Performing Arts: Dance Pathway Level 3 Full-time (FPFA)

This Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts provides you with opportunities to develop and showcase your dance or technical skills in the creative industries.

Whether you are dedicated to a career in the West End, on Cruise Ships, in Pop videos, in a contemporary dance company or as a teacher of dance, this is the course for you!

You will specialise in dance and will explore ballet, jazz and commercial styles, you will get the chance to perform in our versatile venue, The Electric Theatre, as well as our more intimate studio performance space

You will work on specialist projects, as well as large scale public performances each year in The Electric Theatre. Our Performing Arts and Production Arts students will work closely with each other.

You will develop transferable skills such as communication skills and self-confidence, becoming an excellent team player and problem solver, as well as developing your specialist skills.

This dance course is highly practical and allows you to develop a diverse range of dance skills, giving you the best chance of a fantastic career in the performing arts. The course provides you with opportunities to develop your creativity, performance skills, audition preparation and professional training. You will explore a range of performance styles such as classical and contemporary ballet, jazz, commercial and choreography, by working on a variety of different projects.

You will be assessed through your coursework and practical demonstrations such as performances in several public shows, as well as private class assessments throughout the year. Public performances will take place in the evenings.

Five GCSEs at grade 4 including GCSE English and maths

Relevant experience and a successful audition

Successful interview

On completion of the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts, you will gain the knowledge, skills and understanding to progress to degree level study or employment in the performing arts industry. The qualification attracts 72, 120 and 168 UCAS tariff points for Pass, Merit and Distinction grades respectively, which is equivalent to three A Levels.

Previous students have progressed to some of the most prestigious specialist training in the country at centres such as Urdang Academy, Arden, Rare Studio, Phil Winstons, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, as well as to universities such as Manchester Metropolitan, Central Lancashire, Cumbria, Lincoln, Salford and Edge Hill.

You may want to progress to Higher Education programmes with Postgraduate study in a range of specialist areas such as teaching, choreography, events management and dance therapy.

This course could form the successful foundations of a career in dance working as an dancer in a range of entertainment industries, in touring and production theatre companies, in theatre, film, TV, street entertainments, theatre in education or within a musical theatre company as a ‘triple threat’ performer.

You could work in the following careers:

• Holiday rep
• Cruise ship entertainer
• Dance teacher
• Choreographer
• Dance captain
• Dancer in a related entertainment industry such as pop videos, circus, burlesque, PR, modelling, featured/backing dancer
• Dance repetiteur or movement therapist