Careers Brief - Performing Arts: Dance FdA
Overview
The performing arts industry is highly competitive and demanding, but can be very rewarding. Within the field of dance, you can perform and find employment within a variety of related careers.
To succeed in dance you need to have talent, rhythm and timing, personality, a good movement memory, determination, enthusiasm and a high level of fitness and stamina. You may find work within a dance company or consider setting up your own.
You could progress onto related careers, such as: choreography; dance teaching, both in the public and private sector; movement therapy; community theatre; arts administration; arts journalism; complementary therapies (e.g. Alexander Technique). You could combine these routes.
For an overview of the industry sector, go to National Guidance Research Forum for 'LMI Future trends' and 'Sectors covered'.
To consider a wider choice of careers (matched to your interests) use Prospects Planner and other tools listed in the Career Planning section of this Careers Guide.
Go to the website links below to find out more.
Further Study
You may be able to apply for a Top-up degree. Top-up degree programmes are designed as direct progression from Foundation degree to achieve an Honours (or Ordinary) degree, though entry may be selective.
Alternatively, you could transfer onto a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be the final year.
Progression is possible onto the 3rd year of the BA (Hons) Performance Arts at the University of Winchester. Go to www.winchester.ac.uk/ for course information.
Institutions offering Top-ups with a dance specialism, include: Doncaster College; University of the Highlands & Islands; Hull College; Newcastle College; University of Sunderland; University of West London.
Other Top-ups in 'Performing Arts', include: University of Bolton; Brooksby Melton College; University of Cumbria; University of Gloucestershire; University of Huddersfield; Hull College; Leeds Metropolitan University; Leicester College; New College Nottingham; Sheffield Hallam University; Teeside University; University of the West of Scotland.
Also check out degree courses at University College Chichester; De Montfort University Leicester; Liverpool John Moores University.
To search degree courses go to www.ucas.com/ (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Go to the university/college links for information on costs and finance and to the section Financial support for additional help.
With a good Honours degree (First or 2.1), you may progress onto an appropriate higher level Masters and/or PhD doctorate. This could be to develop your area of study to a more in-depth practical and/or academic level or to gain other specialist training.
For information on postgraduate study and finance, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/study.htm .
Go to the main section on Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Useful Links
http://mycareerhub.bournemouth.ac.uk/
Bournemouth University Graduate Employment Service - job news, campus events, part-time work, graduate job, ask a question, book an appointment
Creative Choices developing your career in the creative and cultural industries - drop down sub-heading 'Choose a creative sector'
www.prospects.ac.uk/starting_out.htm
Graduate Prospects - national careers site for HE students studying in the UK:
Drop down sub-heading 'Careers advice' for 'Options with your subject'
http://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/
Next Step careers site - go to sub-heading 'Planning your career' for 'Job Profiles'
The Stage Online magazine - go to sub-heading 'Advice' for 'How to Guides'
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/dance
UKP-Arts: UK performance industry training and careers
Go to 'articles' and 'Career Profiles'
Equity - UK Trade Union representing professional performers and other creative workers across the entertainment, creative and cultural industries
BECTU - The Media & Entertainment Union
www.intute.ac.uk/creativearts/
Intute - free online service (updated until July 2011) helping you to find the best web resources for your studies and research
The British Association of Dramatherapists
Arts Professional - the UK's leading arts management magazine
www.britishcouncil.org/arts-drama.htm
British Council Drama information source - drop down 'Art Forms' for 'Dance'
The Council for Dance Education & Training - comprehensive information service
Arts Council England - national development agency for the arts in England
Arts Council of Wales
Creative Scotland - developing the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Dance UK - for the UK-based dance professional
Foundation for Community Dance - online directory of dance companies
Go to the Employability section of this Careers Guide for help and advice with making applications.
