Bachelor of Arts in Irish Dance

MD4101 - Performance 1A

This module will develop students’ Irish dance practice with classes focusing on repertoire, technique, percussive dance, related traditions, as well as masterclasses. The ongoing development of their unique performance practice will take place in the context of a small group Creative Practice class with specialist tutors and practitioners.

MD4091 - Irish World Academy Practicum C1

This module’s syllabus is structured to extend the students' knowledge, skill and dance experience. They are exposed to dance disciplines such as ballet and contemporary dance; theoretical and practical classes on the act of choreography and choreographic principles; as well as somatic practices in areas such as yoga and Pilates to enhance their broader dance practice. Students also have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MU4001 - Critical Encounters with Irish Music and Dance

Issues addressed in this module will be taken from current research engagements with the native Irish music and dance traditions. These will critically engage historical narratives, conceptual structuring and evolving identities of the traditions in question. Students will be introduced to concepts of research as a creative, scholarly practice.

MU4011 - Critical Encouters with World Music and Dance

In this class students are introduced to diverse music traditions from around the world, including, popular musics of West Africa, the court music of Indonesia, classical musics of India, folk and Celtic musics of Europe, classical music of the Arab Middle East, and traditional musics of Canada and America. Students deepen their knowledge of diverse repertoires and performance practices, develop their scholarly engagement with music and dance, gain a more global view of music and dance, and contextualise their own music and dance practices within the wider world of music and dance.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4102 - Performance 2A

This module will develop students’ Irish dance practice with classes focusing on repertoire, technique, percussive dance, related traditions, as well as masterclasses. The ongoing development of their unique performance practice will take place in the context of a small group Creative Practice class with specialist tutors and practitioners.

MD4111 - Irish World Academy Practicum C2

This module’s syllabus is structured to extend the students' knowledge, skill and dance experience. They are exposed to dance disciplines such as ballet and contemporary dance; theoretical and practical classes on the act of choreography and choreographic principles; as well as somatic practices in areas such as yoga and Pilates to enhance their broader dance practice. Students also have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions

MU4012 - Critical Encounters with Western Art Music and Dance

This module explores Western Art music and dance practices in an academic and performative context, providing them with an insight into some of the diversity of music and dance practices within these traditions.

MU4002 - Critical Encounters with Popular Music and Dance

In this class students study various genres of popular music and dance. Students deepen their knowledge of diverse popular repertoires and performance practices, and deepen their knowledge of the role of popular culture in social, political, economic, cultural and artistic life. Students develop a critical view of popular music and dance, and contextualize their own music and dance practices within the wider, commercially mediated world of music and dance.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4103 - Performance 3A

This module will develop students’ Irish dance practice with classes focusing on repertoire, technique, percussive dance, related traditions, as well as masterclasses. The ongoing development of their unique performance practice will take place in the context of a small group Creative Practice class with specialist tutors and practitioners.

MD4092 - Irish World Academy Practicum C3

This module’s syllabus is structured to extend the students' knowledge, skill and dance experience. They are exposed to dance disciplines such as ballet and contemporary dance; theoretical and practical classes on the act of choreography and choreographic principles; as well as somatic practices in areas such as yoga and Pilates to enhance their broader dance practice. Students also have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions

MD4081 - Irish Music and Dance Studies 1

This module will more deeply engage issues in Irish traditional music and dance studies and, in this context, to apply cultural theory to Irish music and dance Studies in a deeper and more creative way.  Themes of difference and identity as relevant to traditional musicians in the past and present will be interrogated.  Issues will be focused on in the areas of Irish and English Language Song; the multitude of Irish dance styles as well as instrumental practice. These are to be addressed using a thematic approach which will engage theoretical areas such as identity, ethnicity,globalisation and the meaning of tradition. As such this is a research led module.

