Level 5

Performing Arts (Dance Pathway) (HND)

Duration Age Group Study Start Cost Available Locations
2 YEARS ADULT FULL TIME 18/09/2025
£7500 per year * Southend Campus, Thurrock Campus
Duration Age Group Study Start Cost Available Locations
2 YEARS ADULT FULL TIME 18/09/2025
£7500 per year * Southend Campus, Thurrock Campus
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If you require any support with your UCAS application, please contact the HE Admissions team headmissions@southessex.ac.uk

If you require any support with your UCAS application, please contact the HE Admissions team headmissions@southessex.ac.uk

Overview

Course code: 4B22

Students will work as a member of the in-house dance company developing their skills base through levelled classes in all genres, while nurturing their own creative voice to prepare them for the varied employment opportunities available within the Performing Arts industry. Our holistic approach and company ethos will ensure that students enter the industry having developed a broad skills base through practical training in various disciplines and vocational contexts.

The first year is designed to introduce students to the broad spectrum of the Performing Arts Industry from a Dance specific pathway, with training in a variety of styles and techniques including contemporary dance classical ballet commercial, jazz ,tap and choreography for performance. With the exploration of theory based studies allowing for the acquisition of a wider understanding of the historical and cultural context of dance as an Art form. Students are encouraged to develop reflective and enquiring approaches to their work drawing on independent research in order to underpin their own practice. 

Through the second year students will continue to hone their practical skills participating in technique classes and refining their own choreographic style. An emphasis is placed on vocational training and the skills required to seek professional employment, with opportunities to explore current industry trends and expectations in order to equip them to enter into the industry. With a focus on preparing for auditions and castings, in addition to nurturing students own creativity, our aim is to fully prepare our students to pursue the diverse range of further education or employment routes currently available within the dance industry.

 

Entry Requirements

You will need a minimum of 64 UCAS points from one or more of the following:

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma
  • A Levels
  • T Levels
  • BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma
  • Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Or equivalent EU/International qualifications such as International Baccalaureate Diploma
  • And English GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C)

This list is not exhaustive other qualifications may be considered. Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application looking primarily at your portfolio/showreel of personal statement and reference.

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence.

Course Structure

Year One Units 

  • Performing Arts Industry
  • Professional Development
  • Jazz dance 1
  • Ballet 1
  • Contemporary 1
  • Commercial dance
  • Tap 1
  • Dance for Camera 

Year Two Units

  • Creative  Research Project
  • Working in the Performing Arts
  • Dance For Musical Theater
  • Contemporary Dance 2
  • Commercial Dance 2
  • Auditioning 
  • Performance Project 

Teaching & Learning

Contact  hours: 13 hours per week plus independent study - with spaces available at the campus or the Forum in Southend

Assessment & Feedback

All assessment on the HND Performing Arts (Dance Pathway) via coursework; there are no exams. 

Coursework is assed in a range of different ways in order to accommodate a variety of learning styles and aptitudes including workshops rehearsals performances presentations viva voce written essays dissertation and portfolio.

You will receive on-going feedback as part of your one-to-one sessions with your unit teachers. You will also receive summative feedback on all formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your unit leader. Feedback can be given in a range of different ways in order to accommodate a variety of learning styles and aptitudes including group critiques, recorded verbal feedback and written feedback. 

  • Industry workshops: these have previously included Joss Arnott Company, Joseph Toonga (Just Us Dance Theatre) and Avant Garde Dance
  • Trips to London for classes/workshops with current industry practitioner, plus watching current performance work; from fringe venues to larger institutions including Sadlers Wells & the National Theatre

Course Cost

Adult, full_time: £7500 per year

Fees are per academic year for Home/UK students.

The following course-related costs are included in the fees:

  • Guest speakers, visiting lecturers and industry focussed workshops will be included in your course over the three years.
  • Final Year students will have the opportunity to showcase their final year work at the end of their studies. This may be a local, national or online platform. Event/exhibition costs will be covered by the Faculty of HE. In the past this has included Festivals and at the Towngate Theatre. Students will be responsible for any additional costs associated with the production of their personal project (ie: printing, materials).
  • A residential trip is included in your course fees. The terms of this trip varies from year to year but links directly to unit content and assessment.
  • Annual £20 of printing credit per year.
  • Free Car Parking at Backstage Centre, Purfleet.

Additional course costs can be found here

What Next...

Many of our students continue their studies on our BA (Hons) in Performing Arts Top Up programme to complete their full degree, with others successfully gaining places on a range of BA (Hons) top-up programmes including musical theatre programmes at Bath Spa acting & dance degrees at Brooksby Melton & Colchester Institute plus level 6 dance programmes at Performers College, Middlesex University and London Studio. Those wishing to focus on teaching have gone on to gain their teaching qualifications under dance examination boards.

Other students have entered the industry gaining employment at Disney Land Paris, P&O cruises or gaining dance teaching qualifications (ISTD)

Live Briefs:

Previous performance opportunities have included the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on The Mall, local Carnivals, Christmas Events and collaboration projects.

Recent post-graduate destinations include:

Continuing their studies at The Creative Academy, Addict, Urdang, Birds and Wilkes Academy