Bachelor of Dance (Degree with Honours)

Course 084AA (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Year and Campus: 2010 - Southbank
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Undergraduate
Duration & Credit Points: 100 credit points taken over 12 months full time.

Coordinator

Associate Professor J Kinder

Contact

Student and Academic Services, Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts, 234 St Kilda Road, Southbank, 3006 Tel: 03 9685 9419
Course Overview:

The Bachelor of Dance (Honours) is a more advanced and specialised course of study requiring a higher standard of performance than the pass degree. It involves one year of additional study following the completion of the requirements for a pass degree. The Honours year will provide an opportunity for graduates of the School of Dance to extend their knowledge and dance experience by undertaking a specialised advanced program in a fourth year of study which may lead to formal postgraduate studies and/or to opportunities to enter the dance industry with enhanced knowledge and experience. A substantial part of the honours year program will involve practical studies undertaken as field experience or in the VCA’s performance company. These studies will enhance the students career prospects and also ensure their adequate preparation for postgraduate studies in dance such as the Master of Dance (Performance), where the maintenance of strong dance technique is essential.

Students who are eligible for the Honours program will undertake a major project which will require their secondment to a dance company, or organisation, for field experience. The artistic directors of several dance companies have already expressed their willingness to cooperate with the program as it gives them an opportunity to observe potential recruits in a professional situation over several weeks. The Ausdance network, and organisations such as the Choreographic Centre, have also expressed their interest in mentoring the progress of outstanding students who wish to undertake projects within their jurisdiction. The student gains direct experience in the profession and is guided in this program by experienced mentors from within the industry.

The results applicable to subjects in an honours course are in the range 65% to 100%, ie H3 to H1. A results below 65% is considered a ‘non pass’.

Before a recommendation can be made to award the degree of Bachelor of Dance (Honours) candidates are required to complete 100 points at fourth year level at the appropriate grade level.
A minimum of 7.5 hours of technique training each week in ballet and/or contemporary dance will be required while resident in the School of Dance.

Objectives:

The objectives of this course are to provide opportunities for students:

  • to work within their chosen area in the dance industry;
  • to devise and perform a dance demonstration program;
  • to extend their range of knowledge and competency within their chosen area;
  • to prepare for postgraduate studies in dance.
Course Structure & Available Subjects: Qualification for the award Bachelor of Dance (Honours) requires successful completion of all three core subjects listed below.
Subject Options:

Bachelor of Dance (Honours)

Fourth Year
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Entry Requirements: Prerequisites
Applicants require an Undergraduate Degree in dance. Candidates for entry into the Honours year will be selected on the basis of an audition and interview. Under the regulations the minimum requirement for admission of a candidate into the fourth year is normally the completion of a pass degree with a minimum average of H2B grades in the Bachelor of Dance at the VCA, or an Undergraduate Degree in dance with an appropriate level of attainment from another institution.
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, this subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in classical and contemporary dance exercises. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this with the Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/
Further Study: None
Graduate Attributes: This course is designed to provide students with competencies and creative opportunities that are relevant to careers in dance and the creative arts, and to take advantage of the development and diversification of dance opportunities within our cultural framework.
Generic Skills:

At the completion of the Bachelor of Dance (Honours), students should be able to:

  • exhibit extensive practical and theoretical knowledge of dance across its various aesthetic domains, including current professional dance practice,
  • relevant skills in allied disciplines and current developments in the field;
  • apply this knowledge through practical projects within industry and professional standard settings;
  • embody an informed respect for the principles, discipline and ethics of the practicing, professional artist;
  • demonstrate interpretive abilities in performing new and existing performance scores;
  • participate effectively as a team member in projects with a shared focus;
  • confidently communicate, both orally and in writing, opinions, ideas and observations with regard to their dance practice and that of others, in group and individual teaching and learning situations;
  • respond with a flexible, imaginative and innovative approach to explore, investigate and resolve unfamiliar problems and challenges;
  • conceptualise, plan, organise and realise their own choreographed work within the time constraints and demands of the program;
  • independently research and investigate areas of theoretical and practical relevance from a wide range of sources;
  • critically and creatively engage with topics of cultural significance and effectively participate in or contribute to contemporary cultural discourses;
  • exhibit openness to new ideas and unconventional approaches, critiques and practices;
  • develop effective planning, management and self-promotional skills.

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