Master of Choreography (by Coursework)

Overview

The Master of Choreography (by Coursework)allows students to further develop their knowledge and skills in the area of choreography.

Description

A coursework Masters provides a framework for acquiring skills in choreography, including the capacity for students to further develop their unique creative qualities. The course is designed to contextualise student’s creative activity within local and global art worlds. It develops student communication abilities and capacity to collaborate with other artists. It fosters the ability to identify and seek out opportunities for artistic collaboration within communities, and develops student’s capacity to discriminate and make choices at all stages of artistic creation. The course provides a sound basis for learning and creative exploration.

Objectives

The course aims to:

• develop candidates’ choreographic skills and understanding;
• develop understanding and use of theoretical frameworks to evaluate and critique dance performance;
• develop capacity to evaluate, discriminate and make informed choices as part of choreographic practice within aesthetic domains;
• develop abilities to collaborate in local, national and international contexts;
• promote the exploration of dance as a communicative mode;
• explore the potentials of diverse media in choreographic production.

Prerequisites

Applicants are required to have a Postgraduate Diploma in Choreography, or equivalent, at least at H2B (70%) level across the degree and H1 in Independent Project B, OR equivalent documented professional dance experience of at least 5 years.

The Selection Committee may conduct interviews for each short-listed applicant and may call for referee reports and employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Generic Skills

At the completion of the course students should be able to:

• conceptualise, design, realise and present original artistic projects;
• develop processes appropriate to specific projects informed by an awareness of relevant professional skills and practices;
• contextualise professional choreographic practice within both a broader cultural field and a body of contemporary ideas;
• work with an awareness and practical skills in advanced communications technologies and receptiveness to the expanding opportunities of the digital age;
• demonstrate highly developed problem solving abilities and flexibility of approach;
• collaborate with others in group projects informed by self understanding and demonstrating highly developed interpersonal skills;
• exhibit leadership capacity, including a willingness to engage in constructive public discourse and contribute by acting as a mentor to the development of others;
• develop an entreprenurial approach to business, industry, arts organisations and the broader community and engage with key stakeholders to address important economic and social issues;
• exhibit a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity and for the ethics of professional creative practice.

Course Progression Guidelines

The maximum time permitted for completion of the course is two years full-time.

The progress of a student shall be deemed to be unsatisfactory if the student:

(a) fails to pass 50% of the total credit points in any semester; or
(b) obtains two successive fails in any one subject.

Subjects by Year

Year 1

• 756-849 - Comoposition Strategies 2
• 756-850 - Performance Theory 2
• 756-851 - Research Methods 2
• 756-852 - Independent Project 2A
• 756-853 - Independent Project 2B

Subjects

Year 1

Credit Points:	12.5
Prerequisites:	Composition Strategies 1A & 1B
Contact hours:	3 hours per week
Semester:	Semester 1

Subject description:

The student will further explore the relationships of dance, light and space, and composition issues arising from choreographic processes in specific sites and designed spaces.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject the student should have acquired the following skills:

• the ability to create and organise aesthetic material;
• the capacity for imaginative and transformative processes;
• the ability to solve problems;
• the capacity to interpret and analyse;
• the capacity to communicate orally and in writing.

Assessment:

The realisation of practical studies (70%); written assignments and reports equivalent to not more than 3,000 words (30%).

Credit Points:	6.25
Prerequisites:	Performance Theory 1A & 1B
Contact hours:	1.5 hours per week
Semester:	Semester 1

Subject description:

Analysis and discussion of performances in terms of descriptive (psychological and physical), and interpretative perspectives. This work is mostly done through viewing of live performance and reviewing recorded documentation of performances, installations and events. Humanist social science and art theory are explored. Students define performance and experiences that comprise performance, both in its aesthetic dimension and in the dimensions of ritual, public ceremony and ‘life’ events. Students apply these analytical tools to their own artistic practices.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should have acquired the following:

• the ability to interpret and analyse choreographic work in the context of professional practice within both a broader cultural field and a body of contemporary ideas;
• the capacity to evaluate and synthesise data and other information;
• the ability to communicate in oral and written form;
• the capacity for critical thinking;
• the ability to access data and other information from a range of sources.

Assessment:

Written assignments equivalent to 1,500 words (70%);  oral presentation (30%).

Credit Points:	6.25
Prerequisites:	Research Methods 1
Contact hours:	1.5 hours per week
Semester:	Semester 1

Subject description:

The student learns to discriminate qualitative and quantitative research methods and apply them to explore selected issues within creative practice.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should have acquired the following:

• the capacity to develop and design research processes appropriate to specific projects;
• the ability to interpret, analyse and contextualise professional practice within a broader cultural field;
• the capacity to evaluate and synthesise data and other information;
• the capacity for a flexible approach to problem solving;
• the ability to access data and other information from a range of sources;
• the capacity to communicate in oral and written forms.

Assessment:

Written assignments equivalent to not more than 2,000 words (100%).

Credit Points:	25
Prerequisites:	Independent Project 1A
Contact hours:	1.5 hours per week
Semester:	Semester 1

Subject description:

The presentation of a new work in progress and its critical evaluation and discussion with artistic peers. The formulation of a production budget and timetable for the subsequent realisation of a new performance work.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should have acquired the following:

• the ability to design, create and organise aesthetic material on a closely defined project;
• the ability to adopt a flexible approach to problem solving;
• the ability to perform and present;
• the application of theory to practice;
• the capacity to evaluate and synthesise data and other information within a changing discipline environment;
• the ability to communicate in written form.

Assessment:

Practical: choreographic materials (50%); oral and written critical review(s) (30%); other written tasks/plans/budgets (20%).

Credit Points:	50
Prerequisites:	Independent Project 1A and 1B
Contact hours:	1.5 hours per week

Subject description:

The project requires the preparation and realisation of:

• a concert or performance of a major dance performance work or works of approximately 30 minutes duration;
• a 10,000 word research paper.

This project may be modified for candidates creating other types of performance events or using different media after consultation with and approval by the Course Coordinator and Postgraduate Committee.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should have acquired the following:

• the ability to create and organise aesthetic material on a closely defined project
• the capacity for imaginative and transformative processes;
• the ability to adopt a flexible approach to problem solving;
• the capacity to interpret and analyse research data in the context of a broader cultural field and a body of contemporary ideas;
• a highly developed capacity to communicate orally and in writing and presentation skills appropriate to a range of audiences.

Assessment:

Performance work(s) (60%); research paper (40%).

Assessment will be by two (2) examiners, at least one of whom will be external. One of the assessors will have academic experience. The Chairperson of Examiners can request a candidate attend a Viva Voce before the Assessment Committee. The research paper must be submitted within 6 weeks of completion of the performance.