What are the skills students need to become leading contemporary dancers?

In the competitive dance industry, students require considerable technical, creative and performance expertise to develop into versatile and sagacious dance artists.

As global interest in the industry grows, so do applications to world-renowned music and contemporary dance education hubs.

Seeking the freedom to master their skills on a multi-disciplinary learning platform and to showcase their skills on a distinguished stage of fellow creatives, every aspiring dancer desires a training programme that respects their individuality and professional ambitions.

Readily-equipped with a natural flair for performance, prospective dance students are also searching for an academic institution that combines their passion with soft skills.

As the LinkedIn 2018 Emerging Jobs Report explains, employers are facing a huge skills gap since so many of their employees don’t possess the necessary leadership and communication expertise needed to succeed. “While hard skills are important,” it says, “it remains imperative for professionals to maintain their arsenal of soft skills in this rapidly changing jobs landscape because those that have them, have a leg up.”

Source: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

One creative music and contemporary dance school in the UK understands the need to merge technical, creative and performance skills: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

As the UK’s only conservatoire of music and contemporary dance, here you’ll be taught by a wide range of practising dance artists and academics who are prominent within their specialist field.

With undergraduate programmes that encourage you to evolve into technically-advanced, versatile and innovative dance artists, there’s never a shortage of talent at London’s leading creative conservatoire.

So, what skills can you acquire from Trinity Laban’s undergraduate programmes?

BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance

The Trinity Laban BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance instils students with key analytical, critical and reflective skills, enhancing their craft and preparing them to advance in the modern working world.

For three years, you’ll be exposed to daily classes in contemporary dance and classical ballet, creative workshops that will develop your choreographic voice, and be given the chance to choreograph and perform work of your own and of others.

During your first and third year of the programme, you’ll embark on a personal performance project and create new dance works. In second year, you’ll restage a historically-significant repertoire and experience both sides of the production process.

Throughout the course, leading dance practitioners (members of the Trinity Laban teaching faculty and visiting dance artists) will guide and enable you to create and perform a wide range of dance works with confidence.

Source: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

Taking on the role of both choreographer and performer, you’ll acquire the leadership and communication skills future employers seek in their candidates.

BSc in Dance Science

Starting its next intake in September ‘19, the BSc Dance Science programme is now open to undergraduate applicants.

If you apply for this revolutionary course, you’ll sustain sophisticated knowledge and understanding of how the body works and of how to support anyone participating in dance or fitness and health activities.

As a finalist for the Global Teaching Excellence Award 2018, the quality of teaching at Trinity Laban is recognized as outstanding. Here, all lectures are delivered by leading industry specialists in the field of dance and/or sports science. You’ll benefit from your professor’s industry experience while studying subjects like exercise physiology, biomechanics and performance psychology.

The course itself equips graduates with the skills and knowledge needed for a range of roles within relevant industries or to progress with further study options.

If you opt for Dance Science at Trinity Laban, you won’t be disappointed.

Your career after Trinity Laban Conservatoire

According to many Trinity Laban graduates, a career after the courses at this conservatoire is extremely rewarding.

For Aaron Chaplin, his time at Trinity Laban was life-changing. “My three years at Laban helped sculpt the dancer that I am today,” he says. “I was able to nurture my interests in choreography, taking advantage of the many opportunities that there were to create, while also having that chance to work with a plethora of choreographers such as Jessica Wright of Company Wayne McGregor.

Source: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

“Being able to finish my three years at Trinity Laban and step straight into my role as an apprentice for Phoenix Dance Theatre was an absolute blessing. The company has a long and vibrant history and to be chosen to be a part of that is an honour.”

Last year, third-year undergraduate student Jack William Parry joined Trinity Laban alumnus, Sir Matthew Bourne OBE’s award-winning dance company for the legendary reimagining of Swan Lake.

As Jack explains, “It’s been a rollercoaster when I think about it. I’ve loved the journey and I’m a completely different dancer and person to when I started training. Coming to Trinity Laban, I learnt to be independent and I’ve shared the experience with some tremendous people who I know I will have lasting connections with.”

If you’re interested in Trinity Laban and want to get involved with an international community that’s advancing the arts of music and dance, apply now on UCAS Conservatoires.

It’s never too late to capitalise on your creativity and become a leading contemporary dancer.

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