London Contemporary Dance School
London Contemporary Dance School’s Fund for Excellence is supported by:
Craignish Trust, The Eranda Foundation, The Prince Andrew Charitable Trust, Simon’s Charity, The South Square Trust, The Stanley Picker Trust, The Turtleton Charitable Trust. Charlotte Kirkpatrick Awards, Duke of York Scholarship Fund, Lunn Prothero Fund, Peggy Hawkins Scholarship Fund
Third year BA students Emilia Gasiorek-Shergold and Celina Liesegang performing Improvisation by Rick Nodine
“As an international student I did not have to think twice about flying across the ocean to pursue my passions at London Contemporary Dance School. Every day has enabled me to grow into a physically and technically strong dancer and at the same time explore my creative and artistic limits.�
Micha Baltman, first year BA student 2014
London Contemporary Dance School is a founding affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. Its programmes are funded through the Higher Education Funding Council of England and its degrees are validated by the University of Kent.
LONDON CONTEMPORARY DANCE SCHOOL As a student of London Contemporary Dance School, you can be confident of developing the technical, creative and performance skills that will enable you to fully realise your potential as an artist practitioner and give you the best possible preparation for a successful career in dance. Both the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are among the most intensive, rigorous and practically-based educations anywhere in the world, led by highly experienced, motivated and inspiring professionals across a broad range of disciplines. Underpinned by the development of a range of studio-based techniques, we want to give you the freedom to explore, to shape your future in dance, to discover and nurture your artistic voice and strive towards fulfilling your potential. London Contemporary Dance School is based at The Place which was the birthplace of contemporary dance in the UK. Throughout your time with us you will have the opportunity to make the vital industry connections that will offer a springboard into the profession, supporting and pushing the boundaries of your future creative practice. This prospectus is intended to be used in conjunction with our website. All the basic information is here, but more in depth details can be found on our website: lcds.ac.uk
Third year BA students performing Arctic by Jose Agudo
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN DANCE
Here at London Contemporary Dance School you will be part of an international cohort of outstanding students on the same journey with immediate access to our faculty of leading practitioners and thinkers in dance. We are a small conservatoire, a friendly, inspiring place to study, with limitless ambition and unrivalled expertise for you to engage with. We work with each student as an individual, nurturing and empowering you to develop as a creative and responsive dance artist. Based at The Place, right in the middle of the incredibly energetic arts and creative hub of King’s Cross, Central London, as a student of London Contemporary Dance School you’ll find yourself in the UK’s principal artist-led centre which supports the professional development of creative voices at all stages of their lives in dance. The Place’s range of activity and location make it a vital centre for independent dance artists. Connections forged by our students both during and after their time at the School enrich their learning experience and open up future possibilities. It’s also brilliantly placed for transport (Eurostar, five tubes and three mainline rail stations within a ten minute walk and loads of buses going in every direction). The experience will be what you make it. London Contemporary Dance School puts the future of contemporary dance in your hands.
First year BA students Kyle White and Jessica Roberts-Smith in a studio
UNDER GRADUATE
BA (HONS) PROGRAMME The degree programme is highly intensive. You’ll have 30 hours, on average, of contact time every week and most of that is spent in the studio. The studio-based work is led by eminent teachers who bring their expertise from a wide range of professional practices. Your technical training is enhanced by a range of choreographic, contextual and academic studies that directly relate to your experience of performing, making, researching and understanding dance. As you move into years two and three you will deepen and extend your technical ability, interpreting new work and tackling more complex choreographic and improvisation tasks. You will explore how to teach dance in a range of settings and reflect on your developing interests in relation to the artistic, professional and social contexts that shape contemporary dance today. The three-year degree gives you a professional education in dance, with the option to specialise in performance, choreography or to develop your expertise in both fields. You will be working alongside leading choreographers and renowned dance practitioners to create and perform a broad range of works.
