Future Students

Dance

The Area of Study

The Macquarie dance program offers units which focus on Australian dance practices. It is an integrated study of the practical and theoretical aspects of dance in the modern era using experiential learning and assessment.

As a student of dance at Macquarie University you will learn embodied principles in a dance class environment whilst studying aesthetic and historical aspects of dance in the 20th century. All units specifically develop skills in dance writing. Topics of study may include:

  • Contemporary dance fundamentals — offering access to a variety of technical codes and developing already established skills;
  • Choreography — teaches dance design, giving you the opportunity to create idiosyncratic dance scores;
  • Music theatre — is a journey through the broad world of dance and music on stage;
  • Aesthetics — looks to an Australian and international history of artistic dance;
  • Dance, screen and media — employs the established expertise of the Department in the field of film.

New state-of-the-art facilities, due to open in 2009, will include a sprung floor. As a student of the Department of Media, Music and Cultural studies, you will also have access to a broad cross-section of musicians, other creative arts students and accompanying technologies.

Macquarie University dance welcomes the novice and technical dance training is not a prerequisite. A burgeoning research culture offers postgraduates specialisations in choreography, embodiment, phenomenology, dance ethnography, improvisation, dance review and criticism and postmodern practice.

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Degree Program Information

Degree UAI 2008 CSP Course duration
Bachelor of Arts 76.00 3 years full-time /equivalent part-time
Bachelor of Creative Arts 78.05 3 years full-time /equivalent part-time
Bachelor of Creative Arts (International) 81.60 3 years full-time/equivalent part-time


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What you will study

You must complete a program of study (major) in one of the following:

  • Music and Dance
  • Drama, Dance and Performance

Your program of study may include units from the subject areas listed below:

  • contemporary dance 1 and 2
  • screen, media and dance
  • music theatre
  • dance history and aesthetics
  • choreography

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Recommended Prior Knowledge

First-year dance units do not require any assumed knowledge, prerequisites or recommended studies. Other units taken as part of a degree may require assumed knowledge, prerequisites or recommended studies and you should refer to the Macquarie University Handbook of Undergraduate Studies for full degree requirements.

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Career Options

  • dancer
  • choreographer
  • teacher
  • arts administrator
  • journalist
  • performance art
  • arts curator
  • researcher
  • academia
  • fitness instructor
  • dance therapy
  • criticism and review
  • writer

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Some major employers

  • dance companies
  • Department of Education
  • universities
  • media organisations
  • non-government organisations
  • theatrical associations
  • creative arts organisations
  • funding bodies

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Further Information

Department of Media, Music and Cultural Studies
Macquarie University, NSW 2109
Telephone:  (02) 9850 9932
Email: pauline.manley@humn.mq.edu.au
Web:  www.dcms.mq.edu.au

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