Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance

MD4101 - Performance 1A

Movement disciplines such as Contemporary and Ballet Techniques, Yoga, Feldenkrais, and Pilates will focus on technical expertise that will create a foundation for artistry to flourish. Classes focus on developing safe dance practice, posture and alignment, technical clarity, freedom and flow, dynamics, musicality, and dance communication within the studio process.

MD4091 - Irish World Academy Practicum C1

This module will introduce you to choreographic elements, principles, and performance skills that will be central to your development as a dance artist. Through a creative process of using structured improvisation, compositional tools, open and closed scores and task based movement explorations, this module will help cultivate your choreographic voice.

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 Encounters 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

By increasing the level of movement complexity and physical ability acquired in the previous module (1A), you will continue developing further performance skills and more understanding of your individuality as a creative artist and dance practitioner.

MD4111 - Irish World Academy Practicum C2

Building and expanding on knowledge acquired in Choreography and Improvisation (Practicum 1C) you will start to explore in more detail choreographic thinking by working with different creative structures.

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 is a development of the semester first year Performance 1A and 2A modules and as such divided into two parts. Firstly, the development of the student’s performance practice and will occur in the stylistic context most common to the performance practice of the student. The second part of this module associated to performance skills pertinent to the specific music, song or dance practices of the student. Students will also be encouraged to engage in a dynamic self-critical process conducive to development and related to the principle of ‘reflective practice’.

MD4092 - Irish World Academy Practicum C3

This module consists of two elements. Firstly, the student will engage other students in a laboratory space within their own discipline, mentored by faculty and tutors, to develop creative, collaborative work within and extending from their own disciplines and genre practices. The second half of this module is to facilitate ‘cross-arts’ exploration of creative practice as a core dimension of every Academy undergraduate’s educational experience. Students will have the option to build on cross-genre skills acquired in Practicum C1 and/or C2 within certain contexts.

MD4123 - Dance Studies 1

This module aims to introduce awareness of the social, historical, political, and economic construction of dance knowledge through dance practices. By developing knowledge of social and historical influences in the development of modern dance over the past 300 years, the student will acquire a greater understanding of the field of Dance Studies in relation to the evolution of the dancing body. Exploring these elements will encourage a greater understanding of the multiplicity of the performer, choreography and the writing. In this module, the student will take a rigorous and critical approach to sourcing documented material that will allow an academic dialogue into dance practices.

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 is a development of the previous ‘Performance A’ modules and as such divided into two parts. Firstly, the students will continue to develop their performance practice through studio work and will occur in the stylistic context most common to the performance practice of the student. The second part of this module will be engaged in developing the student’s body awareness through movement practices such as Yoga, Feldenkrais, and Pilates.

MD4112 - Irish World Academy Practicum C4

This module will continue to focus on students developing their artistic practice in a collaborative context while gaining embodied experience of other arts practices outside of their own genre and disciplinary specialties. The rationale for including a defined space for the engagement with performance practices unfamiliar to the student is to show the student different creativities structured by unfamiliar aesthetics, cultural context and modes of embodiment. Students will have the option to build on cross-genre skills acquired in Practicum C1 in certain contexts. The title of the module reflects the Irish World Academy tradition of presenting modules with a wide performance skills focus as ‘practicum’. Such an approach enables an embodied methodology that will critically engaged within a dancer’s professional practice. The ‘C’ of the title is a reflection of the cross-genre content of the module.

MD4134 - Experiential 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 3

This module aims to help competent musicians and dancers to come to an understanding of what it means to be involved in music and dance education contexts. Students will engage in three main components: Music and Dance Curriculum studies, Professional Studies and School Based Work.

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

In their 3rd year, Irish World Academy performing arts students go on ‘co-op’, a university-wide module specifically designed for undergraduates to engage in real-world, professional environments. The Cooperative Education division, in consultation with the Academy, helps students to identify working opportunities in a variety of contexts, including arts management, education, performance, media and related fields. Students are encouraged to set up their own six-month placements or to engage in split placements (ideally no more than two placements) in order to explore if their expectations for future careers match the experiences they have during the co-op period. Faculty visits, pre- and post- co-op assessment skills, and final report help students to reflect upon the process, enabling them to critically evaluate their time off campus.

