Dance Degree

A Dance degree is an important degree for students looking to make their way in the world of modern dance. With a Dance degree, students can make a number of essential contacts in the world of dance.

The good thing about a Dance degree is that students are not limited to just Dance, students can also look at work in professional fitness and physiotherapy.

What is a Dance degree?

A Dance degree looks at all aspects of Dance; to start with, students will learn the history of dance, interpretive dance and discipline can take and how it is informed by rhythm and feeling. Students will also briefly touch on other performance styles and disciplines, such as acting and singing. It is not uncommon for a Dance degree to be studied as part of a joint honours degree with something like Music, Acting or even a subject you wouldn't expect like Business Studies.

For those that want to become fully licensed dancing instructors or who want to teach Dance practically or even Dance theory, you will likely need to study either PGCE degree or he will need to have a Masters degree or some other kind of postgraduate honour.

What can I do with a Dance degree?

Not every job that you can get with a Dance degree needs to be related to dance. You can also find work either in other standard performing arts jobs, or you can find work in other areas too.

The most glaringly obvious career that graduates look at is a Dancer. While it is true that you don't necessarily need a Dance degree in order to become a Dancer, having a Dance degree allows you to stand out from the crowd and is infinitely more likely to get you a job than those without. A Dance degree usually opens a lot of doors for people in terms of contacts, but the actual degree itself can be very useful, especially if you're being assessed or auditioned and you need something for you to stand out from the crowd. It’s common for people as well to become a Fully Licensed Dancing Instructor too. Becoming a Dancing Instructor means that you will likely need to have a Dance degree and will possibly need to have some kind of postgraduate degree.

Another common career to look into is a Choreographer. A Choreographer is someone who choreographs dance routines and often aids in the general planning, look, feel and sound of a show. A Choreographer will also be asked to work independently and form their own moves and routines as part of a loose brief given to them by their clients.

Many people also look into the world of Personal Training. It’s a common misconception to think that you are required to have a Sports Science degree in order to become a Personal Trainer. A Personal Trainer needs to have a good understanding of things such as muscle movement, good fitness, how to treat injuries, the importance of rest, and also how to stay lean and fit. A Dance degree teaches you a lot about the human body and this will help you a lot if you're applying to become a Personal Trainer.

Another route to look down is that of a Physiotherapist. A Physiotherapist is someone who helps patients with their physical disorders and someone who helps people who are going through rehabilitation or are recovering from long-term injuries. With a Dance degree, you will have a good understanding of how to aid with any problems or issues that someone may be experiencing and you will likely have to nurse one or two injuries yourself.

How will I be assessed?

There is more of a theoretical element to a Dance degree than you might think. A Dance degree is graded on both the theoretical and the practical elements, though the practical elements are generally more prevalent.

On the theoretical side, you will need to provide assignments, coursework and a dissertation on dance and the contemporary approach to it. Though there isn't too much to this section, the theoretical side of dance is just as important as the practical and this will be taught in both normal classes and in one-on-one sessions with your tutors.

The practical side is focused on teaching you specific movements and also on making sure that you take many of the disciplines you learn and applying them to new forms of dance. Your examination will be theoretical, but there will also be a practical element, which will most likely involve you having to perform a specific routine.

The assessment criteria will change depending on the university you attend.

What skills will I learn?

Every degree you study will give students the necessary skills to survive in both the working world and in general life.

The first skill you're likely to see an improvement on from a Dance degree is self-discipline. Self-discipline is an important part of dancing and knowing when to quit or knowing when to hold back is important and it's something that cannot necessarily be taught. You need to be able to find the strength in yourself to be able to handle the problems that dancing can potentially throw at you and if you can do that, then you will have a good shot at a career in Dance.

Flexibility is another important skill in Dancing. We’re not talking physically (although, that does massively help too), we’re talking about the ability to be able to take on multiple things at the same time and to be able to switch from one style to another without being overwhelmed. Flexibility is a valued asset in many different workplaces, not just dancing.

Collaboration is another important skill set. While not all workplaces require people to collaborate on projects, being able to get on with your fellow employees is very important and will make your time in work easier and will also be easier for you in the long run.

Resilience is another important skill. Like most people in the creative arts, a Dancer will face a lot of rejection when looking for work, so being resilient is how you will overcome a lot of this. Rejection is tough to deal with and so too is having to push and give more when you feel like enough is enough, however, with resilience, you will find that inner strength!

Will a Dance degree get me a job?

As with all degrees you study at university, there are no guarantees that you will find a job as a result of having a degree, but your chances definitely increase as a result of having one.

A Dance degree serves to show that you understand the theoretical and practical application of Dance, which will likely be a huge plus for employers.

Famous alumni

Madonna went to the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance and studied a Dance course, which she majored in, wonder if she ever did anything with it?