Course Details
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Brief Description
The MA in Dance Performance is a one-year, full-time postgraduate programme. It is unique in that it facilitates two 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 programme 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. Objectives The programme provides a learning environment for advanced performance in either Irish Traditional Dance and or Contemporary Dance; it 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 of Arts in Irish Traditional Dance Performance is a one-year, full-time, taught postgraduate programme. Solo and ensemble work, both original and traditional, allow for the artistic development of students while adhering and honouring the artistic integrity, history, and identity of Irish dance. With performance at its core students are encouraged to engage in critical debate within academic modules to equip them with the necessary academic and performance skills required for further performance and research. The programme provides an artistically secure environment for students to develop their own voices trough the medium of Irish dance.
MA Contemporary Dance Performance:
The Master of Arts in Dance Performance (Contemporary) is a one-year, full- time, post-graduate programme. It offers students an opportunity to undertake a period of intensive, primarily studio-based research into contemporary dance, performance, and choreography. The programme is designed to provide each student with the tools to develop their unique strengths and interests as a dance artist. Exploring dance performance as a creative endeavour, students engage in contemporary dance workshops and masterclasses, ensemble choreographies, solo making, Screendance, Somatics and creative practice methods. Alongside learning to contextualise their practice within the research and wider professional field, they regularly engage in workshop and performance events with local and national festivals, dance companies and dance resource organisations.
MA Irish Traditional Dance Performance
The Master of Arts in Irish Traditional Dance Performance is a one-year, full-time, taught postgraduate programme. It is unique in that it is the only programme of its type at an university in the world. The programme provides advanced training in Irish traditional dance performance practices within a variety of historical, theoretical and dance performance contexts. Though engagement with master tutors and lectures, students explore aspects of repertoire, style, and choreography for a reflexive, critically aware, and embodied understanding of Irish dance performance practices. In addition, students examine contemporary dance choreographic techniques within the context of western theatrical dance and body awareness studies.
Further information on the course can be found on the FAQs
Irish Traditional Dance Performance
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Options: students can choose one option from the list below
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Options: students can choose one option from the list below
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| Semester 3: MD5522: Final Presentation | |
Contemporary Dance Performance
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Options: students can choose one option from the list below
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Options: students can choose one option from the list below
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| Semester 3: MD5522 Final Presentation | |
Content of modules can be found by using the search option on the book of modules.
A primary degree with first or second class honours or an equivalent qualification (Primary degree: Level 8 - National Qualifications Authority of Ireland). An equivalent capability based on prior professional experience.
An interview and audition (online) will be required in all cases. Candidates will be required to submit additional audio-visual material via online links that demonstrate previous experience in contemporary dance.
WHAT TO INCLUDE WITH YOUR APPLICATION:
- Qualification transcripts and certificates
- A copy of your birth certificate or passport
- A copy of your CV
- If your qualifications have been obtained in a country where English is an official language this will suffice.
- If this is not available, the following additional documents must be provided:
- English translation of your qualification(s)/transcripts AND
- English language competency certificate
- Please click here for Further Information on English Language Requirements
- You will be contacted by the course director after the application is reviewed to submit samples of your previous dance performance work.
EU - €7,600 - Non- EU - €17,400
Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the Student Fees Office website. All fee related queries should be directed to the Student Fees Office (Phone: +353 61 213 007 or email student.fees.office@ul.ie.)
The programme is beneficial for students wishing to pursue careers in dance performance, artistic directorship, and arts development.
Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín, former MA Student, Independent Dance Artist “The level of personal feedback and discussion was hugely beneficial. I think this facet of the course meant that I engaged with dance in a deeper way and was able to analyse my own work more objectively. It also gave me a language with which to write about my work.”
Nicole McKeever “The MA in Irish Traditional Dance Performance programme at UL, under the directorship of Dr Catherine Foley, changed me as dancer both physically and mentally. It allowed me to become the professional dancer and choreographer I knew I was destined to be. Through my experiences in the program and the people I met I was able to launch my professional career and take my life in a direction I never could have imagined. Since successfully completing the MA in Irish Traditional dance, I have toured consistently for five years with Riverdance the show, dancing on four continents. I have recently earned my TCRG as a certified Irish dance teacher. I have also taught workshops in Brazil and dance classes in New York City”.
Kathleen Spanos “The MA programme in Irish Traditional Dance Performance completely changed the course of my career path: Irish dance for me became something that was not only done at feiseanna, but could also be studied critically in academia. The combination of master classes and workshops along with coursework in dance history and ethnochoreology opened my mind to new ways of thinking about dance. I was encouraged to step out of my comfort zone of competitive Irish step dance to explore unfamiliar styles of dance, such as Brazilian capoeira and West African dance. I learned that I could combine my love of dance and movement with my academic research goals and desire to teach in a university setting.
I am currently a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park in Performance Studies, and my doctoral research addresses the development of Irish dance as a percussive dance in the United States. My plan after completing my doctorate is to find a position as a professor of dance or performance studies. I credit the MA programme and my wonderful mentors at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music & Dance with giving me the means and the courage to allow my passion for Irish dance to guide my academic career goals.”
Andrew Vickers “The MA in Traditional Dance Performance is a must for Irish dancers who like to think outside the box. The Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick is a safe, nurturing, creative space for emerging dance makers from an Irish traditional dance background. During my time on the course I was encouraged to find my own identity as a dancer whilst applying the fundamental techniques of ethnographic research and dance making to my choreographic process. This program also provided beneficial resources to collaborate and network with people from different areas of the performing arts. Dr Catherine Foley has developed a great way to bring traditional dance forward into an academic setting using her vast experience and expertise in the field of dance and ethnochoreology. I would strongly recommend this course to any person looking to further their career in dance.
Since completing the MA I have gone on to work with Dance Theatre of Ireland and Soul Steps NYC on the creation and performances of Every Little Step, The Rhythm of Hope. This production premiered in New York City at the Joyce SOHO in 2011 as part of Imagine Ireland, a year of Irish Arts and Culture abroad. I have also collaborated on a new production Pulses of Tradition with fellow allumni Brian Morrissey, who completed his MA in Traditional Music Performance at the Irish World Academy. This stage show showcases Irish music, song and dance in both traditional and contemporary capacities and is now a part of the summer concert series at Triskel Arts Centre, Cork City.”
Ashlene McFadden “The MA in Traditional Dance Performance is a must for Irish dancers who like to think outside the box. The Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick is a safe, nurturing, creative space for emerging dance makers from an Irish traditional dance background. During my time on the course I was encouraged to find my own identity as a dancer whilst applying the fundamental techniques of ethnographic research and dance making to my choreographic process. This program also provided beneficial resources to collaborate and network with people from different areas of the performing arts. Dr Catherine Foley has developed a great way to bring traditional dance forward into an academic setting using her vast experience and expertise in the field of dance and ethnochoreology. I would strongly recommend this course to any person looking to further their career in dance.
Since completing the MA I have gone on to work with Dance Theatre of Ireland and Soul Steps NYC on the creation and performances of Every Little Step, The Rhythm of Hope. This production premiered in New York City at the Joyce SOHO in 2011 as part of Imagine Ireland, a year of Irish Arts and Culture abroad. I have also collaborated on a new production Pulses of Tradition with fellow allumni Brian Morrissey, who completed his MA in Traditional Music Performance at the Irish World Academy. This stage show showcases Irish music, song and dance in both traditional and contemporary capacities and is now a part of the summer concert series at Triskel Arts Centre, Cork City.”