Dance: Performance and Professional Practices (Emergence)

University of Salford

United Kingdom, Salford

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945

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Home/United Kingdom/Salford /University of Salford/Dance: Performance and Professional Practices (Emergence)

University of Salford

United Kingdom , Salford

Key Facts

Program Level

Diploma

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 17,520 / years

Next Intake September-2026

Dance: Performance and Professional Practices (Emergence)

About

Introduction

In a nutshell

Join us to expand yourself as a performer, an artist, a collaborator, and a well-rounded dance professional in the thriving cultural scene in Salford and Manchester.

This MA Dance Performance and Professional Practices programme is a professionally focused course, co-designed and co-delivered with our industry partner, Joss Arnott Dance (JAD). In this intensive course, you will focus on contemporary dance and contemporary dance performance at the highest level. The programme also addresses the wider needs of the dance professional including modules on producing, teaching and workshop design/delivery – allowing you to develop skills, knowledge and experience to expand their professional opportunities upon graduation.

You will become part of Emergence postgraduate dance company, who work with internationally acclaimed choreographers to produce a programme of new performance work each year. Emergence tour nationally each spring season led by Artistic Director, Joss Arnott, with Programme Leader, Debbie Milner. You can track the progress of this year’s company by following the programme on Instagram @emergence_dance.

This prestigious and highly selective programme has industry collaboration at its heart and mirrors working environments in the creative industries. Graduates have been successful in gaining employment in the region and are central to the buoyant dance infrastructure in the north-west. Alumni are working with companies such as: Company Chameleon, Joss Arnott Dance, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, Coalesce Dance Theatre, Move MCHR, Ludus Dance, and Kapow amongst many others.

Beyond the north-west our graduates are working with prestigious companies in the UK and Internationally: New Adventures, Beijing Dance Theatre, ACE Dance and Music, Lisa Simpson Dance, Tavaziva, Springs Dance Company, Gothenburg Opera, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre

International

We are excited to promote a globally diverse student cohort and encourage applicants with a diverse range of dance training and education, including professional experience.

International applicants: Please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.

You will:

Develop as a performer through opportunities to work with Joss Arnott and internationally acclaimed choreographers
Enhance your ability as both a professional dancer and dance professional, developing your skills as a creative entrepreneur and enabling you to pursue a long-term career in dance
Have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant arts and performance scene in Salford and Manchester, and expand your creative horizons with a national tour
Create a portfolio of work and experience that can be used in your wider career

International

students accepted

Dance @ Salford

Dance @ Salford Photographer: Drew Forsyth

Dance @ Salford

This is for you if...

You are an early career dance professional who is a brave and engaging performer, and a committed collaborator.

You are ready for an intensive and rewarding learning experience.

You have a strong technical base in a range of dance styles, in addition to a willingness to experiment creatively and a hunger to develop as a professional dance artist.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Requirements

What you need to know

APPLICANT PROFILE

Are you an enthusiastic and committed dancer? Would you like to improve your technical ability and enhance your career prospects? Do you envision yourself dancing as part of a company?

If so, weâd love to hear from you. Our MA in Dance Performance is designed for dancers at all stages in their career. Weâre looking applicants who have either been working professionally or have studied on a related undergraduate course.

You should be dedicated to pursuing a career as a professional dancer, performing in a company model. Youâll need to be prepared to undertake intensive rehearsal and touring, as well as rigorous independent research.

The application process will also involve an audition/interview and a personal statement (up to 500 words). Students will be asked to write about the ways that this specific MA programme will help them advance from their current work within dance towards specific career aspirations.

If an applicant is international or unable to attend the interviews, we will need:

A 3â5-minute show reel recording that showcases your dance technique and performance ability.

The footage does not need to be professionally filmed or edited.
You should review and watch existing Emergence repertoire footage to better understand the aesthetic and physical branding of Emergenceâs work and the level of technical and performance ability expected on the programme.

http://jossarnottdance.com/emergence/

https://vimeo.com/emergencedanceco/videos

Standard entry requirements

To join this MA you should have a second class honours degree, 2:2 or above.

International students

International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0, with no element below 5.5, is proof of this.

We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.

We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.

Alternative entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.

The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.

Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

Career

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

If you study a Master’s in dance performance, you’ll be well-positioned to forge a career as a professional dancer working freelance, as a performer within an established dance company, as a creative educator, or in a portfolio career inclusive of arts marketing and administration.

Graduates have been successful in gaining employment with: Joss Arnott Dance New Adventures, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Beijing Dance Theatre, ACE Dance and Music, Company Chameleon, Lisa Simpson Dance, Tavaziva, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, Springs Dance Company, Coalesce Dance Theatre, Kapow amongst many others.

Many other graduates have developed their teaching portfolio and are working with organisations such as The Centre for Advanced Training, KTDanceworks, Ludus Dance, Yorkshire Dance Centre.

We’re very proud that graduates have developed their own companies and have been in receipt of ACE funding and other national grants for the Arts,

Studying on this course will equip you with a wide range of transferrable skills that can be used in a variety of roles and industries. You’ll be able to generate, develop and present your ideas to a professional standard, as well as have strong research and evaluation skills, all of which are highly valued by employers.

A taste of what you could become

A professional dancer

A freelance dance artist

A performer within a dance company

A creative educator

An arts marketer or administrator

And more...

Career Links

This Master’s degree in Dance Performance has links with a number of industry bodies, including Joss Arnott Dance, The Lowry, and Company Chameleon,

Our annual dance artist-in-residence scheme which has included companies such as Company Chameleon, Hawk Dance Theatre, Kapow Dance Theatre, as well as independent dance artists. As part of this scheme, our dance students benefit from workshops, apprenticeships, performance and project opportunities, mentoring opportunities. Each academic year, we run a range of Masterclasses to develop your knowledge of the wider dance ecology and to assist you in developing your personal career trajectory. Recently, this has included work with artists such as Kerry Nichols, James Wilton Dance, and Gemma Nixon, among many others.

As part of the annual tour, your will also be performing at a range of UK venues and working with industry professionals at each. In addition to personal networking, this will strengthen your understanding of the variety of venues for dance performance in the UK.