Dance and Education

This 3 year BA (Honours) degree is designed to develop your dance skills in preparation for working in industry. Two main focus points aim to provide a solid grounding in the practical and intellectual skills necessary for a successful career in performance or teaching.

Led by a team of inspiring staff with extensive experience working in industry and higher education, you'll embark on a creative journey that aims to provide the tools necessary to excel in your chosen field.

This award is validated by The Open University.

About the course

This is a dance training degree, predominantly taught through practical exploration and rehearsal, underpinned by research, practitioner study and critical reflection. Training focuses on building strength and confidence in a broad range of dance styles as well as enabling you to creatively build skills through composition and improvisation techniques. These attributes build confidence and deepen understanding of teaching dance to a range of clients within community or educational settings. You'll have the opportunity to create your own original work, exploring areas of specific and personal interest and finding your own creative voice or teaching style.

We work in partnership with Dance4, Lakeside Arts and a variety of local educational settings. We collaborate with other creative students across college and have our own graduate Dance Company to support placement opportunities and progression.

Year 1 (Level 4) modules:

-Performance skills
-Dance practice, history and context
-Creative dance practice
-Facilitating dance

Year 2 (Level 5) modules:

-Developing dance practice
-Choreography, production and performance
-Dance education within the community
-Independent performance

Year 3 (Level 6) modules:

-Embodied practice
-Dance in an educational setting.
-Ensemble performance.
-Major independent project

Specialist Facilities

Performing Arts is based at our new £58 million City Hub campus in the city centre’s Canalside quarter with state of the art facilities. These include specially-designed rehearsal studios for acting and dance, as well as a 160 seat versatile theatre space with fully-functional wardrobe and workshop facilities and industry-standard lighting and sound. Students also use our brand-new digital TV centre, recording studio and multi-media suites.

Assessment

A combination of traditional and innovative methods are used: including case studies, group projects, live briefs, peer review, research projects, placement opportunities, critical reflection and presentations. All assessments will focus on one, or a combination of exploration, preparation, rehearsal, performance and written response, there are no written examinations.

Qualification awarded:

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Dance and Education - awarded by The Open University.

Bursaries

We want our courses to be accessible to students from any background, so we’ve put together a cash support package of non-repayable bursaries to provide financial help where it’s needed. Details for 2025-26 will be advertised once approved by the university regulator – the Office for Students (OfS). Please check our website for more information.

Your career and progression

Graduates will be well-prepared for a wide range of careers, with vital transferable skills potential employers are looking for. They bring hands-on experience of running dance projects, managing rehearsal schedules, evaluating and reviewing dance work and producing performance works in professional environments.

Previous graduates have moved directly into performance, teaching, dance production, choreography, youth and social work, arts admin, events management or related careers in the creative arts, leisure, health, fitness and well-being industries.