The program considers Irish dance practices within cultural, historical and practice-based perspectives. Students on the program critically engage with relevant literature and dance practices and undertake field research in a relevant Irish dance study of their choice. They also have the opportunity to interact with students on other related programs at the Irish World Academy. The aim of the program is to provide students with contextual, historical and embodied knowledge relating to different Irish dance practices. It also provides an invaluable foundation for those wishing to pursue dance research to doctoral level.

This programme provides you with a broad understanding of the theories and practices of dance movement therapy necessary for safe and effective clinical work, and enables you to practise as a dance movement therapist.

Within the context of contemporary movement practice, our postgraduate dance program is designed to build your knowledge and skills of creative dance practices and will appeal to entrepreneurial dance artists who are keen to develop their practice. We offer a range of creative opportunities to enhance your studies. Alongside guidance from your tutors, our Master’s Dance degree is supported by several high-profile associations with artists and industry specialists to enhance your study experience.

The programme consists of two years of full-time studies that will help you develop your artistic and research skills and knowledge. You will grow your critical awareness and understanding of contemporary choreography, its practices, strategies and discourses, as well as the interactive relationship between art and society. 

MA Dance: Creative Dance Education will allow you to study the art and science of dance education by considering a wide range of needs, teaching styles and modern perspectives on teaching and learning. You’ll put your learning into practice as you take part in industry-led workshops and participate in two work-based placements. You’ll study in our £55 million New Adelphi building, home to multiple rehearsal studios and a theatre.

The program is unique in that it facilitates 2 independent streams of dance, Irish Traditional Dance and Contemporary Dance. Although independent, interactivity between these two dance genres is facilitated in the form of shared workshops, seminars and electives. The program offers advanced tuition in both forms of dance and is designed to cater for the creative and artistic needs of contemporary and Irish traditional dancers. The program explores aspects of repertoire and style within each of the two performance genres and it facilitates interactivity through the elective system with other related areas of study.

The master’s programme in dance performance consists of two years of full-time studies that develop your skills as a performer and as an independent and reflective artist. After graduating, you will be ready to work in the diverse and changing contexts of dance art. You will develop as a solo performer and as an active member of an artistic team.

During MA Dance: Choreography and Professional Practices you’ll study producing for small/mid-scale touring ensuring you have all the tools you need to realise your creative projects and grow new audiences for your work. Industry collaboration and real-world learning are central to this course, so you’ll take part in workshops, participate in work-based learning and observe professional commissions, providing you with invaluable experience and networking opportunities. You’ll study in our £55 million New Adelphi building, home to multiple rehearsal studios and a theatre.

MA Dance: Performance and Professional Practices is a practical-focused course, co-designed and co-delivered with our industry partner Joss Arnott. You will focus on contemporary dance performance at the highest level. You’ll also become part of Emergence, our postgraduate dance company who work with internationally acclaimed choreographers to produce a programme of new performance work each year and tour nationally every spring season. You’ll study in our £55 million New Adelphi building, home to multiple rehearsal studios and a theatre.

As an emerging or experienced choreographer, this MFA course will help you refine your artistic practice by advancing your creative, technical and performance skills. The programme includes technique classes, choreography workshops, laboratory sessions, dialogue, writing and reflection. You will be encouraged to experiment and take risks in a series of self-directed choreographic projects that help you develop a portfolio of work.

The School of Arts offers English-language master programmes in the visual arts, audio visual arts and music. Each year, dozens of foreign students choose the master programmes of our faculty to continue their studies.

Develop your dance practice and performance skills by approaching them as research processes on this practice-research-based programme. This practice-research-based programme will encourage you to approach performance as a critical practice and to relish the complex contextual relationships that exist in making and performing dances. You will explore your role as a collaborator in performance-making as one of agency and empowerment in a supportive environment. You will be encouraged to develop and test new ideas and skills through your practice research in order to imagine how they relate to training, practice, performance-making, dance philosophy and dramaturgy. You will be supported by the mentorship and teaching of experienced staff in our modern studios and you will have the opportunity to work with in-house and visiting artists, scholars and a diverse community of peers.

The Master of Arts in Dance offers two specializations: Choreography, on one hand, Teaching and Coaching Dance Professionals on the other. It builds the choreographic and teaching skills needed to work with dance professionals and to qualify for the relevant professions. Coursework includes choreographic methods, teaching skills, and artistic research with a view to developing an individual artist or teaching profile. The programme promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and helps students to establish a sustainable network within the international field of dance.