
BA (Hons) Dance
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2023
You can also study this course:
Gain a broad understanding of the dance industry and the ability to manage a successful career in this exciting field. Become a thinking practitioner of dance and spend time looking at performance development through choreography and dance science.
Focusing on jazz and commercial styles, this dynamic degree programme will also give you the opportunity to work with professional dancers, choreographers, arts organisations, and fitness centres.
Pathways
Our Dance programme gives you the opportunity to choose your specialism for your future career after your experience of the core curriculum. Rather than having to make your big career decision before you join us, we introduce you to various specialisms and offer you the flexibility to choose the pathway which leads to your chosen career.
Make your application to BA (Hons) Dance. You'll then choose one of the below pathways and your final degree award will be the pathway you have chosen.
These pathways are also offered as four-year programmes, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

What will I study on this pathway?
This pathway focuses on commercial dance forms, jazz dance and classical ballet are the foundational styles but you will also have the chance to take classes in other diverse dance styles which may include K-Pop, AfroDance, Commercial, Hip Hop and contemporary. The supportive course team help to nurture your dance technique whilst also teaching you the transferable skills needed for your future career in the dance industry.
In your final year you’ll focus on skills which prepare you for the dance industry. You will gain knowledge of how to contact agents, market yourself as a dance professional, undertake work experience and spotlight your skills in a final showcase performance.
You will graduate with BA (Hons) Dance.

What will I study on this pathway?
This pathway puts a focus on both dance and fitness. You’ll explore movement in relation to the human body and performance, and you’ll discover the must-knows for anyone considering a career within the dance and fitness sector.
You will gain in-depth psychological and physiological knowledge and be confident in fitness testing and personal training other people. You will regularly work in the Human Performance Lab and university gym, planning fitness programmes, analysing movement and researching the effects of different fitness interventions. You will gain useful knowledge about injury prevention and rehabilitation.
You will graduate with BA (Hons) Dance and Fitness.
Why study this subject?
There are many opportunities and potential career routes within the dance industry. This course will help you to extend your skills, nurture your talent and turn your passion into a fulfilling career. Whether you would like to pursue performance, teaching, choreography or fitness, supportive staff will guide you on your way.

The teaching staff on this course are kind, supportive, experienced and inspirational people. They deliver excellent and innovate practical and academic classes. They continue to actively work in the industry and are always available to provide any support we may need as students. Each module is carefully designed and taught in a way that benefits us and is relevant to the current dance world.Michelle Charles

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
As part of the Art, Design and Performance School at BNU, you’ll benefit from a practiced-based course, supported by contextual studies. Led by a dedicated and experienced course team, you’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. You will also have the chance to work closely with guest artists who are still active in the dance industry and who will further nurture your learning and professional development throughout your time at BNU.
As well as this we seek to bring your work into the wider world and to bring the world into the university. During your time at BNU you’ll have the opportunity to perform at external venues and showcase your skills to the local dance community. You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively across the university with other courses such as Sports therapy and Photography, ensuring that you are building a varied network, like you would in the real world.

With London only a short train ride away, you are only a stones-throw away from the hustle and bustle.
Stay updated with all our latest BA (Hons) Dance news by following us on Instagram @dance_bnu
Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as entrepreneurship, creativity, health & wellbeing and culture. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.
There are two things that I enjoy most about studying at Buckinghamshire New University: the support and professional development. It is truly inspiring when teachers are just as passionate as you are about the course. Also, I feel like my professionalism has grown tremendously. I feel like if I did not attend BNU then I would still be the shy, anxious and unconfident person I was three years ago.Abbie Hammant

