BA (Hons) Dance and Drama

Level One

Dance Technique and Anatomy

In this module students will develop an awareness and understanding of human movement in anatomical, spatial and qualitative terms, applying this understanding to different dance techniques (e.g. Graham, Cohan, Humphrey, Cunningham, Release Technique and Contemporary Jazz). They will also learn how to work safely and care for their bodies by becoming familiar with safe dance practice and injury prevention

Choreography One: Foundations of Practice

This module furthers the knowledge, performance skills and artistic development initiated in ‘Dance Technique and Anatomy’ in relation to choreography. The creative exploration of the relationship between investigation in movement, fundamentals of Laban theory and investigation of choreographic form will be addressed.

Choreography One: Dance Analysis

This module will examine a range of dance performances, both live and on video/DVD. The student will develop approaches and frameworks for reading and understanding dance through a series of lectures and seminar discussions that examine both recorded and live dance work through different modes of interpretation.

Improvising and Devising

Study Skills for Drama

Tragedy & Comedy (Option)

Drama and Dramaturgy (Option)

Documentary Theatre (Option)

Level Two

Intermediate Dance Technique and Somatics

In this module students will build on their technical understandings from year one and will progress to develop the essential skills of dance movement in relation to intermediate level dance technique classes at level two. A second social/popular/cultural dance form will be introduced at level two that will support the somatic learning and understanding of body organisation in relation to space and dynamics, such as South Asian dance techniques.

Choreography 2: Improvisation, Documentation and Reflective Practice

This module develops further the technical, imaginative and personal discoveries of Level One Choreography modules. The student will learn to interrogate dance works from more sophisticated critical, social, historical and psychological perspectives and will apply these skills to documentation and reflective practice.

Choreography 2: ‘Contact Improvisation; An Ongoing Research Lab

This module introduces Contact Improvisation as an inclusive community and performance movement art form, appropriate and accessible for participation by all sectors of the community. The module shall promote influences from body-mind practices related to Contact Improvisation by investigation of the work of artists and teachers working in these fields, nationally and internationally. Students will set up ‘lab spaces’ to explore questions arising about the form to be explored through practice and dialogue.

Acting Process (Option)

Site Specific Performance (Option)

Theatre and Globalisation (Option)

Shakespeare and Performance

Level Three

Advanced Dance Technique and Performance

In this module students study a further western performance dance technique, such as Capoeira. Synthesis of somatic practices from Level Two will strengthen performance presence and will afford the student a greater range in style, musicality, commitment, individuality and sensitivity in performance. The module will equip students with opportunities to pull together all of the learning strands into the creation of a performance.

Choreography Three: Site Specific Dance

In this module students apply choreographic concepts to site-specific environments and non-theatre venues in the local community (e.g. art galleries, outdoors and village halls). The module will introduce opportunities offered by the concepts of site-based performance. Specific skills concerned with site specific work will be explored, such as reading sites from analytical, emotional, functional, contextual and historical perspectives. production projects synthesise all the skills learned on the module and prior choreographic modules to date.

Choreography Three: Dance and Camera

This module introduces students to the key issues and contexts for choreographing and working with video and new media. It explores key technical applications, the landscape of virtual space and the stylistics of different new media (e.g. digital technology), through theoretical and practical exploration and consideration of works by selected choreographers, such as Lea Anderson, Wendy Houston and Wayne McGregor.

Drama Independent Study (Double Module)

The final year ‘Independent Study’ gives students the chance to investigate, analyse and explore a Drama-based issue that is to be found in a domain of their own choosing, through the production of a 10,000 word dissertation or practical activity plus 5000 word scholarly reflective report.

Single Module Options:

Advanced Scene Study

or

Acting for Media

or

Children’s Theatre

Single Module Options:

Drama & Contemporary Performance

or

Staging the Supernatural

or

Producing

Along with classroom seminars, lectures, study groups and tutorials, students also carry out practical investigation through workshops, studio events and masterclasses. The programme features productions aimed at the general public and performed by students. Students also have the opportunity to carry out brief work placements and to apprectice themselves to professional work carried out in LPAC.

Drama Assessment

There are no formal end-of-year examinations; instead, students are assessed on their ability to work under pressure and think on their feet through their ability to produce live theatre. Throughout the degree students are assessed through their production of practical and written work. As the programme involves the acquisition of a wide range of practical and intellectual skills, assessment is quite varied and includes presentations, writing projects, individual and group practical work, projects and portfolios in addition to academic essays. All assessed practical performance work is accompanied by an assessed scholarly written report reflecting on the processes and end product of the creative activity.

Students have the opportunity to work with the faculty on research-related and practice-based projects through the faculty’s Centre for Innovation in Performing Arts. These projects might include mounting a season of work for the Edinburgh Festival, providing productions for the drama season at LPAC, engaging in outreach work with schools and the community, doing work for radio and television, or contributing to research days organised by the faculty.

The programme aims to:

Introduce students to a range of dance and dramatic
processes studied from a multi-disciplinary and practice-based point of view

Develop research skills appropriate to the understanding
of dance, drama and performance

Survey a range of literature and critical theories
in both dance and drama from the classical to the
contemporary

Relate the academic study of drama and dance to practical experience
and production

Investigate various forms of movement, dance and
choreographic techniques

Provide opportunities for students to work independently
and to develop self-reliance in their choice of topics and
methods of investigation.

Graduates are prepared for employment in various on and off stage theatre professions and have pursued careers as actors, dancers, presenters, directors, choreographers, playwrights, producers, stage managers, technicians, publicists, researchers and academics.

You will be invited to interview and audition.

2012 Entry	UK/EU	International
Full-time	£9000	£12033
Part-time	£75 per credit point	£100 per credit point
Placement (optional)	Exempt	Exempt
Assessment Only	£38 per credit point	£50 per credit point

 

2013 Entry	UK/EU	International
Full-time	£9000	£12755
Part-time	£75 per credit point	£106 per credit point
Placement (optional)	Exempt	Exempt
Assessment Only	£38 per credit point	£53 per credit point

For further information and funding your study please see our Fees & Funding pages.

Fees and Funding