Dance
Full-time
Three year
September 2025
In a nutshell
Choreography is at the core of this course. During your time here you will develop your creative skills in group and solo choreography and have the opportunity to perform publicly. Your understanding of the role of a choreographer will be further developed through intensive projects with visiting choreographers. These projects simulate industry expectations by you working as a member of a company in a rigorous creative process and culminate in a performance. Specialist workshops will teach you about current industry trends so that you have a clear understanding of the diverse world of dance.
You will participate in aerial performance such as silks and static trapeze, collaborate with other disciplines and opportunities to work in the industry The course boasts a number of excellent longstanding relationships with organisations such as The Lowry Theatre, Company Chameleon, Hawk Dance Theatre, Coalesce Dance Theatre and Meraki Collective.
The course also offers the opportunity for a trimester study abroad.
Come and visit the campus by signing up to our upcoming Open Day, or if you have any general questions please contact course enquiries.
Continue reading to find out more about our BA (Hons) Dance degree.
You will:
- Develop your creative and performance skills in a professional setting
- Engage in intensive technique with industry specialists
- Find out how to be a versatile and entrepreneurial member of the dance community
options available
students accepted
This is for you if...
You have the aspiration to perform professionally
You enjoy creating and exploring choreography
You want to feel part of a supportive and nurturing dance community
All about the course
Throughout your dance degree at Salford, you’ll focus on choreography and performance, learning through a combination of practical performance projects, lectures, technique classes and seminars.
In your first year on this, you will lay the foundations for the rest of your time learning with us. You’ll be introduced to the fundamentals of ballet and contemporary technique, as well as look at the historical, social and political context of various styles of dance.
Your second year will give you the chance to develop your skills further, as well as dive into more specialist areas of dance. You’ll explore dance in the digital world, and how tools such as recording and editing can be used in choreography. You’ll also have your first opportunity to work with other students on the course to create, rehearse, and perform an original choreographed routine.
In your final year, you’ll develop your business, project, and event management skills, all of which will help you in a career as a professional dancer and choreographer. All of this learning will be brought together in your final self-directed project, where you’ll create a company with your peers and work together on an innovative and original work that will be shown at the end of the year.
Find out what you’ll be covering in each module by looking at the full course breakdown below.
Dance Discourses: Modernism
Through practical workshops and seminars, this module focuses on the choreographic themes and creative practices of dance practitioners in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Content will include both American and European developments in concert dance and dance theatre.
Dance Techniques
You will continue to improve your Ballet and Contemporary dance technique throughout this module, developing a skills base to practically understand the working practices examined in Dance Discourses: Modernism.
Foundations in Dance Techniques
You will be introduced to the fundamental principles of Ballet and Contemporary technique. To enhance your abilities you will have regular body conditioning classes as well as an option in a different dance or movement style.
Dance in Context
This module investigates the concerns of an artist in relation to the historical, social and political standpoints of their time. You will learn why specific styles of dance developed, why seminal works were choreographed and importantly, explore the context in which you as an artist are making work.
Dance Performance Workshop
Working as a company with your peers, a visiting choreographer is engaged to create a new commission and this original work is performed at our first festival of the year alongside professional works.
Within the project you will develop your skill in choreography and performance, collaboration and networking skills.
Dance Choreography Workshop
This module further explores the concerns, and develops the working practices, of professional performers and creators introduced in Dance Performance Workshop.
The module will include practical, creative approaches central to choreographic principles and frameworks. This module will involve an in-depth exploration of a range of specific approaches to creating dance, allowing student to develop a wider-focused foundation of creative knowledge and skills.
Dance Discourses: Post Modernism
Through practical workshops and seminars, this module will introduce you to post-modern debates in historical, social and cultural contexts by referencing the choreographic themes and creative methods of specific practitioners.
Digital Dance
You will begin to explore the possibilities of dance and digital technologies by learning the language of production (camera) and post production (editing) as choreographic devices. Other areas covered may include motion capture and green screen.
Interdisciplinary Dance Practices
Exploring the infinite possibilities of dance, this module will cover the fusion and collaboration of several key dance genres and disciplines including music, aerial and popular dance.
Technical Development
You will continue to develop contemporary technique throughout this practical module, whilst also engaging with Post Modern techniques such as Release and Contact Improvisation.
Dance Performance Project
The opportunity to come together for the first time as a company, you will work with a choreographer and your peers to create, rehearse and perform an original choreography within an intensive project. This project simulates the demands of a professional collaborator and dancer.
You will also choose an optional module from the following:
Work Placement
You will be placed with industry professionals to develop and nurture your own career interest.
