Curious about studying Dance - BA (Hons)at Bucks New University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
High Wycombe Campus
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
Become a thinking practitioner of dance and spend time looking at performance development through choreography and dance techniques. Focusing on jazz and commercial styles, this dynamic dance degree course will also give you the opportunity to work with professional dancers, choreographers and arts organisations.
Why study BA (Hons) Dance at BNU?Inspiring FacilitiesAt BNU we ensure you have creative spaces to bring your ideas to life. On this course you’ll have access to a range of our state-of-the-art facilities on campus, including a well-equipped gym, dance studios, fitness studio and a Human Performance Lab.Each space brings with it unique features, from sprung floors to fully equipped sound systems and full-length mirrors - our dance studios are fully equipped with everything you’ll need to practice and create routines. We also understand that during your time at university, it is also just important to get involved with extra-curricular activities. Our Students’ Union offers a range of free societies and nights out for you to enjoy, from a dance society to our yearly festiball event, there is something for everyone.
Showcase your skillsWe seek to bring your work into the wider world and to bring the world into the university. During your time at BNU you’ll have the opportunity to perform at external venues and showcase your skills to the local dance community. You’ll also have access to the Wycombe Swan Theatre and Wycombe Town Hall as part of our Wycombe Swan Residency. The Swan Theatre sits adjacent to the University and is one of the UK’s leading regional theatres.You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively across the university with other courses such as Sports therapy and Photography, ensuring that you are building a varied network, like you would in the real world.
Learn from industry-expertsLed by a dedicated and experienced course team, you’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. You will also have the chance to work closely with guest artists who are still active in the dance industry and who will further nurture your learning and professional development throughout your time at BNU. Our Dance course is ranked 1st for teaching in the UK. (NSS 2024)
Flexible learningThis course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto the undergraduate programme.
What will I study?Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in your first year from a broad selection in areas such as entrepreneurship, creativity, health & wellbeing and culture.This degree focuses on commercial dance forms, jazz dance and classical ballet are the foundational styles but you will also have the chance to take classes in other diverse dance styles which may include K-Pop, AfroDance, Commercial, Hip Hop and contemporary. The supportive course team help to nurture your dance technique whilst also teaching you the transferable skills needed for your future career in the dance industry. In your final year you’ll focus on skills which prepare you for the dance industry. You will gain knowledge of how to contact agents, market yourself as a dance professional, undertake work experience and spotlight your skills in a final showcase performance.
This module offers you opportunities to develop core dance skills in a range of dance styles. This includes an understanding of core posture, alignment, co-ordination, flexibility, strength, balance, dynamics and quality of movement in a range of styles. You’ll self-reflect and assess your progress throughout the module.
It is essential for dancers to have practical technique classes across the whole academic year to ensure safe practice and guarantee continuous technical progression. This module will focus on application of technique into set and unset jazz exercises. You’ll have experiential dance science classes to progress your technical understanding in a range of dance styles.
This module will introduce you to established and current pedagogical theory. You’ll apply these theories to your own learning and to support the learning of others through effective teaching practice. You’ll develop confidence in structuring and planning lessons, writing lesson plans, developing appropriate movement material.
This module aims to teach you about your psychological selves and how this impacts your dance practice. The module aims to cover aspects of psychology such as; self-awareness, motivation towards dance, well-being, self-confidence and aspects relating to overtraining and burnout.
This module engages you in an in-depth inquiry into movement for camera and screen. The practical assessment is a devised/choreographed performance for screen, where you’ll be expected to demonstrate creative confidence in physical expression and an appropriate level of embodied knowledge of the studied practices.
On this module you’ll be presented with key global debates which impact our lives and could influence your creative practice and positions as creatives in ever-changing professional industries. Through research and critical reflection, you’ll explore these issues which may be related to sustainability, politics and other ecological or socio- economic factors, and respond to them creatively using your chosen discipline-specific practice.
The module aims to build upon the technical foundations established at level 4 and will continue to include classes in Jazz, ballet and another diverse dance style. In addition, the module will include classes focusing on dance science in practice where you’ll build on the fundamental anatomy knowledge gained.
You’ll continue to progress your dance technique through classes in a range of dance styles including jazz and ballet but will also focus on learning set professional repertoire. The onus will be on maintaining a high level of dance technique whilst performing repertoire in the required style.
On this module you’ll gain an in-depth inquiry into your own creative processes. You’ll engage in the fundamental processes involved in movement generation and its creative development within performance making. You’ll also be introduced to and encouraged to explore physical performance and dance making via the work of key practitioners in the field.
The taught material will include physiological, social and psychological influences of exercise on health as well as health and safety issues regarding exercise prescription, understanding the barriers to exercise and how to prepare and instruct a gym-based exercise session. The module is aligned to CIMSPA Gym Instructor qualification requirements.
The module will address challenges and opportunities in the dance and fitness industries using theory as a lens to consider contemporary issues. This module aims to give you a critical understanding of work and help to focus your thinking on future career decisions.
You’ll apply a variety of techniques across a range of styles but also develop advanced performance skills appropriate to the technique. Precision of movement, adaptability to different dance styles and maturity in performance style are aspects that will be nurtured throughout this module.
This module builds developing the understanding of dance techniques and performance skills. You’ll focus on academic, creative, employability and professional skills through the process of planning an industry relevant Showcase. You’ll work collaboratively utilising the strengths of the group to ensure smooth organisation, marketing and planning of the Showcase performance.
The aim of this module will focus on the performance aspect in preparing you for your final Showcase where you’ll present your talents in relevance to your area of study. This will be performed to an invited audience, including agents and industry professionals.
The Independent Project module aims to facilitate, develop and support an area of independent study and inquiry within the specialisms of dance/ performance/ theatre/ fitness. The Independent Project is an extended project and should draw on a range of skills from core modules already pursued within your degree culminating in either a written outcome or part-practical outcome.
4.4Bucks New University (BNU) is a student-focused university based in High Wycombe, with over 130 years of educational his...