What facilities can I use?
Our well-rounded course offers you the chance to use a range of our state-of-the-art facilities on campus, including a well-equipped gym, dance studios, fitness studio and a Human Performance Lab.
Our dance studios are fully equipped with everything you’ll need to practice and create routines. These bright and open spaces, where you can let your creativity flow, are all air conditioned, with overhead gallery lighting, audio playback facilities, fully sprung floors and wall length mirrors.
Our Human Performance Laboratory has been designed to increase athletes’ performance through improved technique, and also assists with injury prevention and rehabilitation. The lab is home to an indoor three-lane running track that incorporates 3D motion-capture technology and is equipped for assessing a range of physiological, biomechanical and psychological parameters.
You’ll also have access to the Wycombe Swan Theatre and Wycombe Town Hall as part of our Wycombe Swan Residency. The Swan Theatre sits adjacent to the University and is one of the UK’s leading regional theatres.
How will I be taught and assessed?
This industry focused programme is delivered through a variety of teaching mediums, with a strong onus on combining theory and practice through studio classes, workshops, masterclasses, and seminars. These are all designed to provide a stimulating authentic learning environment with multiple opportunities for you to work with professional dance artists.
Assessment has been designed to be as authentic as possible with a strong focus on practical skills and reflective practice. Assessment is ongoing and often focused on the process as well as the end point to best reflect real-world practice. The overall aim is to use innovative teaching and learning methods to guide you towards becoming more independent learners by the end of the programme, and to allow you to explore issues fully in the context of your work.
By your final year, we expect you to have attained a level of independent learning and the ability to apply the knowledge and theoretical understanding you have developed in the earlier years of the course to a particular case study or project of your own devising. Within this independent research project, you get the chance to focus in on a particular area of dance practice that interests you.

I have used the physical skills I developed and learnt in my training with BNU. All those jazz technique lessons I went to over the years have really made me feel confident in my abilities and shown that I can succeed in professional jobs. There were also a variety of modules where I felt I developed leadership skills and again I have taken this forward into my life since leaving university.Jake Kernot


Open Days
We understand that when it comes to deciding where you’d like to study, there are a lot of things to consider. Come along to our Open Day and discover why BNU could be the place for you. You can find out more about your course, meet the course team, and get all your questions answered.

Application Guide
For everything you need to know about applying, check out our Application Guide. You can find useful information for each stage of your application journey – from before you even apply to what to do if you receive an offer, and everything in between.
Dance at BNU has helped me to grow and excel as a dancer. There are beneficial and exciting masterclasses whereby a variety of dance styles are taught which enables communication between the students and the dance creatives within the dance industry. Lastly, the lecturers provide excellent support.Tatiana Ashiao

What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.
As part of the application process, candidates will be invited to attend an audition and interview.
Audition/Interview Process
Your audition/ interview will consist of joining in a 1-1.5 hour dance workshop. This could be in any dance style depending on what guest dance artist we have scheduled in for that week. You need to ensure you wear appropriate clothing for the audition and please be prepared to dance in bare feet/ trainers dependent on the style. We will be watching the audition and rather than looking specifically at your proficiency in the dance style, we are looking for students who are open-minded to trying different styles, who can apply feedback appropriately and who have potential.
This will then be followed by an individual/ small group interview with one of the dance team. During the interview we will be asking questions to assess your suitability for the course and you will also have the chance to ask us any questions you may have regarding the course. This will last approximately 15 minutes.
What you must bring with you
As well as suitable dance attire, please bring a piece of written work with you as a demonstration of your academic writing style.
Information for overseas students
Please note, students who live overseas and are unable to attend an interview/audition should submit a video/YouTube/Vimeo link in place of attending in person. This should be a 1-2 minute video of you dancing. This can be in any style you wish and can be a solo/ group piece (if it is a group piece, please make it clear to us which one you are in the video). This video should be a good example of your dance technique in your chosen style. Please email your dance video and an example of a piece of written work
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
This course has Opportunity modules.
Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers. Find out more.
You must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 4 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue.
In addition, you must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 5 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue.
You must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 4 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue.
In addition, you must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 5 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue.
What are the tuition fees
Home
Home, Academic Year 2023 - 2024
£9,250 per year
International
Overseas/International, Academic Year 2023 - 2024
£15,000 per year
What are my career prospects?
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.
Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a range of career possibilities. Using the skills and knowledge learnt on this course, you could find yourself performing the following roles all over the world:
- Dancer
- Entertainer
- Fitness instructor
- Teacher
- Dance choreographer
BNU couldn’t have prepared me more for the world of work. I gained so many transferable skills that I have to put into practice daily. Without my course I wouldn’t have the knowledge to make this possible.Colette Adams

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