COURSE OVERVIEW
The distinctiveness of this programme lies in the offer of a work placement with a professional dance company of between five and nine months. Students work alongside professional dancers at their chosen host company, experiencing the creation, rehearsal, production and touring of a professional performance programme or project, including any related education and community outreach work.
Whilst on their placement, students are supported by a tutor at NSCD. Placement experience is supplemented by a wide range of technical and creative work delivered at NSCD, involving performance platforms, classes with VERVE and research-based activities. Crucially, students on the professional placement pathway develop an understanding of the wider skills required of a professional dance artist, through small-scale projects, introductions to local networks and awareness of a variety of activities such as workshop teaching and project management.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
You are taught through a combination of practical classes and workshops, lectures and seminars. Seminars and small group tutorials enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in smaller groups. In addition, you have timetabled meetings with your academic tutors. You use industry-standard facilities throughout your course.
ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK
NSCD employs a wide variety of assessment methods including formative, continuous and summative assessment.
Assessment evidence is collected through:
Continuous and summative assessments in technique modules, creative and performance modules
Assessed rehearsal processes
Showings of performance, choreographic work, improvisation & movement research
Lecture demonstrations
Written essays and dissertations
Written /verbal project reports and evaluations / reflections
Individual and small group verbal presentations
Observation of teaching practice
Students receive ongoing feedback in practical classes and through the tutorial system in which professional and academic development are considered and evaluated. Through placement, students have a professional mentor within the company who will offer formative feedback in all areas of their placement activities. Achievement is measured against module assessment criteria and in accordance with programme and module learning outcomes. Students must meet the specific attendance requirements for the programme.