 2 investigates and interrogates approaches to dance theatre making in the modern era. You will study key dance theatre practitioners in the history of Western modern dance theatre, and make work, informed stylistically by an exploration and examination of their ideas about choreography, codified dance languages, movement training, body as site for exploration and the development of dance theatre production.

AER2001 Aerial Perfomance is the first module in a specialist pathway of aerial performance. It focuses on the physical training and skill acquisition necessary to perform aerial dance. The history of aerial performance is explored with explanations of the different strands within this broad term with an emphasis being placed on rope and harness work. Finally the prevalence of aerial performance is explored within the present context.

VTH2031 Site Specific Performance offers you the opportunity to engage with the practice and theory of site specific performance. In this context ‘site specific’ is used as a generic term relating to work that arises from, and responds to, its immediate environment and surroundings outside of the traditional theatre environment. As with other modules, the interdisciplinary collaboration between students from across other programmes provides a structure in developing an understanding and knowledge of the performing process where it is particularly informed by the site/space in which it takes place. You will participate in workshops concerning designing, making and performing in various spaces in order to better inform and expand your particular skills in an interdisciplinary context.

PTH2079 Physical Theatres: Cultural and Philosophical Contexts will concentrate upon the writings, theories and practice around two centres of development in two (sometimes opposing) schools of physical theatres, namely Jacques Lecoq and the Western Europe tradition, and Jerzy Grotowski and Eastern Europe.

PTH2080 Physical Theatres: Practice as Research into Performance is a production module which applies acquired workshop skills and knowledge, to the creation of a piece of physical theatre. The production may involve the whole group or be broken into smaller performance units. You will be assessed on process as well as product.

DES2074 Light, Video, and Digital Imagery explores the relationship of lights, video and digital imagery to space and the body in order to create and explore mediated environments. The module provides an exploratory approach to lighting, video and digital image design. You will embark upon creative procedures that provide a working familiarity of the power and effect of light, space and perception. The module enables you to gain a critical perspective of how space, body and environment can be mediated, by the use of camera as a moving image being utilised in a variety of spatial contexts.

DES2075 Stage Design 1 concerns itself with the practice and theory of scenography. The module will introduce you to the principles and practice of stage design with emphasis on set as well as costume design. The module will look at the ways in which space, time, light, sound, colour and form can be composed and used to influence and communicate with the spectator. The aim of this module is to open up the possibilities of stage design as a central element in the making of performance, and to engage you in a visual and creative response to music, text, character and shapes. You will develop skills in critical analysis and visual communication.

DES2076 Costume Design: Interpretation and Construction 1 engages with different aspects of research, interpretation and construction of costumes. It is intended for those who wish to specifically develop and produce costumes in tandem to other strands of inquiry. The module includes an in-depth investigation of the history of costumes. Through the practical application of this research you will engage with the development and construction of full scale costumes.

DES2077 Stage and Production Management involves undertaking the role of stage manager for a production project. The module provides the essential training for a stage manager. As well as successfully managing the productions, you will also record and undertake analysis of the production and creative process.

Other optional modules are:

• MUS2007 Sound and Art Design
• MUS2008 Music Theatre in Performance

Year 3

PAR3071 Contemporary Practice advances your specialised knowledge and understanding of performance theory and performance practice, with particular emphasis on developments in the field of performance studies from the middle of the twentieth century onwards. The module is an intellectually challenging exploration of the work of some of the key figures in the contemporary field of performance theory and practice, tracing some of the paths and directions performance is taking today. It culminates in an independent creation of your own performance work, in the light of your personal manifesto vision of contemporary practice.

PAR3072 Ensemble Production Project is concerned with producing creative work that investigates and interrogates approaches to theatre making in the contemporary era. Working within an ensemble company, you will examine the work of key performance practitioners in the contemporary field and design a theatre production. The production will respond to a particular aesthetic and artistic direction in contemporary performance practice or be inspired by a distinctive contemporary production ethos.