You will have the opportunity to present your work to public audiences in our state -of-the-art theatre and on tour, making the transition to an independent artist. A degree show at The Place at the end of your final year provides a showcase for fellow professionals, promoters and the public to see work created and performed by the year’s graduates. As you complete your degree programme, you will be encouraged to explore and plan the possibilities for your next steps in dance. At London Contemporary Dance School we support our graduates as they continue into professional employment, independent practice, postgraduate study or any combination of these. Our alumni programme is continually developing and throws open a world of new opportunities, whatever area of the dance profession you choose to explore.
First year BA students watching a studio sharing
BA (HONS)
Three year BA programme What will I do year by year? As an undergraduate student at London Contemporary Dance School you will, throughout the three years of your studies, immerse yourself in creative dance practice and work towards the acquisition of the personal qualities and professional skills essential for a dance artist. The BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance is hard work, demanding but rewarding. You will be in class from 8.45am - 6pm most days, although on Wednesday afternoons there will be time for tutorials, to catch up with your studies and book studio time to work on your own or with your peers. Overleaf is an outline of the programme. More detailed information can be found on our website: lcds.ac.uk
95% of our BA graduates in 2013 were in employment or further study in the industry in the 12 months after leaving London Contemporary Dance School. Higher Education Statistics Agency 2013
BA (HONS) FIRST YEAR The first year has a strong emphasis on the development of essential practical and theoretical skills. The school is internationally renowned for the strength of its technical training. However, technique is just one element of the foundation that supports dance artists. Accordingly students work to acquire vital skills in improvisation and composition as well as developing the ability to analyse and reflect upon their own and others’ artistic practice.
Module name
Component
Contact hours
Terms
(rehearsal times in addition)
Introductory Technique
Contemporary
1.5 hours daily
1, 2 & 3
Ballet
1.5 hours daily
1, 2 & 3
Body Conditioning
3 hours per week
1, 2 & 3
Somatic Practice: Alexander Technique
1.5 hours per week
1, 2 & 3
Anatomy
1.5 hours per week
1&2
Music
1.5 hours per week
Introductory Choreography, Improvisation and Performance
Composition
3 hours per week
1, 2 & 3
Improvisation
3 hours per week
2&3
Performance Studies
3 hours per week
3
Introduction to Contextual Professional Studies
Cultural Studies/Dance History
3 hours per week
1, 2 & 3
Design
1.5 hours per week
Professional Studies
1.5 hours per week
Performance Projects
End of terms
1&2
1&2 1 1, 2 & 3
BA (HONS) SECOND YEAR The second year focuses on the deepening of technical and creative skills. There is a shift in the responsibility that each student takes for their learning. A greater emphasis is placed on students reflecting on their knowledge and assuming greater responsibility for their own development and progression. Performance skills and choreographic projects reflect the importance placed on working as a self-directed artist. Contextual studies, analysis and fundamental teaching practice empower and support all students as they begin to place their work in the ever-widening field of contemporary dance.
Module name
Component
Contact hours
Terms
(rehearsal times in addition)
Intermediate Technique
Intermediate Choreography, Improvisation and Performance
Intermediate Contextual Professional Studies
Intermediate Choreography and Performance Options
Contemporary
1.5 hours daily
1, 2 & 3
Ballet
1.5 hours daily
1, 2 & 3
Gaga Technique
1.5 hours per week
1&2
Somatic Practice
1.5 hours per week
Improvisation
3 hours per week
1&2
3
Form and Structure
6 hours per week for 5 weeks
1
Performance Studies
3 hours per week
1
Music and Choreography
6 hours per week for 5 weeks
2
Cultural Studies
3 hours per week
1, 2 & 3
Choreology/Dance Analysis
6 hours per week for 5 weeks
1
Fundamental Teaching Practice
3 hours per week
2
Independent Choreography Project
3 rehearsals per week plus tutorials
3
or Performance Studies
3 hours per week
3
Partnerwork 1: Contact Improvisation
3 hours per week
3
or Performance Project
Partnerwork 2: Repertory
3 hours per week
Â
End of terms 1, 2 & 3
3 1, 2 & 3
BA (HONS) THIRD YEAR The emphasis of the final year of study is on the transition from student to that of practicing dance artist. The third year programme parallels the professional dance environment by providing students with the opportunity to work as a solo artist, collaborator and as part of a company. You will have the chance to perform as part of LC3, the undergraduate performance company and get real experience of life on tour in a range of settings. Students are guided to identify and investigate in depth areas of artistic concern and personal practice whilst forming the knowledge and understanding that will prepare them for a rich, varied and influential professional life.
