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Dance BA (Hons)

Find your distinctive creative voice on this practice-based programme, with training in dance techniques, making and performing choreographic work, teaching and researching dance in real-world contexts.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

The University Dance Festival features original choreography and energetic performances from our creative and accomplished Dance students at DMU University.

Rigorous artistry: elevate your artistry through a diversity of practices. Dive into daily dance classes in contemporary, ballet for contemporary dancers, commercial-based practices, improvisation, contact improvisation and African dance classes. Performance opportunities are woven into the fabric of our curriculum, allowing you the opportunity to create live, digital and site-based dance, supported by a team of professional technicians.

Industry-focused: our extensive industry connections offer a window to the global dance community. Collaborate with national and international organisations, engage with local communities and gain wisdom from visiting lecturers and renowned artists. Tailor your path towards performance, education, choreography, or digital dance to pursue your passions and shape your ambitions.

A legacy of excellence: benefit from cutting-edge facilities that have earned us recognition as a Centre for Excellence in Performance Arts. Our unwavering commitment to innovative teaching and learning ensures you receive an industry and career focused education. 

Key features

  • DMU stands tall as a Centre for Excellence in Performance Arts. Offering cutting-edge facilities that cater specifically to dance and performance activities, our specialist studios and rehearsal spaces are designed to elevate your learning experience.
  • Gain invaluable industry exposure through our strong ties with local, national, and international dance organizations and renowned artists such as FABRIC, People Dancing, One Dance UK, and Serendipity Arts.
  • DMU proudly boasts Akram Khan MBE, a world-renowned choreographer and our esteemed alumnus, as our Chancellor. This reflects our unwavering commitment to championing the performing arts. Graduates had the unique opportunity to speak to Akram Khan after graduation.
  • Through placements and industry-focused projects, our students have collaborated with organisations like Akram Khan Company, Moving Together, Extended Play Dance, Vanhulle Dance Theatre and New Art Club. This hands-on experience prepares you for the dynamic world of dance.
  • Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

 

Student work gallery

 

Follow us on our DMU Dance Facebook page and DMU Dance Instagram account.

 

The dance lecturers are outstanding and fully support each student. I really respected that they all work in the dance/performing arts industry, passing on their skills and knowledge to students.

Beth Storie, Dance BA (Hons)

 

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Student success:

DMU students to showcase their skills at the annual University Dance Festival

DMU's annual dance festival makes a triumphant return to campus

DMU dance artists commissioned by Birmingham Royal Ballet

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W500

Duration: Three years full-time, four years full-time with a placement. Six years part-time.

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out more about tuition fees and available funding.

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding: 

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £15,750

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

I found a new home

Kadafi’s friends, tutors and societies became a new family who pushed him to succeed at every turn.

Entry criteria

Typical entry requirements 

  • 112 points from at least 2 A'levels or
  • BTEC Extended Diploma DMM or
  • International Baccalaureate: 26+ Points
  • T Levels Merit

Plus five GCSEs grades 9-4 including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.

  • Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit (or equivalent) and GCSE  English (Language or Literature) at grade 4 or above.

We will normally require students have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

  • We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above

 

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Interview and audition

Interview required: No

Audition required: Yes

Please see our practical selection day page for full details.

Audition advice guidance video

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

 

First year

  • Block 1: The Responsive Dancer

  • Block 2: Rethinking Dance

  • Block 3: Space, Place and Connections 

  • Block 4: Ensemble Performance and Production

Second year

  • Block 1: Style, Production and Artistry

  • Block 2: Applying Your Practice: Dance Artists, Communities and Education

  • Block 3: The Healthy Practitioner: Wellbeing and Self-management

  • Block 4: Digitising Your Artistic Voice

Third year

Blocks 1 and 2: Select two from the list below:

  • Facilitating Practice: Teaching and Leading Dance  
  • Industry practice: Choreography, Performance and Producing 
  • Personal Research Project 

Block 3: Select one from the list below:

  • Professional Practice: Moving into Industry 
  • Creative Media in Performance

Block 4: Dance Festival

See detailed module information

 

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

 

Overview

Teaching takes place through practical classes, seminars, workshops, discussions, tutorials, rehearsals, theatre and community visits, screenings, and performances. Learning through practice is essential to this course and you will engage in active, experiential and reflective learning throughout.