DRA3073 Event Planning and Management is concerned with learning about what it means to plan, stage manage, and administrate theatrical events. The module develops your knowledge and understanding of project management, providing you with the enterprise skills necessary to operate independently and professionally, including finance, strategic planning and industry level evaluation as well as more specialised practice. Part of the practical event planning and management experience will involve organising the department’s three week summer festival of student performances at the end of the year.

DAN3007 Performance Project 1: Enterprise and the Independent Practitioner. In this project based theory and practice module you will demonstrate independence in the creation and implementation of an applied performance project. Utilising skills of an independent practitioner such as enterprise, project management and evaluation you will plan and deliver an appropriate project in an applied setting. You will then evaluate your work, demonstrating awareness of your immediate arts contexts.

DAN3008 Performance Project 2: Professional Collaborative Project involves collaborating with current professional practitioners in dance making for performance in theatre and non-theatre settings. You will engage with visiting artists and/or external venues and experience an interdisciplinary approach to dance making and performance. You will also engage in processes that underpin the making and performance of dance work such as costume, lighting, tour development and management, locating and assessing settings for site work.

PAR3079 Video, Installation and Immersive Performance: Manipulating Video Technologies and Live Events explores the relationship between live performance and subject-matter that is recorded, or mediated, by the camera, in the form of moving images utilised in a variety of spatial contexts. The module examines recent innovative and avant-garde practice in areas such as installation art and immersive performance. The module also enables you to produce your own work manipulating your own creative relationship between ‘body as site’, film technologies and live performance.

VTH3031 Live Art and Performance investigates and interrogates various forms of live art, an umbrella term which encompasses a wide range of creative performance and design possibilities. The module develops a knowledge and critical perspective of the subject and provides you with the opportunity to create live art work. It challenges conventional definitions and boundaries of current understanding of what constitutes performance.

DES3081 Stage and Production Management requires you to undertake the role of production manager for a number of production projects working with Year 2 stage managers. As well as successfully managing a series of productions, you will also undertake active research by devising ways in which data can be collected for analysis in the light of existing ideas about collaborative working and creative processes.

DES3076 Costume Design: Interpretation and Construction 2 enables you to further develop and apply your knowledge and skills in your own design and construction project. The examination of different concepts is significantly self-directed and your own ideas and interests will be taken into account in the delivery of the teaching.

DES3082 Stage Design 2 builds on scenographic concepts investigated in Year 2 and further explores the practice and theory of contemporary stage design, enabling you to develop your analytical and practical design skills. You will be guided in the continuing development of your artistic and professional identity enabling you to develop as a practitioner.

PTH Circus and Silent Movies offers you the opportunity to explore fringe elements of physical performance through studying the heritage and contemporary manifestation of the physical character performer and/or mime. You will engage with clown performance, silent movies, mime artists, slapstick and physical comedy.

PTH3080 Physical Theatres: Independent Line of Enquiry allows you to take forward a specialist and personally chosen line of enquiry and explore it critically, creatively and independently with support and guidance from a tutor as supervisor.

AER3001 Aerial Performance 2 focuses on aerial arts and as such this module will be heavily weighted towards physical skill development. A training regime will run alongside circus skills tuition to increase your personal strength levels and help execute the techniques learnt. A range of traditional circus equipment will be used to encourage the transference of skills between different but related apparatus. History of circus arts from traditional circus through to new/contemporary circus will be covered as well as exploration of those companies that are developing new pieces of apparatus within performance. Finally the prevalence of aerial arts is explored within the present context and references are made to the use of theatricality within this area.

AER3002 Aerial Performance 3 allows you to explore creatively your chosen pathway in more depth, with support/input from a tutor. A written proposal/outline will be required, detailing the main aims, creative ideas and type of apparatus you wish to focus on and ideas of apparatus you wish to combine. The tutor will guide/assist you through the creative process by providing technical and artistic support. There will be a focus on the use of other art forms in combination with those skills you will have learned previously, to create the work.

Find out more about the optional pathway specialism in aerial performance by visiting www.edgehill.ac.uk/aerialperformance.