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Middlesex and Roehampton


hellokitty

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Hi,

Would anybody be able to share some information regarding the contemporary classes on the BA Dance Performance/Studies course at Middlesex? I have applied to both Roehampton and Middlesex but am torn between the two in regards to the amount of technique classes I will receive at each of them. Looking at the course online, Middlesex seems to have more performance based modules but would like to know if this is the case?

 

Additionally, does anyone have any knowledge of the reputation of both Middlesex and Roehampton for dance?

 

Thanks :)

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It's really difficult to advise place X over place Y. In my work, the research activity at Roehampton is recognised as making it a very good place fir dance, but I don't know about the daily schedules. 

 

Have you gone to Open Days? you can ask about a typical daily schedule at those sorts of events? Have you auditioned for either or both, and you're considering offers? There are often what we call "Offer Holder Visitor Days" where you can go, holding your offer, and look for the things that will help you decide. Things to think about:

studio space - is it bookable by students? is it available to students? how many studios? how busy?

Course structure: what is the balance between practical studio/creative practice, and theoretical studies? What sorts of modules? 

Library - what resources are available?

Housing & accommodation

Student life: student societies - if they're important to you

Employability help: what artistic directors visit? are there opportunities to be seen?

Current students: talk to them! ask questions about their lives & studies

 

If you can't get to an Offer Holder day, you can also do a fair bit of this research by really digging into each university's website. Get past the UCAS adverts and PR (we all have to have that!) and try to find the department's web pages. There you may be able to see module descriptions, or at least an overall course structure.

 

The thing to realise about both those degree programmes is that they are not conservatoire studies like Laban or London Contemporary (at The Place) or Rambert. So they are Arts degrees first & foremost, and there will be a higher proportion of "contextual" or theoretical studies than at Rambert et al. And you should see this as a good thing! If you have auditioned for both universities & conservatoires, but not reached the standard required bu a conservatoire, your career in dance may be a more mixed career. It doesn't mean you won't dance for a living of course! Or conversely, if you go to a conservatoire, you are not guaranteed to dance for a living! But today's dance artists, in other than the top schools which feed through to companies (eg RBS, Paris Opera etc etc), have much more varied careers, and will need a full range of thinking & writing skills at a high level, as well as dance skills at a high level.

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