MA/PgDip Dance: Performance and Professional Practices (Emergence)
- Course type
- Postgraduate
- Course qualification
- MA/PgDip
Course summary
What is the fee?
For all course options, see fees and funding
Where will I study?
Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
How long will I study?
One year
Overview
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 (Emergence) 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 an eclectic mix of contemporary dance styles and 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 tours 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, Company Carpi, 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, Elliot Smith, ACE Dance and Music, Lisa Simpson Dance, Ballet Folk, British Black Ballet, Tavaziva, Springs Dance Company, Gothenburg Opera, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre.
Find out more at an upcoming Open Day.
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.
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.
You are keen to experience professional touring as part of a dynamic ensemble of dancers.
How you learn
Future careers
Completing an MA in Dance and Professional Practices will open numerous doors for a successful career in the dance industry. This program equips you to cultivate a diverse and vibrant professional path, whether as a dance maker, producer, educator, dance administrator, photographer, project manager, or freelance artist.
Studying on this course will provide you with a broad range of transferable skills applicable across various roles and industries. You will learn how to generate, develop, and present your ideas to a professional standard, along with honing strong research and evaluation skills—all of which are highly valued by employers.
Our faculty and extended dance team comprise active and influential members of the UK's professional dance community. We are dedicated to maintaining a strong alumni network, advocating for our Dance@Salford graduates by connecting them to professional opportunities and fostering collaborations.
Career Links
This Master’s degree in Dance Performance has links with a number of strategic bodies for Dance including Arts Council England, One Dance UK, Without Walls and, regionally, The Lowry, The Centre for Advance Training, Factory International and Company Chameleon.
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 New Adventures, Miguel Altunaga, Gary Clarke, James Wilton Dance, Natasha Gooden, Faye Stoeser and Gemma Nixon, among many others.
Our industry collaborators include respected north-west based companies such as Coalesce Dance Theatre, Hawk Dance Theatre, Night People Events, Move Manchester, Company Carpi along with independent dance artists. Through this scheme, our students benefit from workshops, apprenticeships, performance opportunities, and mentoring. Each academic year, we offer a variety of Masterclasses designed to expand your understanding of the broader dance ecology and assist you in advancing your career trajectory.
Modules
If you’re an emerging or established dancer who wants to add another dimension to your performance technique, as well as gain an understanding of what it’s like to dance professionally, our MA dance course is for you.
Your first trimester will lay the foundations for your time on this master’s programme. Alongside your fellow students, you will work creatively with international choreographers to devise new pieces of repertory. You will develop your choreographic and reflective skills as a developing dance artist.
In your second trimester, you will begin to hone your skills as a performer and ensemble member as you rehearse and refine the Emergence repertoire ready for touring. As well as continuing to develop your dance technique and performance skills, you’ll look at professional elements of the dance industry, including producing for small to mid-scale touring, and teaching dance in both curriculum-based and community dance settings.
Your final trimester will take you through the performance and professional practices involved in touring. You may be involved in elements such as workshop delivery, supporting the tour producer, engaging with the technical team, and more. As well as this, you’ll be researching an area of your choice, to develop innovative performances and research outputs.
Alongside the creation, rehearsal and touring of the repertoires, modules will combine dance technique lessons, practical workshops, lectures, seminars and student-led discussions. The course allows you to develop a critical and professional understanding of the relationship between theory and practice, best preparing you for a portfolio career.
Find out what you’ll be covering in each module in the full course breakdown below.
Trimester one
Dance Repertory Development – 60 credits
In this first semester, you will establish the new student company and work intensively with international choreographers to create new pieces of repertory. Whilst practically focused, you will also be developing your skills as a reflective artist through engagement in reflective writing and critical analysis.
Trimester two
Portfolio Career Practices: Performance – 60 credits
In this module, you will embark on a journey of personal artistic and career development, positioning yourself as an emerging dance artist. You’ll explore the competencies essential for a successful dance professional through three key strands: Performance- Technical Development, Pedagogy, and Producing.