Approved Special Performance Project
If you have a job opportunity in the industry or with international partners, this bespoke structured module will enable you to formalise your work-based learning as part of your studies.
Professional Practice
You will work together as a collaborative company to create and perform a dance performance under tutor supervision.
Creative Entrepreneur
This lecturer and seminar-based module will advance your business, project and event management skills - vital to the development of any creative professional. The module will also survey a ‘creative entrepreneurial approach’ to varied dance-related professions.
Creative Laboratory
This module will further prepare you for the dance industry by exploring practical research and independent working methods, and aiding your overall development for deep creative and contextual working.
Professional Project
Facilitated by either a visiting choreographer or a member of staff, this module will allow you to engage in the creative process, working as a performer and collaborator. This practical module will culminate in a series of public performances.
Self-Directed Project
You will complete a major piece of independent work, concluding extensive research supervised by your tutor. The practical element of your final project can either be live or recorded. Creating a company with your peers you will work collaboratively to create an innovative and original work that will be shown in the end of year festival.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running 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 are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
BE A PART OF A CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
All our Dance courses are delivered by the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology. We are a creative community with a focus on creating a collaborative environment where you can thrive and gain the skills needed to pursue your dreams.
Our Engagement Team coordinated school-wide events such as the Create Student Awards, academic conferences, networking and volunteering opportunities, welcoming and wellbeing fairs and exhibitions like our annual Degree Show.
For non-course matters, you will have access to our university-wide support service askUS, who will support and guide you to be successful in all aspects of your life.
Throughout your time at Salford, you’ll be mentored and supported by experts. And once you graduate, it won’t end there. You’ll join a thriving alumni network across Greater Manchester and beyond, meaning you’ll be supported professionally and personally whenever you need it.
DANCE FACILITIES
This Dance degree course is based at our £55 million New Adelphi building, the home of performance and creativity on campus.
Our range of performance facilities include:
Dance studios – our industry-standard studios are where you’ll spend much of your time, honing your skills in a professional environment to best prepare you to enter the world of dance.
New Adelphi Theatre – this 350-seat venue provides opportunity for you to stage performances in front of live audiences. It also regularly hosts professional shows and performances.
Studio theatre - this classic black-box performance space offers a more intimate venue than the New Adelphi Theatre. It features flexible seating and staging, so you can shape the space to meet your creative needs.
Take a 360 tour of our New Adelphi building.
What about after uni?
EMPLOYMENT
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in dance, you’ll be in a great position to go on to perform, choreograph, or produce. You could also progress into a career in teaching, or as a workshop leader.
This course will give you access to a number of networking and career development opportunities, as well as business workshops with our engagement team.
This dance degree is also a great platform for you to progress into our dance postgraduate programmes.
Find out why Emilie Lahouel – a proud graduate from this course - was awarded with the University of Salford’s Alumni Achievement award for contributions to the Dance and Arts sector.
FURTHER STUDY
Graduates showing strong academic and research skills can pursue a further postgraduate path through our Postgraduate programmes on a full-time or part-time basis subject to a satisfactory proposal.
Career Links
Our Dance degree has strong links and partnerships with various creative organisations and artists in the area, providing a multitude of opportunities for our students. Our industry partnerships include The Lowry Theatre, Dance Manchester, Salford Council, Salford Leisure, Company Chameleon, Levantes Dance Theatre, and Out Of The Blue
What you need to know
APPLICANT PROFILE
If you’d like to study a bachelor’s degree in dance at the University of Salford, you will need to have some background in dance and the performing arts.
An important part of your application will be an audition, in which you’ll take part in a technique class and a creative workshop. You don’t need to be an expert, but we want to see that you have a strong grasp of the basics.
When writing your personal statement (up to 4,000 characters), you should share some of your experience of dance, highlighting the lessons you’ve learned along the way. You should also be able to demonstrate a passion for dance and choreography in general.
GCSE
English Language at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent). Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) is preferred but not essential.
You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below.
UCAS tariff points
112 points.
A level
112 points.
T level
Merit
BTEC National Diploma
DMM
Access to HE
112 points
Scottish Highers
112 points
Irish Leaving Certificate
112 points
International Baccalaureate
29 points, 5 or 6 (Higher level) in a relevant subject
European Baccalaureate
Pass Diploma with 70% overall
Graded Dance Qualifications
We accept graded dance qualifications from BBO, BTDA, ISTD and RAD. Please check UCAS for points tariff.
Other Appropriate Qualifications or Professional Experience
Direct entry to Years 2 or 3 may be possible with appropriate qualifications or professional experience. Please contact us for further details.
International students
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
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 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.
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.
There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,250.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2025/26 | £17,650.00per 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.