Course Content
Choreographing the Self
This module will introduce you to current practices and concerns in contemporary choreography. Through practical studio-based learning alongside reading and discussion you will be introduced to a variety of artistic perspectives. You will explore ways to embed this new knowledge in the context of your own developing artistic practice through the creation of solo work.
Practice-Research Methods
This module asks what is ‘practice-research’? Current literature and practices are explored, including topics such as:
- Terminology
- Triangulation frameworks
- Outputs
- Documentation
- The role of dramaturgy and artist as agent
- What makes practice ‘practice-research’?
- What can practice offer research?
You will design and trial a practice-research methodology relating to your own research interests.
Performance Making
You will critically investigate and reflect on a range of strategies and methodologies for making contemporary performance in a studio/laboratory setting. The module considers issues and practices key to current performance making for example,
- Improvisation and devising
- notions of space and place
- problems of habit
- authorship/ownership
- creative technologies
- body
- text
- event
- time
- audience
Negotiated Study
This module allows you to pursue a programme of self-directed study, which will be agreed with the Programme Leader and an individual supervisor. You can choose any relevant research topic and can negotiate the outcomes for assessment. Examples of projects could include:
- a placement
- some written research
- a performance
- an exploration of a particular creative technology
- a community arts project
- an investigation of movement direction
It is an opportunity to pursue a new interest or to deepen your knowledge of an area of practice.
Optional modules (you will choose one)
Final Choreographic Research Project
In this module you will work with your individual supervisor and the Programme Leader to produce an independent choreographic research project with a public facing final performance outcome. The Practice Research Methods module is designed to prepare you for this final project and the Negotiated Study and Performance Making modules will have given you further opportunities to develop your understanding of your practice as research.
Dissertation
This module is a final written dissertation. It is an opportunity for you to focus on an area of research interest of your choice. You will be supported by your individual supervisor to demonstrate a systematic and comprehensive understanding of the techniques applicable to your own research and advanced scholarship in choreography.
