Performing Arts BA (Hons)

About the course

As a Higher Education Centre for Excellence in Performance Arts, DMU’s Performing Arts BA (Hons) degree offers exciting and innovative course content, delivered by nationally and internationally recognised practitioners and researchers, in sector-leading facilities.

Reasons to study a Performing Arts degree course at DMU

• The Performing Arts degree immerses you in cutting-edge, contemporary, interdisciplinary practice. Drawing from dance, drama, music technology and digital video, it is concerned with the interplay between live and digital arts

• The degree incorporates arts management, through which you learn how to manage yourself, or others within the performing arts industry. These skills are put into practice alongside performance and creation, making graduates attractive to potential employers, and self-sufficient as creative practitioners

• Our excellent industry links mean you will also have the opportunity to take up placements and work with professional practitioners

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Key facts

UCAS course code: WW45

Duration: Three years full-time, six years part-time

Institution code: D26

Entry and admission criteria

2013

• Normally 260 points with a minimum of 160 points from 2 full A levels.
• National Diploma DMM.
• Five GCSEs grades A* - C including English Language or Literature at grade C or above. We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs. including English at grade C or above.
• International Baccalaureate: 28+ Points

Audition/Interview required: Yes

International Students

If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition| is available at DMU both before and during the course if required.

Teaching and assessment

The course has a practical emphasis, underpinned with rigorous theory. The majority of your time as a first year student is spent in studio practice, developing practical skills whilst engaging with key theories and practitioners. Theoretical modules involve lectures and seminars, in which you are actively involved in discussion and debate. You take an interdisciplinary core, and can select from option modules at years two and three, that allow for specialisation. In addition to timetabled contact time, you carry out independent study time, rehearsing, researching, meeting with collaborators, completing assignments, and preparing for the next week’s classes.

Assessment is through coursework, including performances, class contribution, devising, presentations, essays, reflective writing, blogs and portfolios. There are no exams. You have regular tutorials with your Personal Year Tutor, who assists with pastoral care. In addition, academic staff provide tutorial time, which you utilise on a weekly basis, in order to ask questions, discuss assignments and gain feedback.

You will develop subject specific skills within performance, the creation of digital arts (including sound and image), movement, approaches to ‘text’ and knowledge of the creative industries. The course develops your creativity as an emerging performing artist, focussing on the creation and management of new and innovative performance work. This encourages creative thinking, self reflection and self management, and transferable skills which will give you a competitive edge as a graduate.

Course modules

Year one modules|

• Principles of Performance and Digital Arts 1 (compulsory)
• Devising in Performance and Digital Arts (compulsory)
• Arts Management in Context (compulsory)

Year two modules

• Principles of Performance and Digital Arts 2 (compulsory)
• Perspectives in Performance and Digital Arts (compulsory)
• Collaborative Performance Project 1 (compulsory)
• Negotiated Study 1
• Dance Artists in Education and Community
• Promoting Dance
• Devising
• Ideas in Music and Sonic Art

Year three modules

• Research Project (compulsory)
• Collaborative Performance Project 2 (compulsory)
• Improvisation and Performance
• Teaching and Leading Dance
• Live Art
• Music, Media and Community Arts
• Music Industry Management
• Media Industry Management

Academic expertise

Performing Arts is staffed by a large and diverse team. Staff members are practitioners, nationally and internationally recognised for creative and scholarly work within the performing arts. Professional profiles include work in the areas of improvisation, contemporary dance, sonic art, autobiography, intermediality, live art and digital arts. Scholarly work includes publication and research in areas of interdisciplinary arts, creative collaborative practices and the management of festivals and events.

Industry links and professional accreditation

At DMU you have many opportunities to work with visiting professional practitioners. Visiting artists and practitioners have included imitating the dog; Théâtre de Complicité; Kyuu Theatre Company and Citizen 598. You will see live performances at local and London theatres. In addition there are placement opportunities in and around Leicester, the contexts ranging from educational and community to arts management.

Our excellent links with the local performing arts industry have also resulted in internships for some DMU students.

Graduate careers

The degree is designed with employability at its heart, and extensive research has been carried out into employment opportunities for performing arts graduates. The interdisciplinary nature of this course enables graduates to work in a number of fields, such as performance, creating work, project management, teaching, research, and community arts.

The degree gives you real-life experience of working as creative practitioners and managers, which is attractive to potential employers, and invaluable for graduates who want to create their own work upon leaving DMU.

You would also be equipped to pursue further study at post-graduate level if desired.

Fees and funding

2013 entry

UK/EU Fees: £9000 per year
International Fees: TBC

Learn more about fees and funding information 2013|

Scholarships

Learn more about our Undergraduate scholarships and awards| information.

Facilities

DMU offers some of the finest facilities in The Performing Arts Centre for Excellence (PACE) building has two spacious dance studios and two large, fully equipped performance spaces. Three further studios are found in the Campus Centre. You are able to book rehearsal space and equipment, including digital video cameras, sound recording equipment and edit suites. All these facilities are on one campus surrounded by newly developed student accommodation. Within ten minutes walk is the city centre and cultural quarter. Here you will find Curve Theatre, and the new Digital Media Centre, Phoenix Square.