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The Arden School of Theatre and Performing Arts
Performing Arts (Dance)
HNC
Leaflet Code:
Overview
This exciting and career focused course will introduce you to all aspects of dance in the performing arts industry. You will refine your dance technique in styles such as ballet, jazz, contemporary and commercial, and you will develop the employability skills that are an essential part of being in this industry. The course will explore three areas: dance performance, dance teaching and dance in the community.
The course combines both practical and theoretical units and will expand your knowledge of the wider dance world, working as a freelance dancer and improving your employment prospects in various Dance pathways.
- Location
- Shena Simon Campus
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Duration
- 1 year
- Start
- September 2021
Staff profile
Charlotte Swindells - danced since a very young age and at 16 attended a full time vocational dance college, Kate Simmons Dance. Here she gained all her advanced dance and teaching qualifications in Cecchetti Ballet, ISTD Tap and ISTD Modern.
Charlotte then went onto to work as a professional dancer and choreographer in the industry working for a variety of companies such as Stageworks Worldwide Productions, Showstoppers Productions and Vibe UK. Jobs included choreographing for Princess cruises (Cyprus), working as a Dancer in Stage show Mystique (Blackpool), Head Dancer Sheraton Hotels (India), Backing dancer and choreographer (Various artists - Radio roadshows and Party in the Park events across the UK). After performing for several years in the industry Charlotte then decided to move into teaching gaining Certificate in Education and Licentiate in Modern Theatre Dance (ISTD).
Rebecca Tonye - trained on a full scholarship at The London Studio Centre vocational school, she graduated from there in 2003.
Rebecca has worked with many choreographers and practitioners within the industry in Contemporary, Jazz, Bollywood and musical theatre, and has experience of both stage and screen. She has also choreographed numerous dance numbers in many styles over her career.
Rebecca has been teaching for over 15 years and has taught at a leading London stage school as well as youth groups within the UK, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Rebecca works with another member of our team directing the contemporary company Delusion which was established in 2015.
Helen Cheung - trained at the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre. She has worked on several contracts, working at sea as production dancer for Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises. Helen has worked in both USA and Italy creating with choreographers for Cruise lines and Variety Shows. She has also worked as a production dancer for PMA Productions and production dancer for Elite Studios.
Charlotte then went onto to work as a professional dancer and choreographer in the industry working for a variety of companies such as Stageworks Worldwide Productions, Showstoppers Productions and Vibe UK. Jobs included choreographing for Princess cruises (Cyprus), working as a Dancer in Stage show Mystique (Blackpool), Head Dancer Sheraton Hotels (India), Backing dancer and choreographer (Various artists - Radio roadshows and Party in the Park events across the UK). After performing for several years in the industry Charlotte then decided to move into teaching gaining Certificate in Education and Licentiate in Modern Theatre Dance (ISTD).
Rebecca Tonye - trained on a full scholarship at The London Studio Centre vocational school, she graduated from there in 2003.
Rebecca has worked with many choreographers and practitioners within the industry in Contemporary, Jazz, Bollywood and musical theatre, and has experience of both stage and screen. She has also choreographed numerous dance numbers in many styles over her career.
Rebecca has been teaching for over 15 years and has taught at a leading London stage school as well as youth groups within the UK, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Rebecca works with another member of our team directing the contemporary company Delusion which was established in 2015.
Helen Cheung - trained at the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre. She has worked on several contracts, working at sea as production dancer for Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises. Helen has worked in both USA and Italy creating with choreographers for Cruise lines and Variety Shows. She has also worked as a production dancer for PMA Productions and production dancer for Elite Studios.
Academic Entry requirements
• GCSE English Language and Mathematics A* to C or 9 to 4 where numeric grades are being awarded
• Ideally you will have a Level 3 Extended Diploma at grade Pass, Merit, Merit in a performing arts-related area
• 48 UCAS points
Non-academic entry Requirements
Applicants are required to attend an audition. This will consist of practical class participation, solo performance, and an interview.
You will also be required to submit a short written task.
Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) who are able to demonstrate relevant skills or knowledge gained in employment or vocational activity will be considered and may be invited to interview.
You will also be required to submit a short written task.
Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) who are able to demonstrate relevant skills or knowledge gained in employment or vocational activity will be considered and may be invited to interview.
What will I be studying?
