BirdCollege Conservatoire for dance and musical theatre Entry 2020 This booklet is intended to provide an indication of the opportunities available at Bird College. Application forms are included towards the end of the document. Updates to course fees and funding information will be made throughout the year - these will be announced on the College website. birdcollege.co.uk Rated ‘Outstanding’ for overall effectiveness Ofsted Report January 2016 For a large print version of this document call: BirdCollege Conservatoire for 020 8300 6004 dance and musical theatre Dear Applicant Contents This leaflet contains details on all the courses available Mission statement 03 but should you require further information please do not hesitate to contact the Registry Office. Introduction 04 Accommodation 05 Extra Curriculum 05 BA(Hons) Professional Dance and Musical Theatre 06 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre 07 Pre-Professional Foundation Year in Dance and Theatre Performance 08 In partnership with Founder Doreen Bird MA, FISTD, ARAD Chief Executive and Joint Principal Shirley Coen BA(Hons), FRSA Joint Principal and Artistic Director Luis De Abreu MA, PGCE, FRSA Bird College is an accredited provider of the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre bird our approach This college is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. To request a copy of our policy please email: [email protected] The mission of Bird College is to preserve and build upon its reputation for excellence as a leading and unique provider of vocational education and training in dance, music and theatre performance. Our Vision The College’s premises are accessible to all users, When Performance Counts and the College works hard to continue to improve its facilities. The College will adjust the timetable to ensure that all candidates successful at audition Our Mission can benefit from the training in premises that meet To be an outstanding and innovative international provider their needs. of education and professional training in Dance, Music The College’s Access and Inclusion Committee and Musical Theatre. monitors accessibility in all its forms. An independent organisation undertakes an annual Health and Safety Our Values and Guiding Principles check, and the College’s Health and Safety Committee At Bird College we expect staff and students to monitors premises regularly. behave in accordance with the following values and guiding principles: • To aspire for excellence • To value and celebrate individuality and diversity • To nurture and develop artistic talent • To encourage versatility • To develop resilience and employability in our students • To be respectful and courteous • To listen and communicate 03 when performance counts Bird College is committed to enabling young performers identify, develop and nurture their individual skills. We provide a first class educational experience, attracting a diverse, international student body to study on exceptional programmes, validated by leading educational institutions. Our facilities allow students to train in a well equipped environment. The College’s location, on the south-east edge of London, is within easy reach of the city centre, providing a wealth of opportunities for research, cultural activities and performance experience. The quality of training that we offer is demonstrated by the exciting achievements of our graduates, who build successful careers in a wide range of dance and theatre disciplines. We offer all applicants an audition, where you can begin to understand more fully the unique about admission Bird College experience. Applicants for the BA (Hons) Professional Dance and Musical Theatre should normally be eighteen years of guiding your development age before September 1st of the enrolment year and Bird College has an exceptional faculty of staff with have achieved the academic qualifications, or the a unique breadth of experience in the theatre industry. equivalent, required for entry to university. Importantly, that experience is combined with excellent Applicants for the Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre professional qualifications; our students regularly achieve and the Pre Professional Foundation Year should normally a 100% pass rate. Students are also taught by a team of be sixteen years of age before September 1st of the visiting lecturers and guest choreographers, many of enrolment year. whom are ex-students of Bird College, who have gained international reputations in their specialist field. Candidates for all courses are normally expected to have received some prior dance training, ideally to The Bird Theatre Company enables students to work Intermediate 1 standard, and must be successful in with established choreographers and to perform in the UK the College audition which assesses potential skills and Europe. Performance opportunities in theatre, in dance, singing and drama, as well as suitability television and cabaret are managed through the Bird for a career in the theatre profession. Agency. This professional theatre agency is registered with the Department of Employment and guides graduate Bird College aims to recruit the best possible students, students in their careers after leaving the College. assessed at audition solely on the basis of talent and Bird College has an outstanding record of success, aptitude. The College welcomes applications from all with ex-students winning leading roles in the musical candidates that aspire to meet our standards. theatre business, and with international contemporary For those with a special need, we strongly advise that dance and classical ballet companies. you alert our Registrar to this at the point of application. This will allow us to arrange to meet this need at audition and adapt our programmes accordingly should you be successful in gaining a place. 04 accommodation for students Aged 16 Students are required to either live at home or with a College approved host family. All residents aged 16+ at the host family address have DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks. This is in accordance with current child protection laws. Aged 17 The college would prefer these students to reside with College approved host families. However should the student not wish to the college will require written parental consent. Aged 18+ Students are able to reside at University of Greenwich Halls of Residence at the Avery Hill Campus. This is approximately one mile from the college. Details of types of accommodation available can be found at: www.gre.ac.uk/about/accommodation/halls/avery_hill Other options for 18+ students are to rent a room in a house/flat with other students. There are a large number of properties to rent in the area through local estate agents. Alternatively we do have a small number of host families that only take over 18 year old students. extra curriculum FDI Students are also given the opportunity to take the first 6 units of the ISTD teaching qualifications in Tap, Ballet and Modern. These are available during college holidays for an additional cost. Musical Instrument Tuition The college is also able to offer musical instrument tuition. Students can continue with instrument tuition or are able to take up a new instrument should they wish. Website Please visit the website for information on performances, short courses, audition dates and open days. 05 when performance counts BA(Hons) Validated by the University of Greenwich. professional dance and musical theatre Accredited by Council for Dance, Drama This course is validated by the University of Greenwich and Musical Theatre (CDMT). and is designed to offer students the chance to develop Length of course 3 years full time high levels of performance skills. Students engage with Entry Age 18+ a range of dance disciplines, as well as the closely Entry requirements Entry is by audition and interview with a related genres of musical theatre and acting. This is set minimum 64 UCAS points at A level; with a minimum of 2 x within the context of a demanding programme of Grade ‘C’s at A2 level or equivalent for other qualifications. academic study. This approach aims to relate theory to Current fees £9,250 per year practice, informing the development of the artist’s personal vision, and enhancing lifelong skills and UK & EU students are eligible to apply for a student loan. www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance employment opportunities within the professional world. Overseas Students: Please refer to University of Greenwich Throughout the three years, students are encouraged website for fees. Overseas applicants for whom English is to be versatile and to critically appraise their own not a first language are obliged to sit an IELTS (International performance as they grow in confidence and maturity. English Language) test to assess their ability in reading, During the final year, students engage in a variety of writing and spoken English at an academic level. An overall performance work and in a research project, culminating result of 6.5 or more is required for entry to the programme. Applicants should contact their local British in a dissertation which can combine practical and Council office for further details. written work. Applicants who reside outside the UK may also audition The College is justifiably proud of the success of by video. Please contact the college for further details. past students, tracking and recording their career Audition fee £45 development and