This MA is offered by North East dance organisation, Dance City, in partnership with the University of Sunderland. The course is based at the Dance City Sunderland studios, with visits throughout the year to Dance City Newcastle studios and theatre.
The course lasts 38-weeks and is a practice-based qualification that offers new and recent dance graduates the opportunity to develop their dance practice and technique, learn and develop choreography, and perform in work by leading choreographers.
The course has a broad and current approach, which includes physical theatre and experimental forms, and is designed to produce strong, highly employable dancers who will be able to work in a range of settings.
The focus of this MA is for the dancing of the students to meet the public. The primary vehicle for this is 'The Collective', Dance City’s touring company. The Collective creates work that is physically captivating and relevant today, presented in theatres across the country as well as in offsite locations and through digital platforms. There are opportunities to engage with a range of partner venues and participants through the wraparound work of the company.
This course is designed to build on HND or Foundation Degree qualifications in music. It combines degree-level theoretical studies with further training in musical performance, musicology, creative sound and participatory practice. The result is a mix of academic rigour and practical skills that makes our Music course a stimulating journey of discovery, reflection and achievement.
Why us?
- Top up an HND or foundation degree to a full honours degree, studying with award-winning lecturers
- Pursue your passion through independent music study with either a practical or theoretical focus
- Opportunities to participate in musical theatre projects and choir performances and collaborate with dance, drama and media students
- Study in a vibrant city music scene with new arts, culture and music venue investment
- Exceptional menu of modules, ranging from musicology and creative sound to community/education work and musical multimedia
- Aspiring teachers can gain experience of working as a music facilitator in educational and community settings
Performing, composing, writing, debating – this course is geared towards the needs of the contemporary musician. There’s an emphasis on being able to thrive in different professional and industry contexts.
At Sussex, Music focuses on performance, composition and critical thinking. Designed to be expansive, this BA cuts across genres such as popular, classical, film, global and avant-garde. You’ll:
You’ll learn from composers, performers and musicologists. There’s an emphasis on creativity and challenging assumptions. Our faculty combine practical musicianship skills with performing and writing music, arranging and music history.
You’ll also benefit from our connections with local music organisations. These include Glyndebourne, the world-class opera venue in the Sussex Downs near Lewes, and The Rose Hill, an independent music venue and creative hub run by artists and musicians in Brighton.
Some of our recent graduates have been signed to labels, made the BBC Radio 6 Music A-list, toured professionally, played at SXSW, released albums or composed music for advertising. Others have gone on to record labels, to Nordoff Robbins music therapy, or to jobs in film and game composition.
This course is offered by North East dance organisation, Dance City, in partnership with the University of Sunderland.
Our unique course has been designed by leading dance professionals to prepare you for a varied and multi-faceted career, ensuring you are able to thrive in a range of roles and settings within the dance sector and beyond.
The course begins and ends in the studio, and you’ll be dancing from morning to evening most of the time. It is a challenging course that will require much of you physically, socially, and creatively across the three years of practice and study. We are committed to offering a foundation of support and care to enable you to make to the most of this opportunity.
Dance City graduates are top-class performers, teachers, choreographers, producers, and cultural managers. We have mapped our graduates into more than 50 creative career paths so far. We are proud to be empowering the next generation of dance professionals and invite you to create your dance future.
Pursue your interests in theatre and performance, with the added benefit of studying a language.
Through a distinctive combination of practice and theory, you examine theatre’s historical, political and cultural contexts. You’ll discover how theatre has impacted on society and encourages new modes of thinking.
Alongside this, you’ll develop skills in theatre-making and performance analysis. You have the opportunity to use our versatile facilities, including the state-of-the-art Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts on campus.
Choose one language from Arabic, British Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, or you can choose to study English Language Teaching. The languages we offer can be studied at a variety of levels, depending on your chosen language.
This is a four-year version of our popular BA (Hons) Performing Arts course, with an integrated foundation year. Learn to be a versatile performing artist. Personalise your studies to suit your evolving interests and aspirations. Become a confident, experienced, industry ready professional.
Study in a multidisciplinary way – which you will know is reflective of the industry. Experiment with new things, create a personal pathway with a focus on dance, drama or musical theatre or a mix of all three. Personalise your studies to suit your evolving interests and aspirations. Build the necessary skills to succeed in higher education, recognise your own strengths and idiosyncrasies and establish yourself as an employable practitioner.
Whether you wish to dance, act, devise, choreograph, teach or facilitate, this course will give you the skills, techniques, confidence and experience to be industry ready. You will develop as a creative and versatile individual; we want you to graduate with the best opportunities possible that will prepare you for a successful career in the performing arts world.
The performing arts industry has evolved significantly over the past decade, shaped by global shifts in technology, audience engagement, and industry demands. The rise of digital streaming platforms, the impact of the pandemic on live performance, and the increasing importance of screen acting, and self-produced content have transformed the landscape for emerging actors.
Our new BA Acting for Stage and Screen has been designed to reflect these changes, offering a dynamic and contemporary training experience that prepares students for careers across theatre, television, film, and digital media. This course builds on the foundations of traditional actor training while embracing the latest industry trends, including screen performance techniques, motion capture, voice work, and self-taping for auditions.
Rooted in professional practice, this course draws on our strong industry connections to deliver a curriculum that is rigorous, practical, and intellectually stimulating. Students will develop a deep understanding of performance craft, storytelling, and industry professionalism while exploring their creative identity as actors.
With a strong emphasis on employability, professional development, and sustainability in the arts, our BA Acting for Stage and Screen equips graduates with the skills, confidence, and adaptability to thrive in an ever-changing entertainment industry. Whether their passion lies in live performance, screen acting, or new digital platforms, this course empowers students to harness their talents and build flourishing careers in the performing arts industry.
Our Musical Theatre degree is a two-year intensive programme that provides practical training in the essential triple-threat disciplines of acting, singing, and dancing. This course is designed to offer an industry-relevant and focused study experience, ensuring you gain the skills needed for a successful career in the musical theatre industry.
You will receive professional training from experienced industry professionals who are dedicated to developing you into a creative, independent, thinking artist. Our course aims to make you relevant to the demands of the industry today. Throughout your studies, you will gain a thorough and practical understanding of how the musical theatre industry operates. This comprehensive training ensures that you develop transferable skills that enhance your employability potential across various fields.
The course covers a wide range of topics including audition techniques, stage presence, choreography, and voice training. You will also delve into character development, scene study, and musical theatre history. The training is designed to provide you with production skills and showcase opportunities that are critical for industry networking.
Throughout the programme, there is a strong emphasis on collaboration and the creative process. You will work closely with your peers and instructors in a supportive environment, fostering your ability to work effectively in professional settings. The course also includes training in technical theatre, ensuring you have a well-rounded understanding of theatre performance and professional stagecraft.
Graduates of this programme will leave with a robust set of performance techniques, acting techniques, and artistic development skills. They will be well-prepared to pursue careers in the musical theatre industry, backed by strong industry connections and comprehensive career preparation. With opportunities for creative performance and the development of dance techniques and singing techniques, our graduates are equipped to excel in various performance opportunities on stage and screen.
Location: Cardiff