Module name
Component
Contact hours
Terms
(rehearsal times in addition)
Advanced Technique
Contemporary
Daily
1, 2 & 3
Ballet
Daily
1, 2 & 3
Students select two modules from the following options Choreographic Collaborations
Practice in performance
Daily for 3 weeks
1
Directed Rehearsal/Workshops
Daily for 5 weeks
1
Interarts
Studio Performance/Presentation
Daily for 5 weeks
2
Improvisation into Performance
Directed Rehearsal/Workshops
Daily for 5 weeks
2
Performance: Theatre or Studio
Repertory
1
Performance: Theatre or Studio Directed Rehearsal/Workshops
2 Daily for 5 weeks
Performance: Theatre or Studio Original Work: Work created with students by commissioned choreographers
2 2
Directed Rehearsal/Workshops
Daily for 5 weeks
2
Performance: Theatre or Studio
2
All Students Study Negotiated Project/ Honours Thesis
Seminars/Lectures/Self Directed Study
1&2
Studio Performance/Presentation/Written Documentation
Career Development and Professional Studies
3 1.5 hours per week
LC3 Tour
Directed Rehearsal and Performances
Graduation Performances
Work created with students by commissioned choreographers
2&3 3 3
EDge dancer Elena Tsikitikou performing The Living Room by Yael Flexer
POST GRADUATE
Postgraduate PROGRAMME The programme runs for one year (fulltime) or two years (part-time) leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Dance, which can be converted into an MA on completion of one further term of independent research. If you join us as a postgraduate student, you’ll find that our programmes offer an unmatched level of flexibility. This enables you to pursue specific areas of practical artistic enquiry more deeply and to broaden your outlook and knowledge. As a developing artist, we will encourage you to engage critically with the art form, to question, to be brave and to push boundaries. You will learn from and work alongside some of the best dance artists in the world and you will be in a building that is both the birthplace of contemporary dance in the UK and its most forward-looking, risk-taking and exciting innovator: The Place, a national centre for contemporary dance development. We’ll help you to uncover what it means to be a contemporary dance artist and to find your place within the profession. Our postgraduate programmes are internationally renowned and competition is high. The next generation of dance
artists from across the world choose our postgraduate study programmes to help them make the transition from student to professional dance artist or to make a career-changing step in their practice. As a postgraduate student we know that the choices you make now are vital to your long-term career success. That’s why we gear the programme towards enabling you to create your unique artistic and choreographic voice and develop the specialisms that will take you to the next level as an artist practitioner. Our programme is designed to give you the outstanding support you need to help you to achieve artistic excellence, innovation and make brave choices. Our aim is to give you the best possible guidance, preparation and artistic freedom to empower you to be the best professional dance artist that you can be. There are three study pathways to choose from: Performance, Choreography or Advanced Dance Studies. Each involves practice-based and theoretical research and working both on group and independent projects.
Performance
Choreography
As a performance student, you’ll find outstanding opportunities to launch yourself into the profession. Perhaps by joining the performance company EDge, which creates and tours a repertoire by leading choreographers. There may also be opportunities for EDge members to choreograph for the company. Alternatively many performance students undertake postgraduate apprenticeships with leading professional companies, performing as company members while also completing academic study. In recent years postgraduate apprentices have worked with Richard Alston Dance Company, balletLORENT, Bern Ballet, Danish Dance Theatre, National Dance Company of Wales, Rambert Dance Company, Scottish Dance Theatre, Hofesh Shechter, Tavaziva Dance, Jasmin Vardimon and Maresa von Stockert. Each year the list of host companies may change a little; however some have been working alongside us to deliver this programme for many years and you will notice that a significant number of the professional dancers now working in these companies began their relationship through the postgraduate programme at London Contemporary Dance School.
