BA (Hons) Dance in the Community

At University Campus Suffolk

Course Summary

Students who choose to study Dance in the Community will be part of a pioneering course that has evolved from a strong partnership between University Campus Suffolk, DanceEast and Arts Council England. The course is at the forefront of community dance development in the East. Utilising exciting new facilities on the Ipswich waterfront that support the cultural, social, artistic and academic development of dance and its place in the community. One unique feature of the course is the opportunity for community based projects, taking students into the work place and into different contexts. Opportunities also exist for mentoring by, and the shadowing of, professionals and the undertaking of work placements across the UK.

Course Structure

Working with experienced resident and visiting practitioners, the course builds and develops through a series of progressive modules that deal with the study of dance as a discipline and its relationship with community practice.

Modules include: Defining Community Dance in the 21st Century; The Performing Body: Dance Techniques; The Knowing Body: Anatomy, Nutrition and Complementary Body Practices; Making Work: Choreography; Interrogating Learning; The Relationship between Learning and Teaching; Cultural and Critical approaches to Dance and Art Practice; Representing the Dancing Body; Professional Practice; Community Project; Professional Placement.

Assessment

Assessment takes place during and at the end of each module and takes the form of, for example, practical choreographic and performance projects, seminar presentations, work-based projects and assignments, essays and portfolio DVD documentation.

After the Course

The profile of dance has risen in recent years, firmly becoming part of the cultural landscape. There are numerous opportunities for a career in dance in the community. These include teaching in schools, working in outreach posts within a theatre, dance company, agency, health setting, or prison, and working with youth groups, very young children or those with special needs.

'DanceEast is thrilled to be a partner in this pioneering degree in community dance. The practical nature of the course bodes well for the future of community dance, ensuring that we have world leaders training and delivering at the grass roots and gaining first hand experience in a field that is enriching the lives of young and old in our communities. This degree meets a much needed national and international gap in provision and is timely as it coincides with DanceEast opening the doors of the new world class facilities of the Jerwood DanceHouse on the Ipswich waterfront.'
Assis Carreiro, Artistic Director and Chief Executive, DanceEast

For further information visit www.ucs.ac.uk or contact Helen Angove h.angove@ucs.ac.uk