The MA Dance and Professional Practices offers a unique blend of creative and professional development tailored specifically for portfolio dance artists. You will develop creative practice across four key strands: Teaching, Choreographing, Performing, and Producing. With guidance from experienced industry professionals and respected academics, you will connect your values, skills, and attributes to forge your artistic identity. This course empowers you to thrive both independently and collaboratively, supporting versatile and innovative dance artists to realise their potential.

MA Dance and Professional Practices is industry focused and reflects the wide-ranging roles undertaken by dance graduates, preparing you for diverse industry opportunities. You will work collaboratively on projects which combine your skills as a performer, educator, producer, maker and facilitator with opportunities to showcase your work with your artistic community and the public.

Dance at Salford is a community of lecturers, students, artists in residence, alumni artists and visiting professionals who work together to provide a professional training and education to support your career aspirations. As a postgraduate dance student studying at Salford, you'll have access to vibrant local dance scene with links to local venues and dance organizations. We'll create collaboration and networking opportunities through live dance and music events, as well as access to discounted supplementary training and live performances, creating space to engage with like-minded creative artists.

This program is tailored to empower and equip you for a successful portfolio career in the dance industry. You will explore four key areas of practice: Teaching, Choreographing, Performing, and Producing, combining these skills to realise creative projects that are innovative, artistically relevant, industry responsive, and promote access and engagement in dance. The programme is led by a team of academics with extensive industry experience and guided by expert industry professionals.

You will refine your creative voice and connect your skills to create, teach, and produce work both independently and collaboratively. You will engage in creative projects that simulate industry standards in dance production and education and participate in residencies and learning opportunities with professionals. The inclusion of an industry placement supports real-world learning and helps you develop professional networks. Ongoing dance technique training fosters continuous practical development and embodied learning.

The curriculum emphasises practical skills and industry understanding and is delivered primarily through seminars and workshops, with you working both individually and collaboratively. Over three trimesters, the focus shifts from direct instruction to self-directed projects, culminating in a Final Major Project.

Find out what youll cover in each module by taking a look at the full course breakdown below.

Career Links

This Masters degree in Dance Performance has links with a number of strategic bodies for Dance in the UK including Joss Arnott Dance, The Lowry, Company Chameleon.

Our annual dance artist-in-residence scheme which has included companies such as Company Chameleon, Hawk Dance Theatre, Kapow Dance Theatre, as well as independent dance artists. As part of this scheme, our dance students benefit from workshops, apprenticeships, performance and project opportunities, mentoring opportunities. Each academic year, we run a range of Masterclasses to develop your knowledge of the wider dance ecology and to assist you in developing your personal career trajectory.