This programme provides an opportunity for a small number of choreographers to take time to re-examine their work and to open up new areas of exploration and questioning. It is aimed at students with an already established choreographic voice and has proved particularly fruitful for mature students who have been choreographing for some time and who wish to take time to reflect on their work within a supportive environment. Choreography students show their work in the Robin Howard Dance Theatre as well as in the studio and in site-specific contexts. They receive advice and practical support in costuming, scenography, music and all technical aspects of their work. All productions can be lit by professional lighting designers and supervisors are experienced choreographers themselves. Previous students include Simonetta Alessandri, Paolo Mangiola, Joe Moran, Rick Nodine, Eva Recacha, Frauke Requardt, Morgann Runacre-Temple, Jose Vidal and Joanna Young.
Advanced Dance Studies
Students on this pathway construct a bespoke programme to suit their individual needs, guided in their choices by course leaders who are amongst the most experienced professionals in their respective fields of expertise. This flexibility enables students to either retain a broad spectrum of interest or to follow a more specialised route. Advanced training in a range of techniques supports a
variety of performance opportunities. Other options include courses in choreography, teaching practice, advanced somatics, improvisation and video dance amongst others. With its emphasis on the breadth of professional practice, the programme aims not only to function as a framework in which you can further develop as a professional dance artist, but also one that increases your employability and career opportunities within the dance profession – specifically emphasising the need to engage with the developing trend for portfolio-based careers. This course offers the perfect opportunity to challenge and develop your existing personal practice, whilst at the same time offering the invitation to engage in new areas of study.
Both Choreography and ADS programmes can be taken part-time (subject to visa requirements).
For more detailed information on the course structure and options available please see the website: lcds.ac.uk
Advanced Dance Studies is the most flexible of the postgraduate programmes and is designed with two main aims: to offer professional-level experience for graduates from vocational dance training programmes and to offer mature professional dance artists a context for their continuing professional development.
Ihsaan de Banya, Joseph Toonga, Daniel Baker and Kenny Wing Tao Ho BA (Hons) 2013
YOUR FUTURE
YOUR FUTURE CAREER IN DANCE Many leaders within the dance industry have been trained and educated at London Contemporary Dance School, going on to develop their artistic practice in many different spheres. Their vision continues to inform, influence and underpin the evolving art form. Alumni include theatre directors and programmers, producers, artist teachers and visionary educators, leaders of dance development organisations, artistic directors, film makers, academics, dance writers, choreographers and performers. The opportunities are probably far greater then you imagined. The variety and range of the learning opportunities reflect the range of employment opportunities open to today’s contemporary dance artists. We are constantly keeping an eye on changing developments in the world of dance, making sure that you leave us fully prepared for a sustainable career, whichever area of dance and the arts you choose to explore.
London Contemporary Dance School graduates have joined many of the UK’s leading and innovative dance companies and choreographers including Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant, Richard Alston, Hofesh Shechter, Punchdrunk, Jasmin Vardimon, Protein, Eva Recacha, Frauke Requardt, Charlotte Spencer, Tilted Productions, balletLORENT, Rambert Dance Company and internationally with companies such as Bern Ballet, Sasha Waltz and Guests and Sydney Dance Company. Graduates’ work is also presented by theatres all over the world. The strength of graduates’ choreographic work is also reflected in the awards that they have won including Olivier Awards, the New Adventures Choreographer Award, Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award, Sadler’s Wells Global Dance Contest and The Place Prize for Dance.
Third year BA student Ricardo Da Silva (2014)
AM I QUALIFIED?