There is a varied mix of assessment to develop a range of skills including solo and group choreography and performance work, solo and group presentations, teaching practice, class work, viva voces, blogs, portfolios, marketing packs, action plans, and reflective and evaluative essays.

We have one of the largest teams of dance staff in the UK and, as they are practising artists and researchers, you can be assured of keeping up-to-date with current research and trends in dance. Our excellent teaching and research was acknowledged when DMU was designated a Centre for Excellence in the Teaching and Learning of Performance Arts.

Our academic dance staff have international reputations for performance, choreography, research and innovative teaching. World-renowned choreographer and former student, Akram Khan MBE, has acknowledged the “inspirational teaching” he experienced at DMU.

Dance staff work closely with local, national and international dance organisations including Fabric (formerly Dance4) and People Dancing. We also enjoy close links with artists and professional organisations, such as the Akram Khan Company, New Art Club, Moving Together and Serendipity Arts who have offered students work experience and internships.

Contact hours
In your first year you will normally attend around 15 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 22 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.

 

Facilities and features

This is my moment.

Performance facilities

Recognised nationally as a centre for excellence in performance arts, DMU has outstanding courses, teaching and facilities. Our Performing Arts Centre for Excellence (PACE) building provides sector-leading spacious studios, rehearsal rooms and fully equipped performance spaces. There are further fully equipped performance spaces in our Campus Centre and the Venue@DMU, a purpose-built space created to host events, performances and celebrations. 

All of our spaces can be transformed to turn your ideas into a reality. Your creative work is supported by expert technicians and you can book rehearsal space and equipment such as digital video cameras, sound recording equipment and editing suites. 

Take a look at our stunning showcase of the PACE building and facilities at dmu.ac.uk/perform 

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Campus Centre

The home of  De Montfort Students' Union, (DSU) our Campus Centre offers a welcoming and lively hub for student life. Conveniently located at the heart of campus, it includes a convenience store, a Subway and a Starbucks. Here you can find the DSU-owned charitable accommodation service Sulets and DSU’s shop, SUpplies, selling art supplies, stationery and clothing, and printing and binding services. The building is also home to the DSU officer team. 

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
575x320-opportunities-dance-ba-placements

Placements

During this course you will have the option to complete a paid placement year, an invaluable opportunity to put the skills developed during your degree into practice. This insight into the professional world will build on your knowledge in a real-world setting, preparing you to progress onto your chosen career. 

Our Careers Team can help to hone your professional skills with mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and an assigned personal tutor will support you throughout your placement. Recent placements at Moving Together, FABRIC, People Dancing and New Art Club have allowed our students to gain valuable knowledge within a professional organisation. 

#DMUglobal Dance students in India

DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons, helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK-based activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Students on this course have previously undertaken DMU Global trips to Copenhagen, to explore and experience the city’s cultural and historical performance landscape, as well as visited Berlin and destinations further afield such as New York.

dance-dance-revolution

Graduate careers

Graduates of this course are creative, entrepreneurial practitioners who are able to respond to the ever-changing demands of the current dance profession. They are equipped to successfully work in a range of dance-related careers as educators, performers, and choreographers, as well as managers and producers.

Our students have gone on to work as heads of school and college dance departments, university lecturers, community dance practitioners, as well as the former Director of Dance at Arts Council England and award-winning choreographers, such as Akram Khan.

Graduates also have the opportunity to progress on to postgraduate study at DMU such as the Performance Practices MA and Choreography MA in collaboration with FABRIC (Dance4 and DanceXchange together).

Kadafi Mulula, BA (Hons) Dance, 2021

‘Dance at DMU helped improve my self-confidence and I made connections with dance artists and dance organisations from around the UK. I went on to study the highly competitive MA Contemporary Dance Performance (professional placement) at Northern School of Contemporary Dance (2021/22) with Company Chameleon in Manchester.’

Kadafi has been contracted as a professional company dancer since June 2022.

Emma Savage, BA (Hons) Dance, 2021

‘Dance at DMU enhanced my knowledge of the overall dance sector and introduced me to the variety of different pathways dancers can take within the creative industries. The lecturers really help students develop their skills to suit their chosen career path. The Dance course at DMU provides opportunities, experiences and partnerships that are worthwhile and beneficial, so you feel confident graduating from university and entering the world of work with first-hand knowledge of the industry.’

Emma is working as a Community Dance Practitioner with Moving Together

Take your next steps

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