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In today’s dynamic artistic landscape, dance stands as a vibrant testament to the power of interdisciplinary practice. Dance is no longer confined to its traditional boundaries but has evolved into a versatile medium that intersects with various art forms, from visual arts to digital practices. This exciting evolution paves the way for new ideas and territories to be explored, opening up a world of possibilities and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in artistic expression. At the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD), students are immersed in this approach, preparing them to navigate and contribute to the multifaceted world of contemporary artistry.
NSCD’s MA Interdisciplinary Dance Performance (IDP) allows you to rethink your practice as a performer while collaborating with leading interdisciplinary artists. The programme will have you developing skills beyond conventional choreographic approaches, using laboratories to explore various movement practices working across film, theatre, VR, non-conventional spaces, and traditional theatre spaces. At NSCD, you’ll have the chance to work with dance artists across different disciplines, setting the scene for a truly interdisciplinary education.
“It is a programme which focuses on mixing different art forms to create something beautiful,” says Italian student Francesca Costa. “It’s about exploring different projects and having the opportunity to perform in and with different art forms and collaborating with many different artists.”
In the past, students have participated and worked on varied projects. From working on a production with Gecko, an internationally acclaimed physical theatre company, to performing in a dance film created by award-winning choreographer and filmmaker Dan Canham, NSCD’s IDP students aren’t short on opportunities.
“This programme is a great way to prepare you for the art world – you taste many different ways of working,” says student Gian Singh Sanghera-Warren. “We have lots of guest teachers who bring their practice to us, and we’re able to work on different projects that are each tailored to develop different skills.”
In 2024/25, IDP students will perform in three major projects with Florence Peake, Complicité Theatre, and Benji Reid.
Peake is a London-based artist who intertwines solo and group performance with an extensive visual art practice. Her project will see her and IDP students co-creating and performing in a durational gallery installation. Complicité Theatre is an international touring theatre company based in London working across art forms. Together, students will work with the company to co-create and perform a new 60-minute full-length stage production. Reid is a British photographer, visual theatre maker, and educator who coined the term “Choreo-photolist” to describe his unique practice of seamlessly merging theatre and choreography into his photography. In his project, students will help to create a unique immersive photographic exhibition exploring the body as a canvas.
Source: NSCD
For Sanghera-Warren, joining the programme meant being able to engage with dance in a less conventional setting.
“The work I do and am interested in tends to look at performance alongside visual art and digital practices, and I thought this course would be a good way to broaden my horizons and explore some of that,” says Sanghera-Warren. “The programme has been a huge learning curve and a period of growth for me. It has shown me a range of work and different ways of working. It’s a great opportunity to choose aspects you enjoy and grow as an artist.”
It’s clear that NSCD is committed to giving emerging and established artists the support they need to flourish in the field. The school ranked #1 in the 2024 Guardian League Tables for Dance & Drama and received impressive results in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 – Silver for Student Outcomes and Gold for Student Experience.
In-depth and unparalleled programmes aside, students also have access to industry-standard facilities to help them develop their practice. NSCD boasts seven large dance studios, an on-site performance venue, a lighting studio, video and sound editing suite, arts and dance library, a fully resourced Bodywork Studio, Pilates equipment, and the NSCD Virtual Learning Environment.
Source: NSCD
Hence why Sanghera-Warren readily recommends the IDP programme for those excited about the current and future dance landscape but who may need further advice, guidance, or preparation. “It has shown me that there are so many different ways to perform, and it has reignited a passion for performance and creation,” he says. “The scope of what we have been required to do has pushed me outside of my comfort zone in a great way.”
From understanding stage presence and performative styles to building confidence and your dance network, NSCD helps you with all of it and more. Graduates are ready for the industry, equipped with theoretical understanding, professional practice, and an interdisciplinary approach towards their work.
For Costa, being in the programme is helping her consistently improve as a performer. “We are not just practising the performance aspect; we keep doing technique classes too – I can see how I’m improving and growing as a dancer and performer,” she says. “From an artistic perspective, I have the opportunity to explore many different things.”
Interested in NSCD’s MA IDP programme? Join the programme by applying here – apply by 28 April 2024 for September 2024 start!
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