Unit 1 The Performing Arts Industry (15 credits)
Unit 2 Professional Development (15 credits)
Unit 3 Jazz dance 1 (15 credits)
Unit 4 Ballet 1 (15 credits)
Unit 5 Contemporary 1 (15 credits)
Unit 6 Commercial Dance (15 credits)
Unit 7 Tap 1 (15 credits)
Unit 9 Choreography (15 credits)
Reading List
Mitra, R (2015) Akram Khan: Dancing New Interculturalism
Copeland, R (2004) Merce Cunningham: The Modernizing of Modern Dance
Bremser, M and Sanders, L (2011) Fifty Contemporary Choreographers
Carter, A (2003) Rethinking Dance History: A Reader
Carter, A and Fensham, R (2011) Dancing Naturally: Nature, Neo-Classicism and Modernity in Early Twentieth-Century
Homans, J (2010) Apollo's Angels: A History Of Ballet
Morris, G (2012) Frederick Ashton's Ballets: Style, Performance, Choreography
Guest, I. F (1974) The Ballet of the Second Empire
Kenrick, J (2010) Musical Theatre
Long, R. E (2001) Broadway, the Golden Years: Jerome Robbins and the Great Choreographer-Directors, 1940 to the Present
Jowitt, D (2005) Jerome Robbins: His Life, His Theater, His Dance
Gottfried (2003) All His Jazz: The Life and Death of Bob Fosse
Kapit, W and Elson, L. M (2013) The Anatomy Coloring Book
Norris, M and Siegfried, D. R (2011) Anatomy & Physiology For Dummies
Copeland, R (2004) Merce Cunningham: The Modernizing of Modern Dance
Bremser, M and Sanders, L (2011) Fifty Contemporary Choreographers
Carter, A (2003) Rethinking Dance History: A Reader
Carter, A and Fensham, R (2011) Dancing Naturally: Nature, Neo-Classicism and Modernity in Early Twentieth-Century
Homans, J (2010) Apollo's Angels: A History Of Ballet
Morris, G (2012) Frederick Ashton's Ballets: Style, Performance, Choreography
Guest, I. F (1974) The Ballet of the Second Empire
Kenrick, J (2010) Musical Theatre
Long, R. E (2001) Broadway, the Golden Years: Jerome Robbins and the Great Choreographer-Directors, 1940 to the Present
Jowitt, D (2005) Jerome Robbins: His Life, His Theater, His Dance
Gottfried (2003) All His Jazz: The Life and Death of Bob Fosse
Kapit, W and Elson, L. M (2013) The Anatomy Coloring Book
Norris, M and Siegfried, D. R (2011) Anatomy & Physiology For Dummies
How will I be assessed?
Level 4
40% Coursework
60% Practical
0% Exam
40% Coursework
60% Practical
0% Exam
What are the careers that this will lead to?
Our students have successfully gone on to professional work within the Dance & Musical Theatre industry including:
• Commercial
• West End
• Regional Theatre
• Cruise Ships
• Disney
Other potential career paths include:
• Choreography
• Dance Therapy
• Teaching
• Running you own Dance School
• Commercial
• West End
• Regional Theatre
• Cruise Ships
• Disney
Other potential career paths include:
• Choreography
• Dance Therapy
• Teaching
• Running you own Dance School
Fees, Finance and Funding
There are two main costs you will have whilst studying and if you are a home student studying on a full-time course, you can apply for student finance to cover both of these:
Your tuition fees for each year of your course.
Help with your living costs e.g. rent, food, clothing, course materials, entertainment.
You can find more details, including the actual tuition fee charged on our Fees, Funding and Finance Page.
Learn more
Your tuition fees for each year of your course.
Help with your living costs e.g. rent, food, clothing, course materials, entertainment.
You can find more details, including the actual tuition fee charged on our Fees, Funding and Finance Page.
Course Associated Costs
All of the books required for the course are available from the library. However, many students choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. Students may also need to print their assignments and other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop up to £100 each year for books and printing.
• £50 DVDs for analysis
• £40 Health and fitness equipment
• Maximum of £250 Professional dancewear kit list provided in advance
• £40 for theatre tickets
• You will need to purchase digital storage device up to 1TB at an approximate cost of £50
• Optional participation in residential trips for an addition costs.
DBS Required. Please tick:
Yes ☐
No ☒
• £50 DVDs for analysis
• £40 Health and fitness equipment
• Maximum of £250 Professional dancewear kit list provided in advance
• £40 for theatre tickets
• You will need to purchase digital storage device up to 1TB at an approximate cost of £50
• Optional participation in residential trips for an addition costs.
DBS Required. Please tick:
Yes ☐
No ☒
All students are subject to UCEN Manchester’s Terms and Conditions from the date they accept an offer to study here, full details of which can be found here. The UCEN Manchester Admissions Policy and Procedure can be found here.
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