create | learn | inspire Contents 01 Welcome 01 Welcome About NSCD 05 – 07 The Conservatoire for Dance 09 and Drama Learning Our Courses 11 You are about Facilities & Opportunities 13 Riley Theatre 15 Support 16 Entry Requirements 19 Applying 20 to take your Auditioning 23 Fees & Finance 24 EU, EEA & International Students 27 Teaching Staff 28 next steps on a Life at NSCD A Cultural Hub 31 – 33 What Our Students Say 34 Learning & Participation 37 journey of dance Life after NSCD Our Graduates 39 – 41 Our Graduates Success 42 Directions 43 discovery. We are delighted to meet you. Welcome 03 Dance is transformative and at NSCD NSCD’s international staff is dedicated we see it changing lives. The staff and to providing an outstanding student I are proud of the expressive, reflective experience. Many guest artists and As Principal and Artistic Director performers and the distinctive creative companies enhance our provision, voices emerging from the school. It's enabling students to build connections of NSCD I have the great pleasure of extremely rewarding to see our graduates to the professional world. Our students achieving their ambitions. In so doing, are in safe hands and a friendly, intimate watching outstanding young performers, many are breaking new ground. We are and supportive environment which they also very excited to see many of them tell us feels like home. choreographers and future dance interested in reaching out to help make the world a better place through dance, Our practice is hard work and requires leaders begin their career paths knowing that dance matters. dedication and commitment. Having been a dancer, choreographer and and emerge into the dance industry. NSCD remains committed to the widening artistic director, I understand the physical access mission of our founding Principal, and mental ability necessary to succeed the visionary and pioneering Nadine in this business. So student wellbeing Senior MBE. Our mission is to provide is of paramount importance. Where inspirational learning, enabling aspiring support is needed we aim to provide dance artists, regardless of background, it at the highest level. We help students to shape the future of dance. We relish take responsibility to look after their the diversity in our student body and own health and wellbeing as part the creativity and cultural enrichment of their professional development. this brings to NSCD’s community and to our lives. Our alumni pursue varied careers as dance artists; performers, choreographers, Our educational approach encourages artistic directors and dance teachers. the openness and the personal growth Some go on to transfer their skills to required to become an artist. Through careers in arts education, arts management working together many of our students and leadership, or to work with physical form artistic collaborations that become therapies, health and nutrition. intrinsic to their professional careers. NSCD will help you build the skills, discipline We provide an inclusive learning and resources for a sustainable career environment and nurture a spirit of and a fulfilling life in and beyond dance. generosity in which everyone is equally valued. We encourage learning through Janet Smith ‘mistakes’ and aim to provide a safe place Principal and Artistic Director for students to take creative risks; to dare to be excellent and to inspire others. 05 About NSCD NSCD has a growing international reputation as a world-leading centre for dance education and attracts students from across the UK, Europe and worldwide. With approximately 220 students We offer: across all courses NSCD is small — Access to HE Diploma in enough for everyone to know each Contemporary Dance: This one-year, other, for students to make friends and full-time programme sets the groundwork collaborate across year groups. for further in-depth professional training. Our students become enriched with Our programmes focus on nurturing a range of technical, creative and resourceful and versatile individual performance experiences in a variety dance artists with highly-tuned technical, of contexts, which prepare them at the creative and performance skills. start of their journey towards a career in dance. The school provides a professional — BA (Hons) in Dance (Contemporary): environment in which students can This is a three-year full-time degree experience the very best contemporary programme focused on the development dance practice. The courses expose of versatile and individual dance artists. students to a range of contemporary Students become performers with techniques and ballet enriched by other highly tuned technical and creative skills, classes and workshops, including Yoga developed through dance experiences and body-mind classes. Input from in a variety of professional, studio and visiting artists compliments the curriculum community contexts. to include techniques such as Gaga — MA in Contemporary Dance and Flying-Low. Students also study Performance (VERVE): This one-year, choreography, improvisation, site-specific full-time programme offers students performance, screen dance and research a safe and inspiring