MD4113 - Performing Arts Technology

This module will introduce students to professional audio and visual technologies relevant to performers in their field. The professional world around performance practice, performance education, media and other career paths open to students on this programme will be explored. Students will use such technologies in professional contexts generating project work out of the day-to-day life of the Academy, recording concerts, providing technical support to a wide range of performances and generating media appropriate to the world of performing arts.  Students in this module will learn practical technological applications relevant to their performance practice. Students will learn to use and manipulate PAs and lighting rigs, led by professionals in the field and applied in real-world situations. Students will also be introduced to media generating software such as Final-Cut Pro and Logic to produce high level audio and video outputs.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4104 - Performance 4A

This module will develop students’ Irish dance practice with classes focusing on repertoire, technique, percussive dance, related traditions, as well as masterclasses. The ongoing development of their unique performance practice will take place in the context of a small group Creative Practice class with specialist tutors and practitioners.

MD4112 - Irish World Academy Practicum C4

This module’s syllabus is structured to extend the students' knowledge, skill and dance experience. They are exposed to dance disciplines such as ballet and contemporary dance; theoretical and practical classes on the act of choreography and choreographic principles; as well as somatic practices in areas such as yoga and Pilates to enhance their broader dance practice. Students also have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions

MD4134 - Experiental Anatomy and Movement Analysis

The Experiential Anatomy and Movement Analysis module introduce an understanding of the fundamental principles of anatomy and introduce students to the principles of movement analysis to develop an understanding of the functions and structure of the human body and movement through space. The module aims to develop the dancer’s awareness of the relationships between the human body, when engaging with areas such as dance training, fitness, health and injury prevention.

MD4034 - Contextualising and Vocational Studies - Music and Dance Education/ Community Music and Dance

This module is designed to help competent musicians and dancers to come to an understanding of what it means to be involved in music and dance education contexts. There are three main components to this module :Music and Dance Curriculum studies, Professional Studies and School Based Work. The first priority is to help the development of expertise in a variety of educative situations. These range from classroom activities for various age groups and abilities to instrumental teaching, classroom teaching, ensemble, choral, band and orchestral rehearsals, and the passing on of music and dance. There is also an introduction to Community Music and Dance which involves the development of acquired skills in a community music and dance context and as community musicians and dancers

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

Cooperative Education

MD4105 - Performance 5A

This module will develop students’ Irish dance practice with classes focusing on repertoire, technique, percussive dance, related traditions, as well as masterclasses. The ongoing development of their unique performance practice will take place in the context of a small group Creative Practice class with specialist tutors and practitioners.

MD4116 - Irish World Academy Practicum C5

This module’s syllabus is structured to extend the students' knowledge, skill and dance experience. They are exposed to dance disciplines such as ballet and contemporary dance; theoretical and practical classes on the act of choreography and choreographic principles; as well as somatic practices in areas such as yoga and Pilates to enhance their broader dance practice. Students also have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MU4106 - Arts and Health

This module is designed to enable music and dance students to develop awareness and understanding of the impact of the arts on health and well-being. The module aims to develop well-rounded music and dance graduates who are aware of the role of the arts in various contexts (such as hospital, community healthcare and mental health) and the impact of their own health and well-being on their own arts performance. The role of arts in society will be examined as well as the wide variety of approaches to creative engagement and the value of art.

MU4013 - Research Skills: Ethnomusicology/ Ethnochoreology/ Arts Practice

This module will introduce students to the important contextualising disciplines of ethnomusicology and ethnochoreology and their main principles and orientations as well as the practical application of fieldwork and the production of ethnographic representations.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4106 - Performance 6A

This module will develop students’ Irish dance practice with classes focusing on repertoire, technique, percussive dance, related traditions, as well as masterclasses. The ongoing development of their unique performance practice will take place in the context of a small group Creative Practice class with specialist tutors and practitioners.

