Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre
YEAR ONE
Year one is designed to create a grounding in all practical dance disciplines, singing and acting and is supported by Integrated Professional Studies including History of Dance and Safe Practice. Our generic 1st year enables the student who may develop so far unknown talents to be guided towards their diploma choice.
YEAR TWO
Year two is a consolidation of the techniques introduced in the first year and students start to specialise depending on their choice of diploma route. Performance projects are introduced to enhance their learning in their diploma choice and to gain an understanding of company work. These projects give the students an opportunity to work with leading choreographers, directors and musical directors from the industry generally leading to an assessed performance.
YEAR THREE
Year three is the preparation year for the profession and focuses heavily on performance for each diploma group. Students produce a CV and are encouraged to have professional photographs taken. Tutorials are given on contracts, Equity, tax and financial affairs. Students are allowed to attend auditions and take short-term professional work, such as pantomimes. The third year culminates in a final performance showcasing the talents of each diploma group.
Throughout the course all year groups have classes in the following supporting subjects, Pilates, Fitness, Floor Barre, Voice and Audition Repertoire. In addition to this all students have the opportunity to produce their own choreography which is assessed by an invited panel and then presented to the college along with the performance projects they have been working on throughout the term in a twice yearly dance platform.
In the Autumn term the students have mock assessments in all subjects in preparation for the yearly technique assessments in the Spring term. Following these assessments all students are given individual feedback and targets to work towards ensuring they are getting the most from their training.
Second and Third year students take weekly Guest Classes with leading professionals from both Theatre and Television/Film.
APPLICATION FORMS
Bodywork Company Dance Studios was founded in 1981 by Theresa and Patrick Kerr, who at the time were leading professionals in the world of dance and music.
The school grew from a series of classes taught in and around Cambridge as well as a professional touring company, the Bodywork Dance Company. At the time Theresa was teaching jazz for major performing arts colleges in London and Patrick was touring with the jazz company. The present building was acquired in 1985 – a former furniture warehouse which was then converted into beautiful dance studios. In 1986 they saw a need for a dance foundation course to prepare students, especially late beginners for full time vocational training, the foundation course grew both in size and success and still runs today. In 1990 Cambridge Performing Arts was founded as a three year course in dance and musical theatre. In 1995, Cambridge Performing Arts course became a registered charity.
The course was validated by Trinity, London in 2001 to offer Level 6 NQF Diploma in Professional Dance or Musical Theatre (validated by Trinity College London. In 2003 CPA became part of the Government Dance and Drama Awards scheme. CPA is accredited by the EFA and CDET. In 2009 Bodywork began to offer the Trinity Level Grade 8 Qualification in Musical Theatre for the Foundation course, so far the students have received Distinctions in their examinations.
COURSE TERM DATES
Bodywork Company Dance Studios was founded in 1981 by Theresa and Patrick Kerr, who at the time were leading professionals in the world of dance and music.
The school grew from a series of classes taught in and around Cambridge as well as a professional touring company, the Bodywork Dance Company. At the time Theresa was teaching jazz for major performing arts colleges in London and Patrick was touring with the jazz company. The present building was acquired in 1985 – a former furniture warehouse which was then converted into beautiful dance studios. In 1986 they saw a need for a dance foundation course to prepare students, especially late beginners for full time vocational training, the foundation course grew both in size and success and still runs today. In 1990 Cambridge Performing Arts was founded as a three year course in dance and musical theatre. In 1995, Cambridge Performing Arts course became a registered charity.
The course was validated by Trinity, London in 2001 to offer Level 6 NQF Diploma in Professional Dance or Musical Theatre (validated by Trinity College London. In 2003 CPA became part of the Government Dance and Drama Awards scheme. CPA is accredited by the EFA and CDET. In 2009 Bodywork began to offer the Trinity Level Grade 8 Qualification in Musical Theatre for the Foundation course, so far the students have received Distinctions in their examinations.