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Dance Practical Selection Day

Why do we ask you to participate in a Practical Selection Day?

Dance requires specialised skills and the ability to work well with others. The Practical Selection Day lets us meet you in person and understand your personality and creativity as a dance artist. You’ll take part in a warm-up workshop, present your solo, and have a one-on-one conversation with a member of the Dance course team. Your solo helps us see your performance skills, and our conversation will help determine if studying Dance at Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ is the best fit for you.

What are we looking for?

We’re looking for passion, critical thinking, and confident movement. During your solo, we’ll be looking for your potential to:

  • Demonstrate co-ordination, technique and use of space
  • Create and confidently perform inventive solo choreography
  • In your discussion with a member of the dance team, we will be looking for your potential to:
  • Share your interest and experience in dance
  • Show curiosity about other dance and creative practices

How can you prepare?

  • Prepare a short solo performance (three minutes max.), choreographed by you or with a teacher.
  • You can include styles that are included in the the cores: Contemporary, Ballet for Contemporary, Africanist Principles/Jazz, or Hip Hop/Street
  • Think about why you want to study this course and what excites you about it.
  • Review your application and remind yourself of what you’ve written.
  • Watch some contemporary dance performances and be ready to discuss them with us
  • Relax—we want you to have a fun and enjoyable experience!

A typical weekday Practical Selection Day schedule:

1pm Check-in

1:15–1:45pm Course welcome presentation

1:45–2:30pm Warm-up class

2:30–3:20pm Solo performances (1-3 minutes per dancer)       

3:20-4pm Q&A and 1-2-1s

4-5pm Facilities and accommodation tours

Refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon, and you'll have the chance to chat with our current Dance students during the event.

Relaxed Practical Selection Day

This day is all about experiencing what it’s like to study Dance at Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ in a supportive, relaxed environment. If you have any questions, concerns, or specific learning needs, please reach out to the Dance course team or Applicant Events Team. We’re here to help!

Next steps

UK applicants

Once you have applied, if you meet our minimum entry requirements, you will be invited to attend a Practical Selection Day.

International applicants

Once you have applied, if you meet our minimum entry requirements you will be asked to attend meeting via MS Teams and submit an audition video in advance.

  1. Audition video advice

    Make sure your work showcases your performance skills and potential. We understand that students come from various backgrounds, so we’re looking for work that demonstrates not only your performance skills but also your potential to grow and develop in your chosen subject area.

    What we want to see:

    • A two to five-minute video.
    • Start with a short personal introduction—tell us about yourself, your performance skills, and your interest in the course.
    • Share a brief insight into your understanding of the methods and styles of performance you've learned, showing your enthusiasm and experience.
    • Research the specific features of your chosen course, as each focuses on contemporary practice.
    • Include a performance piece that showcases your skills—this could be a solo dance, monologue, or group performance. If it’s a group piece, make sure it’s clear who you are.

    How can you prepare?

    • Ensure the video represents you, showcasing your skills, creativity, and passion for your chosen subject.
    • There’s no right or wrong way—just make sure it’s clear what you’re trying to communicate.
    • Follow the advice specific to your course.

    Format

    • You should be clearly seen, but don’t worry about the filming location or editing skills—this won’t be judged.
    • Submit your video in .mp4, .MOV, or .AVI format.
    • Name your file using your name, student reference number, and course title.
    • Compress or zip your file to ensure it’s under 1GB.
    • Submit via .

    Questions?

    If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Applicant Events Team applicantevents@dmu.ac.uk — we're here to help!

 

Contact

If you have any specific requirements or need additional support, please reach out to our Applicant Events Team at applicantevents@dmu.ac.uk.