Dance students from Leeds Metropolitan University officially launched their new BA (Hons) Dance degree course at a celebration event last week, at the home of their studies: Northern Ballet Theatre’s Quarry Hill studios.

The first group of 33 students enrolled on the course in September and provided an expert display of their Body Work (a class to prepare for the day’s rehearsals and training) and choreography and improvisation modules at the launch event, in front of the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Susan Price, and staff from within the School and Northern Ballet Theatre.

They will now put their choreography skills into action and showcase their talents at a major public performance in Leeds City Centre as part of Leeds Canvas, a project of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, on the weekend of May 18-20.  The event will see them dancing on Briggate throughout the weekend.

Rachel Krische, Director of Dance at Leeds Metropolitan, commented: “The BA (Hons) Dance course is a practice-based course.  Our students dance every single day for up to five hours.  It is thrilling for our students to be here at Northern Ballet Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre's centre for dance at Quarry Hill, working alongside two professional dance companies as they are just beginning their journeys.  Being surrounded by professional practice and behavior really ups their game and inspires and excites them.”

Student Jemma Broomhead said: “I am really enjoying the course and like the way that we are taught: it is quite yoga-based and good for the body.  We are so lucky to be able to work here at Northern Ballet Theatre.  Phoenix Dance practice next to us every day and we get to watch their rehearsals.  It is all state-of-the-art here and there is nothing else we could possibly need.”

Part-time Lecturer in Performance Works, Professor Noel Witts, added: “Our University is unique in the region in offering the chance to work collaboratively in dance with the film school and students of fine art.  The ability to collaborate within the area of performing arts is very important for students, who come here to study alongside working practitioners and continue this philosophy.”

The BA (Hons) Dance course is designed to take advantage of opportunities at a local, national and international level, using the University’s links to give students access to recognised artists working in experimental and contemporary practices. As the course focuses on practice, there is a wide range of opportunities for showcasing students’ work. 

Leeds Canvas is a collaboration between eight of the city’s key arts organisations: Yorkshire Dance, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Phoenix Dance, Opera North, Northern Ballet, Leeds City Council, Leeds Metropolitan University Gallery and Studio Theatre and Leeds Art Gallery.

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