Dance

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Study Dance at Roehampton

Studying Dance

Studying Dance

Roehampton’s dance courses provide a range of routes into the study and performance of dance. Each of our courses allows you to explore dance as both an area of study and a creative practice. You’re able to personalise your learning, discover new approaches and take on challenges.

Our dance graduates go onto various careers, working as professional dancers and choreographers, or going into education, including academia.

London is home to some of the UK’s – and the world’s – foremost dance institutions, including Sadlers Wells Theatre, Jackson’s Lane and the Royal Ballet School. Roehampton’s links with these, and other institutions, enable all our students to experience the best dance culture that the city has to offer.

Course highlights

BA Dance

  • Daily technique classes
  • Dance to live accompaniment by professional musicians
  • Learn directly from practitioners through our partnerships with choreographers, dance artists and companies

Module highlight: Thinking Through Dance  (Year 1)

This module develops your dance history knowledge. However, it’s not a simple chronological investigation of events, but provides space for critical investigations of dances within their contexts, traditions and cultures. Sessions are built around historical figures who shaped dance history. The module examines ways in which dance histories are constructed, or lost, and how they shaped the thinking and inspiration of dance makers through time until the present day.

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BFA Dance

  • The only Dance BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in the UK
  • In your fourth year, explore curating and dance teaching
  • Internship opportunities with dance companies in London and further afield

Module highlight: Dramaturgy and Collaborative Practice (Year 3)

Dramaturgy – the study of dramatic composition – has grown into a key area of professional practice in dance and choreography today. This practical module allows you to test different perspectives and methods of contemporary dramaturgy, engaging your analytical, reflexive and constructive thinking skills through collaboration with students on choreography modules. This module will be especially helpful if you want to develop an innovative portfolio career.

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Where will you study?

All practical dance classes take place in studios in the Michaelis Building, located at the southwestern corner of our parkland campus. All our dance studios have sprung floors and underfloor heating. During the annual student-led Footprint Dance Festival the campus as a whole becomes a hub of dance performance and activities.

Alumni successes

Roehampton’s dance alumni have gone on to success in many areas of dance, including as choreographers, dancers and educators.

Christopher Hird (BA Dance): Director of Education for the Sarasota Ballet
Dr Rowan McLelland (MA Dance Anthropology): dance educator and researcher
Evangelina Kolyra (MFA Choreography): choreographer
Akosua Boakye BEM (BA Dance): dance educator; founder and Director of AkomAsa Performing Arts Academy; British Empire Medal recipient
Shaun Dillon (BA Dance): choreographer, dancer and educator; founder and Artistic Director of Dillon Dance Company; One Dance ‘Rising Star’, 2018

image credit Mike Massaro

Who you’ll learn from

Sara Houston
BA and BFA Dance course convener, Deputy Head of Dance

Sara Houston trained at the Laban Centre for Music and Dance and was awarded her PhD by Roehampton. Her research focuses on community dance and political issues around dance, particularly dance for people who feel marginalised in society. Her prize-winning research into the benefits of dance for Parkinson’s patients, conducted in collaboration with the English National Ballet, has won international recognition. Her book on the subject, Dancing with Parkinson’s, was published in 2019.

In addition to her research, Dr Houston is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Societies

Roehampton Students’ Union runs dozens of societies where you can meet likeminded students to explore hobbies and interests. This includes various dance-focused societies like the Roehampton Dance Society, the BBoy/KPop Dance Society, Competitive Dance Team and various other groups dedicated to music and performance.

The annual Footprint Dance Festival organised by second- and third-year students, is a week-long celebration of dance on campus, featuring performances and talks by students and academics.

Virtual Tour

Virtual Tour

Take a Virtual Tour

Have a look around our campus using our new virtual tour.

View highlighted accommodation, department buildings, student life and student support spaces.

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Virtual Tour

Student Life

Student Life

Why Roehampton?

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Being a student at a campus university in London gives you the best of both worlds. We are lucky enough to have a 54-acre parkland campus to call home, and are only 30 minutes from central London.

We offer plenty of opportunities for you to get involved through playing sport, music, volunteering, or joining one of over 50 student societies. We also have catering outlets, across campus, and each College has social spaces where you can meet up with your friends and relax.

Our campus is close to Putney, Hammersmith and Wimbledon, which each have wide a range of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. With central London so close, you can easily access the wealth of culture, entertainment and dining options the capital has to offer.

Accommodation

Accommodation

We have among the most affordable student accommodation in London and can offer all new students a place in halls. We have a range of options to suit all tastes and budgets. Each room is:

  • Single occupancy
  • Furnished
  • En-suite or semi en-suite
  • Self-catered with shared kitchen facilities

Fees also include utility bills and contents insurance. We have Flat Reps and wardens living in on-campus accommodation to provide support and information when you need it.

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Support services

Support services

Meet our Wellbeing Team

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At Roehampton we are focused on ensuring you succeed, and have a wide range of support services to help you at every step of your journey.

Wellbeing – our team are able to provide personal wellbeing support, professional counselling and mental health support. Each college has a Student Wellbeing Officer and a College Warden, the latter is available after hours for all on campus students.

Medical – we have an on-site NHS medical centre which provides doctor and nurse-led services.

Disability and dyslexia – we encourage students to let us know about specific needs so we can work with you to tailor our support.

Financial – we have a wide range of scholarships, and a student hardship fund for those students in financial difficulty.

Chaplaincy – our diverse community is reflected in our multi-faith chaplaincy and we have a number of spaces for worship.

Study support – all students have an Academic Guidance Tutor, as well as access to library support and online study resources.

Next Steps

Next steps

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Find out how to make an application to us below

We hope you found our Digital Open Day informative

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