Course summary

Are you looking for a qualification to equip you for a range of careers in choreography, performing arts, dance development, arts administration, performance, teaching or dance research? Or are you interested in a postgraduate course to prepare you for further study such as a PhD or professionally-related qualification? If you enjoy problem solving, creative thinking, independent work and group work, and engaging in debate then course is for you. This MA Choreography and Professional Practices course explores choreography, improvisation, devising and experimentation, professional and artistic development, and portfolio working. You will have opportunities to network with industry professionals and improve your portfolio as you study. You will be challenged to explore your practice and examine you working methods as a dance-maker. This course will introduce you to choreographic research methods and strategies for documenting live performance practice and promoting your work. You will have opportunities to pursue live performance practices as a choreographer, consider your work in relation to the wider field of professional contemporary dance practice, develop your artistic voice and explore single discipline or interdisciplinary practice-based projects involving choreography, performance, fine art, music, and installation. You will lead projects and focus on topics that interest you in performance making as you explore and expand on your existing choreographic practice in a dynamic research environment. You will examine innovative and experimental approaches to choreographic practice, research and scholarship and discover topics including choreographic practices and methods of research, somatic approaches, developing movement vocabularies, collaboration, devising and experimentation. You will learn from experienced industry professionals and benefit from our close relationship with regional dance industry providers and practitioners. Staff work in a range of fields including dance theatre, new media and dance film, site-specific and installation work. Some this course content may be delivered on campus and in off-site venues in Brighton, London and other regional venues. You need to be flexible and prepared to travel and manage your time well to make the most of this opportunity. You will need to pay your own travel costs.

• Work alongside nationally and internationally renowned arts researchers including Yael Flexer, Abi Mortimer, Carrie Whitaker, Detta Howe, Ann Nugent, Virginia Farman, Victoria Hunter and Cathy Childs.

• Access the lively arts research culture at the University, including: regular programmes of research presentations given by staff, web-based learning, research students and visiting artists/researchers.

• Attend performances by visiting artists/companies, theatre trips to performance events, and arts research training events and national arts conferences.

• Have opportunities to present your work at choreographic platforms and participate in artist networking opportunities.

• Develop your marketing, fundraising and ‘pitching’ and presentation skills.

• Collaborate with independent researchers and students from accompanying courses including MA Performance: Dance.

• Study twice-weekly technique classes.

• Complete an independent research project on a topic relevant to the field of choreography.

• Explore innovative and experimental articulations, dissemination of dance knowledge and applications of dance across a range of contexts and media.

• Learn from experienced guest lecturers – past guest lecturers have included practitioners and curators including Gary Clarke, Kerri Nichols, Hagit Bar, Liz Aggis, Didy Veldman and dramaturge Lou Cope.

• Be able to take part in Continuing Professional Development opportunities.