APPLIED RESEARCH SKILLS - 2019/0

Module Overview

This module will present a detailed examination of applied research skills specific to an area of dance studies, choreography, movement analysis or practice research. Students on the module are proposing creative or academic research topics to investigate studio-based explorations of contemporary choreographic practices, movement direction or contextual dance studies. Content and form of delivery would change from year to year, based on the specialisms of available staff, and depending also on broader thematic or contextual issues current in any given year group. As such, the module is specifically designed to facilitate independent research for students to explore and develop their creative practice further in preparation for their final year dissertation/ practice research projects.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

BIRCH Rachel (GSA)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Both the content and format of this module will vary from year to year, but in each year, the module will require students to engage with critical approaches to the study of dance and with a set of current questions/debates in contemporary dance scholarship and practice research. The module will require a close reading of relevant critical and theoretical texts, and will ask the student to engage in independent research around the given topic.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

Independent research skill, critical thinking and analysis as it is relevant for their practical projects.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• In-Class Presentation (Research Summary and Questions)


• Essay (Critical reflection and analysis of an independent research topic)

Module aims

• To provide a detailed and focused investigation into a specific area of dance studies, offering exposure to theoretical texts, contemporary choreographic practices, movement direction and practice research skills otherwise unexplored in the programme’s curriculum
• To offer students direct and detailed access to staff research specialisms, thereby enhancing the provision of research-led teaching, and further developing students’ awareness of the most current debates in dance, theatre, and performance scholarship
• To develop and practically apply analytical, historical, critical, and contextual approaches to the study of dance and choreography
• To develop and refine students’ ability to articulate complex ideas through formal writing, creative practice, and/or oral presentation techniques

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Facilitate independent critical thinking and practice research.

The learning and teaching methods include:

Lecture/seminars/workshops/field work.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: DAN2041

Other information

Under the three term structure that commences from academic year 2019/0 – this module’s delivery falls in Semester 1 due to the teaching occurring in Teaching Block 1.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.