MD4147 - Irish World Academy Practicum C6

This module’s syllabus is structured to extend the students' knowledge, skill and dance experience. They are exposed to dance disciplines such as ballet and contemporary dance; theoretical and practical classes on the act of choreography and choreographic principles; as well as somatic practices in areas such as yoga and Pilates to enhance their broader dance practice. Students also have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MD4157 - Irish World Academy Final Year Project 1

This module is intended students in the first semester of their fourth year, preparing to embark on an extended research project which will be presented in a 10,000 word thesis or equivalent. The student will agree on the subject of the project with the course director and will be introduced to a number of sample research projects and methodologies.

MU4007 - Professional Skills for the Performing Arts

This module will examine issues pertinent to the lives of professional musicians and dancers. Issues such as promotion, effective communication, industry structures, touring, dealing with statutory arts bodies and funding structures will be practically engaged. Classes may feature professionals working in these fields and regularly faculty with relevant experience. This aspect of the module is supported by a lecture series and assessed through attendance and written assignments in the form of professional portfolios and resources.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4107 - Performance 7A

This module will develop students’ Irish dance practice with classes focusing on repertoire, technique, percussive dance, related traditions, as well as masterclasses. The ongoing development of their unique performance practice will take place in the context of a small group Creative Practice class with specialist tutors and practitioners.

MD4128 - Irish World Academy Practicum C7

This module’s syllabus is structured to extend the students' knowledge, skill and dance experience. They are exposed to dance disciplines such as ballet and contemporary dance; theoretical and practical classes on the act of choreography and choreographic principles; as well as somatic practices in areas such as yoga and Pilates to enhance their broader dance practice. Students also have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MD4138 - Irish World Academy Final Year Project 2

This is the second of the two Irish World Academy modules for the FYP. The student works in a one on one context with supervisor in this module while receiving certain skills training to enable them to fill out the structure of the FYP started in the previous semester. Students will produce their own unique piece of research in an genre and disciplinary approach to the performing arts of their own choosing.

MD4148 - Dance Pedagogy

This module will provide a conceptual basis for dance as an education tool. It will be interrogating and extending students’ knowledge and understanding of the content, methodologies and assessment procedures relevant to the teaching and learning in a variety of dance contexts. Students will develop their knowledge and competency of best practice in Dance education including dance aesthetics, creativity and child/student centered pedagogy.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

You need to have experience in Irish dance before embarking on this course.

No. In the case of Irish Music, Irish Dance, Contemporary Dance and Voice, you need to show proficiency in one area. In the case of World Music, you will be required to show proficiency in any genre of music. An open mind and a willingness to engage with other genres and disciplines is also a requirement.

The first year of the programme is shared by all musicians, singers and dancers but you will specialise in your own performance genre from the start. At the beginning of the second year, students will be divided into their specialist area, in one of the following streams:

• Irish Traditional Music

• Irish Traditional Dance

• Contemporary Dance

• Voice

• World Music

Each student receives weekly classes from highly accomplished dancers/tutors with extensive teaching and performance experience for their main performance area. Master classes are also provided by visiting professional vocalists, musicians and dancers throughout each semester.

Yes, each student has the opportunity to gain work experience in their area of interest in semester 5 during their Co-operative Education placement, i.e. semester 2  of 3rd year.

Yes. Each student is given the option of studying at a number of institutions around the world for semester 6, i.e. semester 2 of 3rd year.

No, you will also engage in academic classes. Performance and academic studies are equally important. This gives you more career opportunities upon completing the course.

Auditions normally take place at the beginning of April or in mid-July for late applicants and ‘change-of-mind’ applications although the Academy is flexible if applicants have difficulty with these dates. In auditions students should show a good standard of performance.  We require our traditional dancers to perform either:   

Competitive style: 3 pieces, one hard-shoe, one soft-shoe and one of your own choice in any style  

or  

sean-nós: 3 pieces – one reel time percussive piece, one percussive piece in another rhythm, one of your own choice in any style  

Further information can be found at www.irishworldacademy.ie