Do I have the right qualifications? A career in contemporary dance is very demanding and challenging. We’re not looking for fully formed artists when we audition. We select students who we believe show the best potential for a career in dance. What we’re looking for is talent, commitment and drive; your potential is the critical factor in being suitable for our programmes. Your audition is designed to give you the best opportunity to demonstrate that potential. Prospective students come from a variety of backgrounds, from streetdance to ballet to hip hop. At audition we focus on the imagination, curiosity and aptitude of each applicant and the passion to learn that will enable you to realise your potential during your time at London Contemporary Dance School. Entry requirements Undergraduate students are required to have two passes at A-level or other British equivalents. Similar level qualifications from other countries are also accepted.
Postgraduate students should have a first or upper second undergraduate degree in dance or a related subject, an equivalent overseas qualification or considerable professional experience. Candidates whose first language is not English will need to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting results from a recognised testing service, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test. Visit: lcds.ac.uk/entry-requirements for details. We provide support to students who need extra help, be that academic, financial or in other forms. This is part of our commitment to ensuring that people from all backgrounds have access to dance education and training of the highest standard. We do not discriminate on grounds of age, gender, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion.
I f you require the application form in an alternative format please contact us at lcds@theplace.org.uk or +44 (0)20 7121 1111
Third year BA student Paige Jackson with second year BA students Giulia Coti Zelati and Ellis Saul in a site-specific project
HOW TO APPLY
How can I apply and audition? You can complete an application online: lcds.ac.uk/apply and you can save it as you go along, so you don’t have to do it all in one go. The application form includes details about you, your educational and dance history and a personal statement about why you want to join London Contemporary Dance School. It’s easy to apply, but we do want to know as much about you as we can. There is a small, non-refundable audition fee which, in some circumstances, can be waived for candidates who are less able to pay. Details of how to apply for this waiver are on the application form. We welcome applications from people with disabilities and you’re encouraged to inform us of any access requirements you may have on your application form. Applications open in September and you are advised to apply as early as possible. First round undergraduate audition places are allocated in November of each year for entry in the following September. Undergraduate and postgraduate applications remain open until January (closing dates will be updated on the website). Once auditions are full we may not be able to consider your application, so you are strongly advised to apply early.
In addition to auditions here at The Place in London, there are specifically targeted auditions in other countries each year. International students should be sure to apply early enough to allow for a visa application if necessary. If you are successful in your first round audition, you may be invited for a recall audition. We understand that auditions can make you feel nervous or apprehensive, but we’ll do everything we can to help you feel welcome. We want to see you do your best and we’re excited to see you share your knowledge, passion and potential with us. Some of our current students work as ambassadors on audition days to let you know more about life in the School and to help put you at your ease. You are welcome to contact us before your audition to discuss any questions or concerns you may have and to arrange a visit to the School. We hope that most candidates selected for the recall will be able to visit the School between their first and second auditions.
Third year BA student Aaron Nuttall (2014)
FINANCE
FINANCE London Contemporary Dance School is a part of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. The eight schools of the Conservatoire offer world-class higher education and training in dance, drama and circus arts and train individuals who will match the world’s best and on entering their professions shape the future of their art form. Fees are set by the Conservatoire and approved by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA). Full information about current fees and the wide range of scholarships and bursaries available can be found on the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama website: cdd.ac.uk. If you are a UK/EU student beginning your first undergraduate degree you will not have to pay fees up front, but can apply for
loans to cover tuition fees. You will begin repayment only after you have completed your course and are earning sufficient income. The School’s Fund for Excellence provides extensive additional bursary support to talented students. Due to the intensive nature of their programme, most postgraduate students on the performance pathway receive bursaries contributing to their fees. Many undergraduate students also receive additional financial support from the Fund for Excellence. We do not want concerns about the financial implications of studying at London Contemporary Dance School to prevent you from applying. We are happy to talk through the costs and support available individually with applicants.
