FdA Performing Arts
About This Course
This programme aims to provide a dynamic, exciting and flexible learning experience that gives you industry-standard skills & knowledge. FdA Performing Arts is designed to give each member of the cohort the requisite skills to enter the performing arts industry. The focus on skills, employment and industry are a unique selling point for this degree and our dedicated module tutors and support staff are on hand for students who are interested in all aspects of performing arts. You’ll study modules dedicated specifically to acting, dancing, musical theatre and essential contextual studies.
This programme aims to deliver dynamic performance professionals directly into the creative sector. The University Centre Grimsby is home to the School of Arts building, including a two-hundred seat theatre, dance studio and rehearsal rooms. Students will have the opportunity to work in a professional environment with staff who have proven track records within the industry.
The FdA Performing Arts aims to provide a dynamic, exciting and flexible learning experience whilst providing industry-standard skills and concepts. Academically, it aims to develop the students’ abilities to contextualise their learning historically, culturally and self-reflectively and students will be encouraged to showcase their work at every opportunity.
The aim of the programme is to provide each member of the cohort with the requisite skills to enter the performing arts industry as a professional practitioner. Links to self-employment and essential business knowledge are another unique selling point of this programme.
Standard Offer:
The successful candidate will require 72 UCAS points in a drama, media, dance, and performing arts related subject, or 60 Access-to-HE Credits (of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3) and all applicants are required to hold English and Maths GCSE (or equivalent) at Grade C/4.
Non-Standard Offer:
The non-standard entry is intended to support students who may not meet the standard academic entry requirements of a HE programme, normally Level 3 qualifications which attract UCAS points (for instance A-Levels or BTEC Level 3 courses). If you wish to apply through the non standard route, you must be able to demonstrate recent work/experience in the performing arts sector which would give them skills and knowledge comparable to applicants with Level 3 qualifications. The non-standard applicants will be interviewed and asked to complete an essay and a judgement made considering their academic potential and relevant experience.
Year 1 (Level 4) – Certificate Stage:
- Introduction to Performing Arts
- History of Performing Arts
- Theatre in Education
- Live Performance/Production
- Skills for Study and Employability
- Theatre Production
Year 2 (Level 5) – Diploma Stage:
- Cultural Studies
- Performing Arts Development (Drama and Dance)
- Employment in the Industry
- Community Arts
- Drama Performance in TV
- Musical Theatre
The course emphasis is on teaching and learning and assessment through practice. Performing arts deploys a wide range of teaching methods: lectures, seminars, small and large group practical and contextual workshops. There is also improvisation work development and training workshops, theatre visits, internet, video and film, master classes, discussions, demonstrations, technical training and workshops by theatre companies. In performing arts practical and written assessments are undertaken. These may include; presentations/performances, essays, portfolios, practical and independent and /or group study.
Assessments also may include rehearsals, full scale productions, projects in the community, guided independent research, tutorials, seminars and work experience.
This skills and experience gained on this Foundation Degree will give you a thorough grounding to pursue a career across the spectrum of the performing arts industry. The programme will:
- Engender a professional approach to performing arts, whether as an actor, dancer, choreographer, scriptwriter, director or through a more generic performance practice.
- Provide a learning experience that explores these practices and encourages creativity across a range of performing arts media and forms.
- Foster the industry-specific knowledge, thinking, subject-specific practical and general skills required of performing arts practitioners.
- Enhance performance skills in a range of styles and contexts through an understanding of the history and context of performing arts.
- Provide a working knowledge of the performing arts sector and arts policy.
- Develop the values of professional practice.
- Provide business-related and self-management skills to meet the demands of employment within the industry.
- Promote an awareness of the transferability of subject specific skills to other employment scenarios.
Graduates from the Foundation Degree Performing Arts may progress on to BA (Hons) Performing Arts Top-Up, or they may go on to work in the community, teaching, self-employed as a freelance practitioner, employed within the performing arts industry in the West End, on cruise ships, at holiday parks or on national and/or international tours.TEC Partnership is committed to offering a related top-up degree in this subject area which will allow graduates to top up to a full bachelor’s degree.