MD4105 - Performance 5A

This module is a development of the previous ‘Performance A’ modules and as such divided into two parts. Firstly, the students will continue to develop their performance practice through studio work and will occur in the stylistic context most common to the performance practice of the student. The second part of this module will be engaged in developing the student’s body awareness through movement practices such as Yoga, Feldenkrais, and Pilates.

MD4116 - Irish World Academy Practicum C5

This module will continue to focus on students developing their artistic practice in a collaborative context, through a choreographic process, while gaining embodied experience of other arts practices outside of their own genre and disciplinary specialties. The rationale for including a defined space for the engagement with performance practices unfamiliar to the student is to show the student different creativities structured by unfamiliar aesthetics, cultural context and modes of embodiment. Students will have the option to build on cross-genre and choreographic skills acquired in previous modules.

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. Students will discuss, describe and critically reflect on the ways theorists and researchers have considered social, psychological, physical and behavioural aspects of the arts and the value within health practices.

MU4013 - Research Skills: Ethnomusicology/ Ethnochoreology/ Arts Practice

This module will introduce students to the important contextualising disciplines of ethnomusicology and ethno-choreology and their main principles and orientations as well as the practical application of fieldwork and the production of ethnographic representations. This will introduce students to work primarily in an analytical writing mode to explore conditions, concepts, and practices of performing arts in the 21st century.

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 is designed to further development of the student’s primary performance interest and physical intelligence. Students will be encouraged to engage in a dynamic self-critical process conducive to development and related to the principle of ‘reflective practice’. Students will continue to focus on the technique and performance elements of their programme.

MD4147 - Irish World Academy Practicum C6

This module will continue to focus on students developing their artistic practice in a collaborative context. While gaining embodied experience through choreographic practices the students are encourage to explore other arts practices outside of their own genre and disciplinary specialties. The rationale for including a defined space for the engagement with performance practices unfamiliar to the student is to show the student different creativities structured by unfamiliar aesthetics, cultural context and modes of embodiment.

MD4157 - Irish World Academy Final Year Project 1

In this module students in the first semester of their fourth year, will prepare to embark on an extended research project which will be presented in a 10,000 word thesis or equivalent Arts Practice project. The student will agree on the subject of the project with the course director and then guided through the research process exploring other similar research projects and methodologies. This encourages students to engage in critical thinking and exploring a topic of interest, whether in theory or creative practice.

MU4007 - Professional Skills for the Performing Arts

This module will focus on the development of knowledge and skills necessary for professional engagement with the modern world of performance and related vocational fields. Students 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.

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 is designed to further development of the student’s primary performance interest and physical intelligence. Students will be encouraged to engage in a dynamic self-critical process conducive to development and related to the principle of ‘reflective practice’. Students will continue to focus on the technique and performance elements of their programme.

MD4128 - Irish World Academy Practicum C7

This module will continue to focus on students developing their artistic practice in a collaborative context. While gaining embodied experience through choreographic practices the students are encourage to explore other arts practices outside of their own genre and disciplinary specialties. The rationale for including a defined space for the engagement with performance practices unfamiliar to the student is to show the student different creativities structured by unfamiliar aesthetics, cultural context and modes of embodiment.

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 performing experience in a dance style/genre before embarking on this course.

No. In the case of Contemporary Dance, you need to show proficiency in one dance area. An open mind and a willingness to engage with other genres and disciplines will 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

Drawing from a faculty of industry performers and academics from around the world, as well as industry professionals and international guest artists and researchers, the programme prepares you for many different career paths. Master classes and workshops are also provided by visiting professional dance practitioners and artists throughout each semester.

Yes, each student has the opportunity to gain work experience in their area of interest in semester 5 during their Cooperative Education placement, i.e. semester 1 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 and vocational classes. Performance is an important part of your training but engaging in other areas such as Arts and technology, Arts and Health, Dance Pedagogy, Anatomy and Movement Analysis and Professional skills are all equally important. This gives you more career opportunities upon completing the course.

Auditions normally take place at the end of March, 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. Applicants will have the option of either completing a face-to-face or online audition process. In auditions, students need to show a good standard of performance. Both audition processes takes the form of performing a prepared solo (any genre e.g. contemporary, hip-hop, ballet) of no more than 2-3 minutes duration. This will be followed by the interview process (10min).