Dance and Choreography MA

University of Derby

This postgraduate course in Dance and Choreography is a fantastic opportunity for Dance Artists to further their practice and be at the forefront of sector development. The MA is designed to guide and nurture those with a keen interest and skill in choreographing, providing a space in which you can push your creative boundaries and generate new and innovative work. Artists will have the opportunity to tap into regional, national and international networks and have access to an exceptional body of infrastructure and resources. Key areas that will be covered include:

• Narrative Development and Dramaturgy – the outside eye

• Role/involvement of the audience in a work (the fourth wall and when/how/what happens when you break it)

• The unique challenges of making work for indoor and outdoor contexts

• Funding landscape and opportunities

• Partnerships – who to develop them with and how to establish them

• Developing commissions

• Basics of health and safety in relation to the field (safe working practices/risk assessments/rigging)

This MA is the result of Déda's and the University of Derby’s recognition of the need to create a postgraduate course which reflects the growing trend within the Dance and Contemporary Circus sectors of artists exploring and blending each other’s practice. Artists are naturally fusing the two forms and there is a need in the UK to create academic resources as is happening in mainland Europe including Sweden and Netherlands.

There are currently no institutions in the UK offering artists a place to research and develop this growing hybrid work - Déda feels like a natural home given its focus on Dance, Contemporary Circus and Outdoor Performance. The MA will build on the success of the undergraduate programme BA (Hons) Dance which launched in 2014. As part of the undergraduate programme, a foundation is offered in aerial and acrobatic practice.