MA Dance: Creative Dance Education
Manchester, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 16,380 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time International students; Home students £8,820 per year
Introduction
This course will support the development of your teaching, challenging you to embed creativity and inclusivity at the heart of your practice. Over three trimesters, you'll explore the approaches, creative practices and professional skills needed to excel in dance teaching and facilitation. Study the art and science of dance pedagogy, considering a wide range of learning needs, teaching styles and modern perspectives on teaching and learning.
You can choose to develop your teaching practice for a range of formal and informal teaching environments. Your values and personal teaching philosophies are central to shaping and honing your practice.
Industry collaboration and real-world learning are central to our courses. You'll get an insight into teaching dance in various contexts to suit your ambitions as a dance artist. You'll refine your creative practice in masterclasses, participate in two work-based placements and observe professional commissions led by established professionals. These will provide you with invaluable industry experience whilst helping you to identify and support the artistry rooted in dance teaching.
Dance at Salford is a community of lecturers, students, artists in residence, alumni artists and visiting professionals who work together to provide professional training and education to support your career aspirations. As a postgraduate dance student studying at Salford, you'll have access to a vibrant local dance scene with links to local venues and dance organisations. We'll create collaboration and networking opportunities through live dance and music events, as well as access to discounted supplementary training and live performances, creating space to engage with like-minded creative artists.
Our MA Programmes are well respected in the industry, with graduates going on to work with Burnley College, St. Bedes College, Youth Zone Chorley, Active Tameside, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, Ruth Jones (Manchester Pride and Manchester Day Pride), Walk the Plank (Green Spaces Dark Skies), The Lowry Creative Education Team, Die Cast Mcr and Coalesce Dance Theatre.
You will:
- Be taught by practising dance professionals on a course with a reputation for supporting successful dance teachers and graduates
- Learn as part of a creative university with leading industry partnerships: with organisations such as Arts Council England, Joss Arnott Dance, Company Chameleon and The Lowry Theatre Manchester
- Be given the opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant arts and performance scene in Salford and Manchester
- Combine theoretical modules with real-world industry placements to develop yourself fully as a dance educator
- Elevate your skills and knowledge; opening up wider career possibilities and supporting sustainable careers in dance
- Study full-time or part-time to fit with your current professional obligations
Ideal Students
This is for you if...
- You’re an emerging or established dance educator who would like the opportunity to refine your craft and take your career prospects to the next level.
- You want to develop as both a dance teacher and creative artist, enabling you to pursue a long-term career in your field.
- You’re interested in the key theories, concepts and practices central to dance teaching and education.
Curriculum
Our master’s in Creative Dance Education programme combines theoretical learning, applied practice, and teaching placements in order to properly equip you for a career as a dance educator.
Spread over three trimesters, you will study modules that give you a deeper understanding of crucial aspects of dance such as choreography techniques, as well as the creative opportunities and challenges associated with dance in community and/or educational contexts. In addition, you’ll cover modules on teaching strategy in dance, and learn how to deliver dance education through workshops.
You’ll have a range of opportunities to put the things you’ve learned into practice through two industry placements throughout the year. Both of these placements will give you the chance to work in curriculum-based and non-curriculum-based settings.
Throughout this MA in dance education, you’ll learn key theories, concepts and practices that are vital to dance and education, as well as look into trends and current issues around teaching dance.
You’ll finish this course by completing a creative research project in which you’ll draw on your experience as a teacher and choreographer.
Full-time: semester one (September)
- Choreographic Practices
Full-time: semester two (January to May)
- Approaches To Dance Pedagogy
- Teaching Strategy and Design In Dance
- Dance Teaching Placement
Full Time: semester three (June to September)
- Industry Placement
- Practice-As-Research Project/Dissertation
Career Opportunities
After graduating with a master’s in dance education, you’ll be perfectly positioned to teach dance in a range of working environments. You may choose to pursue a career as a dance teacher in a school or college, a dance instructor or a choreographer, to name just some of your options. You’ll have a deep understanding of pedagogical approaches, an understanding of current practice, policy and legislation in the arts, as well as transferrable skills preparing you for a wide range of careers across the sector. Your ability to research, develop and deliver ideas in a creative and professional way will be highly valued by many employers.