BA (Hons) Professional Dance

Professional Dance (Top-Up) BA (Hons)

We pride ourselves on our small community of learners and teachers; this allows us to give you individual attention, and a supported sense of independence.

We are currently only accepting applicants to Year 3. Applicants will need to hold a Foundation Degree or equivalent level 5 qualification.

All applicants must go through an application process that includes practical elements and an interview, either at an in-person session or through a self-tape process if preferred. We want to make this a positive experience; our team has the skill to see potential even if your experience is limited.

Top up your skills and join a vibrant dance community. Immerse yourself in the activity of a national dance hub. Connect to dance in the studio and beyond. 

Overview

BA (Hons) Professional Dance (Top-Up) is practically focused and has a strong emphasis on developing your dance technique and performance skills in a range of forms. 

The course has a strong core training in contemporary dance practice, but also enables you to design your own technical development by engaging in regular classes in other styles. This is supported by Dance City’s public class programme with over 25 styles to choose from, including commercial, ballet, hip hop, musical theatre and many more. 

We value practical learning at Dance City; as such, you will have the opportunity to participate in and lead on real projects. In Year 3, you’ll collaborate to manage, coordinate, and curate a festival of your work at Dance City, open to the public and part of Dance City’s programme. As well as preparing you for work in dance, the skills developed on our course are highly transferable and will support further study or working life, whatever your path post-degree. 

Our course enables you to become a reflective practitioner, independent thinker, and changemaker. You’ll be introduced to the core skills of teaching and facilitation, management, administration, and producing.

You’ll be introduced to Dance City’s wider team, including producers, teachers, and dance managers in the first week of the course, so that you can develop relationships and learn from working practitioners.

We’ll empower you to engage with the theoretical and social study of dance and apply this to your own work.

We have a special, studio-based approach to this part of the course, and draw together practical choreographic development with dance history and scholarship, also including a unique set of reflective modules. 

Information regarding the programme closure

A unique programme designed by leading dance professionals to prepare you for a varied and multi-faceted career.

Unfortunately The Dance City Board of Trustees has taken the difficult decision to teach out our BA (Hons) Professional Dance programme and close the programme to applicants with immediate effect; no students will join in September 2025. All current students will be able to continue with our high-quality provision, with the final cohort completing their studies in summer 2026.

However, we are able to welcome students in September 2025 who wish to join our year 3 cohort.

Further information regarding the programme closure can be found by reading our official statement.