Course Overview
At Mechanics’ Performing Arts we deliver a full-time Higher National Diploma in Performing Arts (Dance) that is designed to train performers, choreographers and dance practitioners at a higher level for those who wish to pursue a career within the dance industry. This course provides professional dance training in Commercial, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Choreography, Conditioning and community dance teaching. After this course many of our graduates convert this qualification into a BA Hons by studying a further years training of a BA Top-Up course. Many of our graduates decide to continue studying at Mechanics’ Performing Arts to study on to further study their own tailor made BA Hons Top-Up Degree in Performance Industries.
We have close links to many areas of the industry and our graduates are now working all around the world in a variety of different employment areas including on cruises, professional dance companies, freelancing, dance teaching. Our students take part in industry led days where artists from across the industry, such as casting and talent agents, professional artists and our own graduates come and inform our students of current aspects needed for a successful career in today’s industry.
The units you'll study have been specially chosen to enable you to develop technical and performance skills, to achieve a sound knowledge of the industry and give you optimum scope for accessing further study or employment. Our students take part in a variety of internal and external projects with termly performances to provide as many performance platforms as possible.
Performance platforms have included Phoenix Dance Theatre Platform, Fresh Dance Platform, Move it, Can You Dance, collaboration with professional dance artists, corporate businesses and commercial adverts. Your study will provide you with the opportunity to apply your experience in the studios to a diverse range of performance spaces such as community-based contexts, choreographic projects, and professional theatres.
Through practical classes you will develop a wide range of dance performance techniques drawn from the work of world-renowned choreographers. You will grow as technical dancers, experience a range of dance classes which will increase your strength, flexibility and versatility. Dancers undertake weekly conditioning classes to improve their dance fitness and develop new skills. Additionally, students have opportunities to develop acrobatic skills within conditioning classes throughout the course. At certain times of the year students have also undertaken some aerial and silks training to enhance their skills further.
All projects and performances are linked to the performing arts industry to give a real flavour of working as a dancer, choreographer, teacher and theorist. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used to encourage and facilitate your creative and artistic development and bring together practice and theory. Independent and collaborative learning will be encouraged through use of practical workshops, interactive lectures, resource-based learning, individual and group work, tutorials, discussion, critiques, performances, and rehearsals.
What You Will Study
Units:
- Creative Research Project
- Working in the Performing Arts
- Contemporary Dance 2
- Ballet 2
- Tap Dance 2
- Jazz Dance 2
- Commercial Dance 2
- Choreography 2
- Performance Project
- Attendance Expectations
3 or 4 days per week plus evening performances/some weekends.
- How You Will Be Assessed
The College assesses you through the coursework that you produce as you complete each unit, this may include finished, performance pieces, choreography development, written work, your research, and a reflective journal which allows you to evaluate your learning and highlight your strengths and areas for further development.
The majority of units have some form of performance-based assessment attached that focus on a range of performance skills and genres.
- Entry Requirements
HNC Performing Arts (Dance)
A successful audition and interview.
Those with previous experience or learning that is relevant may be eligible via our APL process for accreditation towards this course.
All applicants are required to audition consisting of an interview and a dance class including a creative task. You will need to prepare a dance solo of your choice that showcases your ability and style. This should be 1 and 1/2 minutes in length.
- Fee Information
£7,400
- Further Study
The HNC and HND courses are recognised as a qualification in their own right or can be combined with a top-up degree to obtain a full honours degree like our BA (Hons) Performance Industries course. Alternatively, you can study a PGCE or Certificate in Education to progress to teaching.
