Master of Dance

The Master of Dance is the first program in Australia dedicated to dance as an interdisciplinary practice enmeshed with local and global crosscurrents of movement cultures, dance health and education, and choreographic thinking.

This two-year program focuses on dance as an embodied experience augmented and informed by a rich field of knowledges, including contemporary aesthetics, dance science, cultural theory, and everyday politics.

The Master of Dance provides a vehicle for students to engage in practice-based research, dance theory and creative technologies equipping them with the skills and know-how to advance their capabilities for working in today’s professional environment. The program promotes understandings of the social, political and cultural issues around embodiment, community and the environment. Taking place within this expanding field, it empowers diverse ways of knowing, making, learning and participating in dance as a generative force contributing to culture and society at large.

The program offers pathways for dancers into specialised careers through its emphasis upon applied practice including through working in situ and through placements. It prepares students for careers, including in dance and community practice, dance health and well-being, cultural leadership, choreography and performance.

Six core subjects and an extended research project develop multiple vocational routes through the dance and performance field. Interdisciplinary, environmentally responsive, digitally enabled, somatic informed dance meets the world through research-creation processes of making, writing and performing.

Opportunities for industry placement and input from leading professionals in the dance field ensure relevance and aim to generate opportunities for employability.

Who is this course for?

Open to students with expertise in all forms of movement practice from any culture or geographical area, the Master of Dance is designed to attract students wishing to contextualize and extend their practice and career changers with a specific interest in dance, dance education, and recent developments in the field.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

• English language test score requirements

• If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

  IELTS

  6.5

  ---

  with no band less than 6.0

  TOEFL

  79+

  ---

  with writing 21; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13

  PEARSON

  64+

  ---

  with no communicative skill below 60

  CAMBRIDGE

  176+

  ---

  with no skill less than 169

  *Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

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