Second year BA student Alice Hall working in class
10 REASONS
10 reasons to join London Contemporary Dance School 1 London Contemporary Dance School is a world leader in dance education and conservatoire level training. 2 The Place, home to London Contemporary Dance School, is full of artists who take risks, push boundaries and define what the art-form will be. You will have the opportunity to learn with and work alongside them. 3 You’ll be with a group of peers who are ambitious and excited about driving the art-form forward. 4 You will have the chance to contextualise your studies with students who design lighting, make film, costumes, music and more. If you wanted to, you could find the whole of your future dance company through connections you make right here. 5 We will help you build your knowledge and capabilities beyond the studio so that you leave ready to adapt to the challenges of your chosen career path as a professional artist. 6 The Place is known internationally; we have connections across the globe and have enabled dance-makers to develop careers throughout the world. 7 You will quickly become a part of The Place family where developing artists, at every level, are finding their voices. 8 The theatre at The Place has seen the birth of stellar dance companies - including artists like Richard Alston, Aletta Collins, Jonzi D, Wayne McGregor, Eva Recacha, Hofesh Shechter, Jasmin Vardimon and James Wilton. During your education here you will have the chance to make new work and perform on this stage. 9 Whatever your background, we will do our best to help you be part of London Contemporary Dance School. 10 It’s London. The Place is situated in the heart of a city where everything happens and the arts thrive. It’s exciting to be here.
FIND OUT MORE Our online resources offer you more information about London Contemporary Dance School. lcds.ac.uk London Contemporary Dance School’s website has full details of our programmes, plus latest news, details of forthcoming performances, biographies of the School’s staff and more. theplace.org.uk Full details of all the activity at The Place, from the UK’s busiest dance theatre programme, to training and education for younger people, to work with and for independent dance artists. Virtual Open Day Get an insight into student life, watch class and hear students describe the experience in their own words: lcds.ac.uk/live Facebook Postings about everything happening at The Place, and a space for you to get in touch with other LCDS applicants: facebook.com/theplace
Youtube Watch live performances by London Contemporary Dance School students: Youtube.com/ThePlacefordance Student Finance UK Government guide to fees and financial support for students: gov.uk/student-finance Questions A selection of your most asked questions (about housing, health care, working while studying, international exchange and more) are answered at: lcds.ac.uk/faqs More questions? Get in touch at: lcds@theplace.org.uk or +44 (0)20 7121 1111 The information contained in this publication was correct at time of writing but we reserve the right to change where necessary.
“It is challenging, but in a very positive way. It’s really supportive, and everyone is always striving to do better. This has changed my mentality, and given me a much more positive way of thinking. I know it sounds like a cliche, but dance has changed my life.”
Joseph Toonga, BA (Hons) 2013
“Training to be a dancer is hard and intense work, both exhilarating and exhausting. But it’s a time in your life you never forget, I promise you.” Richard Alston CBE, Artistic Director of The Place London Contemporary Dance School 1967-70
As a partnership of eight affiliate schools, the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama offers world-class professional education and training in acting, circus arts, dance, and technical theatre. The Conservatoire’s unique structure gives students opportunities for collaboration beyond the individual affiliate school. It also ensures that those schools receive government funding which contributes to the high-cost training and that Conservatoire students are eligible for government-funded financial support including tuition fee loans. The Conservatoire schools are proud to be able to recruit on the basis of talent. The eight Conservatoire schools are:
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School oldvic.ac.uk Central School of Ballet centralschoolofballet.co.uk LAMDA lamda.org.uk London Contemporary Dance School lcds.ac.uk
Northern School of Contemporary Dance nscd.ac.uk Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance rambertschool.org.uk Royal Academy of Dramatic Art rada.ac.uk
National Centre for Circus Arts Further information about the Conservatoire is available at: cdd.ac.uk nationalcircus.org.uk
Photography by Emile Holba, Ivar Sviestins, Benedict Johnson, Alicia Clarke
London Contemporary Dance School The Place 16 Flaxman Terrace London WC1H 9AT lcds.ac.uk
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