space to grow methods. At all levels of study we aim to as artists, rigorously challenging develop the reflective skills and somatic their physical skill and building an understanding required to become understanding of the professional articulate and expressively nuanced working environment. dance artists. — MA in Contemporary Dance Performance (PAS): This one-year, full- We believe it is vital for students to make time programme provides an opportunity the connection between technical training, for students to undertake extensive creative exploration and performance. professional development and refine their Accordingly, all students have opportunities skills as performers, whilst apprenticing to perform their own creative work and with professional dance companies. work created by professionals. There are — MA in Dance and Creative Enterprise: a variety of platforms across the school Our new Masters programme enables year in a range of settings, depending on dance graduates and professionals at the course chosen. Performances happen varying stages of their careers to evolve within the school and at numerous venues and advance their artistic practice, whilst across the region and beyond. gaining further understanding of its value as a creative enterprise. About NSCD 07 About NSCD Why Choose NSCD Through the National Student Survey NSCD is part of the Conservatoire 2016 our students told us why they for Dance and Drama which is ranked thought NSCD was right for them: number one amongst UK performing arts conservatoires for overall student 96% of students said that staff made satisfaction (90%). the subject interesting and were enthusiastic about what they are teaching. Inclusivity NSCD aims to recruit students with 100% of students said they were the most potential. The diversity in our able to contact staff whenever they student body enriches the life of the needed them. school, feeding creativity and the cross- fertilisation of ideas. We are delighted "The teaching staff are incredible, I get a to have students from different countries genuine sense they care about individuals and cultures, of different ethnic and and are available to offer help and support socio-economic backgrounds and abilities and point me in the right direction." learning together. "My lecturers enabled me to pursue We continue to work really hard at NSCD my career with seriousness and to identify the barriers students may face devotion… furnishing me every day which prevent them accessing training with the instruments to keep on working or make it difficult for them to participate on what I considered necessary for my once they are here. We make it our duty development. Their teaching allowed to accept an individual's needs and make me to learn how to learn." reasonable adjustments accordingly. "I loved the variety of classes and We recognise the financial difficulty workshops. They offered something some students face with financing their for everyone during our time here. training. Bursaries are available to support The standard was consistently high." students with the cost of intensive professional training. "Great teaching approach. All the subjects linked together." Visit www.nscd.ac.uk for details or www.cdd.ac.uk. "Learner support is very catered to my needs." "We are able to book out and use the theatre space which is brilliant and unique." "The resources on offer in the library are sublime. The staff there have been very helpful over my entire time at NSCD." "The school is very open and friendly; I felt a genuine sense of community which informed my choice to study here." 09 The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama NSCD is one of eight institutions that form the world-leading Conservatoire 01 02 for Dance and Drama. The Conservatoire is publicly-funded The eight Conservatoire through the Higher Education Funding schools are: Council for England (HEFCE) and students are jointly registered with 01 Bristol Old Vic Theatre School NSCD and the Conservatoire. 02 Central School of Ballet As a partnership the Conservatoire offers world-class professional 03 London Academy of education and training in acting, Music and Dramatic Art circus arts, dance and technical theatre. The Conservatoire’s unique structure 04 London Contemporary 03 04 gives students opportunities for Dance School collaboration beyond the individual affiliate school. It also ensures that 05 National Centre for Circus Arts those schools receive government funding which contributes to the high 06 Northern School of cost of intensive training and education. Contemporary Dance 07 Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance 08 Royal Academy of Dramatic Art 05 06 Further information about the Conservatoire is available at — www.cdd.ac.uk 07 08 11 Learning Our Courses — Access to HE Diploma in Contemporary Dance — BA (Hons) Dance (Contemporary) — MA Contemporary Dance Performance (VERVE) — MA Contemporary Dance Performance (Professional Apprenticeship Scheme PAS) — MA Dance and Creative Enterprise Full course details are available from www.nscd.ac.uk or as a leaflet at the Learning back of this prospectus.