In the Performance strand, the learning shifts from an intensive creative mode into a deeper period of rehearsal and development. This module supports you to reflect on your specific development as a dancer and collaborator, building on strengths and addressing areas for development: physically, creatively and professionally. The module is delivered throughout the spring and will include the premiere performance of the new programme of work.
In the Pedagogy strand you will deepen your practical and theoretical understanding of workshop development and teaching strategies for a range of client groups, preparing you to tackle current challenges in dance education and facilitation.
The Producing strand will equip you with vital knowledge about the performance industry, covering funding, programming, and audience development, all taught by visiting industry professionals. This comprehensive approach ensures you are well-prepared for a dynamic career in dance.
Trimester three
Final Major Project – 60 credits
The Final Major Project - Performance module allows you showcase your personal and ensemble development over the programme. The module is embedded into the performance and professional practices involved in touring. Your learning will occur both on campus in rehearsal and in various national venues during the tour. You will have a professional role in supporting of the wider tour, which may include elements of workshop delivery, supporting the tour producer and/or engaging with the technical team. The module will focus on your practical knowledge of dance performance, but in the professional contexts specific to a touring repertory company.
Alongside touring and building on practice-based inquiry and critical reflection from previous modules, you will choose from three key strands: Performance/Performance making, Pedagogy, or Producing to develop an independent Final Portfolio of research and industry informed inquiry. Upon submitting a proposal, you will be assigned a supervisor to support you on this journey of enquiry which culminates in the submission of a portfolio of materials that may include- excerpts of research informed choreography, performance, teaching or producing materials as relevant to your line of inquiry.
We take a flexible approach to our course delivery that promotes diversity and inclusivity and provides a blended learning experience, which will vary to meet specific programme requirements. This learning time includes formal lectures and interactive activities such as seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, laboratory and studio learning. Smaller classes may be used to support collaborative activities such as project and group work and presentations. A range of different assessments and feedback is offered to meet the needs of both our diverse student body and specific subject needs.
Our postgraduate taught courses are normally made up of 30 credit modules which are equal to 300 hours of learning time, or 15 credit modules which are equal to 150 hours of learning time. A Master’s degree typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, and a PGCert 60 credits.
Please note that exact modules and content offered may vary in order to keep content current and, for courses that offer optional modules, may depend on the number of students selecting particular options. When accepting your offer of a place to study on a programme with optional modules, you should be aware that optional modules may not all run each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you can undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Entry requirements
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, we’d love to hear from you. Our MA Dance Performance and Professional Practices: Emergence is designed for dancers at all stages in their career. We’re 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. You’ll need to be prepared to undertake intensive rehearsal and touring, as well as rigorous independent research.
The Application and Audition Process
The application process will involve an audition and small group interview. We hold both in-person auditions and online auditions for international students or those unable to join us in person.
We hold in-person auditions in Salford and London. Dates and Times will be shared once we receive your application.
Our online auditions are held at multiple dates throughout the year at times to suit all time zones.
To support your application, we ask for a personal statement (up to 500 words). You will be asked to write about the ways that this specific MA programme will help you advance from your current work within dance towards specific career aspirations.
To support International applications we ask that you submit a 3–5-minute show reel recording that showcases your dance technique and performance ability.
- You should include 1-min introducing yourself and talking us through your footage.
- The footage does not need to be professionally filmed or edited.
For those applying to MA Dance Performance and Professional Practices: Emergence, you are encouraged to review and watch existing Emergence repertoire footage to better understand the aesthetic and physical branding of Emergence’s work and the level of technical and performance ability expected on the programme. We accept applicants with a diverse range of technical training and experience.
Standard entry requirements
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).
Fees and funding
2026/27
| Type of study | Fees |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £11,590 per year |
2026/27
| Type of study | Fees |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £17,520 per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for International Students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.