CHOREOGRAPHY - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module encourages students to draw upon and integrate previous learning of movement practices to create their own choreographic event(s) in response to a specific creative brief. Students will broaden and develop an understanding of choreography in theatrical contexts, gaining knowledge and skills in choreographic tools and approaches. Case study analysis of key practitioners and devising and development processes will support students to identify and develop their own choreographic concepts. Through this module students will work with increasing independence, developing personal projects and approaches to movement direction and choreography.

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

BIRCH-LAWSON Rachel (GSA)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

This module will introduce key choreographic concepts, approaches, tools, and techniques. Content may include theoretical and practical exploration of music, sound, and movement; devising and developing movement vocabulary; structure and composition; storytelling and narrative; embodiment and rehearsal. Students will research and experience a range of movement and dance styles, analyse existing works and practitioners, and engage with creative stimuli/briefs to create individual choreographic event(s) embedded in theatrical contexts. Work in progress sharing's, observation, and evaluation will examine the interaction between creative intention and realisation of ideas, encouraging students to become critically reflective, aware, and adaptable within their process.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

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

• Rigorous and thoughtful analysis, research, and preparation.


• An understanding of the role of choreography in theatre and performance and the implications of creative choices.


• Skills and understanding in choreographic approaches and use of choreographic tools.


• The ability to organize and facilitate an independent project, bringing a creative work to fruition.


• The ability to critically reflect and evaluate process and outcomes and respond proactively to evolving situations.


• Professional skills in the presentation of work in physical, digital, and written form.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Presentation of choreographed event(s) (5 minutes) in response to a creative brief, developed, led, and facilitated by the student, demonstrating choreographic skill and understanding and appropriate management of creation and rehearsal process; and submission of a digital creative portfolio, detailing research and preparation undertaken and documenting the creative working process through a range of digital tools identified and realised by the student - ¿ this may include video, text, images, or other content as appropriate.

Formative assessment and feedback is embedded within the learning and teaching for this module, and may include: in-class verbal feedback, presentation of draft work (practical and written), questioning and dialogue, facilitated peer-to-peer feedback and group discussion, tutorials, engagement with the online learning environment. Students will work reflectively to evaluate their own practice, identify areas of strength and weakness, and adapt to feedback and challenges, documenting this process within their digital portfolio and through the development of their choreographic work.

Module aims

• Introduce students to a range of choreographic approaches, tools, and techniques for use in theatrical settings.
• Deepen students understanding of choreography and storytelling and support them to develop the skills and experience to apply this in specific creative settings.
• Increase student independence and resilience, as students build upon previous learning to design, develop, and deliver independent choreographic projects.
• Stimulate reflection and evaluation through focusing on intention and realisation, as students demonstrate choreographic knowledge and skills and bring work creative work to fruition.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to

Build on previous learning through inviting students to draw upon knowledge of movement practices and facilitation techniques to design and deliver their choreographic projects. Introduce students to the work of key practitioners and approaches to choreography within theatrical contexts and provide students with knowledge and understanding in developing choreographic work and the tools to design, develop and deliver choreographic processes. Through critical reflection and evaluation students will deepen their understanding of choreography and physical storytelling and hone their craft through bringing a creative work to fruition. As students manage their own work and process, they build professional and transferrable skills, and work increasingly independently, preparing for later modules and professional contexts.

The learning and teaching methods include:

Seminars, practical classes and observation to introduce students to a range of choreographic practitioners and tools; independent research and study to deepen understanding and research and develop responses to creative briefs; peer-to-peer observation and tutorials to give and receive feedback on work in progress and support reflective learning.

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: MOVM003

Other information

GSA delivers its provision across three teaching blocks, within the University of Surrey’s existing semester structure.

Guildford School of Acting is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Digital Capabilities:

Students undertake online research and must engage with digital tools in the documentation and presentation of a digital portfolio. Students will work to research and identify suitable content and formats and use digital tools to realise the presentation of their portfolio for submission.

Employability

Students will gain employability skills through responding to briefs and building their professional choreographic practice. Students will organize and manage a creative process, considering the practical and logistical implications of their creative choices, and communicate effectively in spoken, written, and other digital forms.

Resilience and Resourcefulness:

Students will work independently and resourcefully to adapt to evolving circumstances, peer and tutor feedback, and personal evaluation and reflection, and manage creative and practical challenges.

Global and Cultural intelligence:

Through introduction to a range of choreographic practices and practitioners from around the world, and through collaboration with peers students will examine different personal, cultural, practical, and theoretical perspectives and broaden their cultural awareness and understanding.

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 2025/6 academic year.