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Course code T73

Bachelor of Arts (Dance)

Creative thinkers made here.

Creative thinkers made here.

Why study at ECU?

About this Course

A challenging contemporary dance focused course where regular performance, intensive training and classroom practice are central to the philosophy of the program.

The pursuit of physical excellence is paired with the nurturing of creativity, laying the foundations for the performer, choreographer and/or independent practitioner. The course provides an insight into dance as an art form, and as a social and educative experience, offering additional skills in communication, critical thinking, research and analysis.

Sustainability in relation to professional career pathways is emphasised through engagement with industry partners and exposure to diverse performance environments. Industry placement, short study tours and international exchange opportunities provide a local, national and international perspective.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree Award.

Course code T73

Entry requirements

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

Commonwealth supported - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $8,950

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

3 years full-time

See Course Details for further information.

Availability & Campus

Location Semester 1 Semester 2
Joondalup
Mount Lawley FT
South West
Online
*FT = Full-time study PT = Part-time study

Timetable

This course has a modified timetable. See Course Notes.

About this Course

A challenging contemporary dance focused course where regular performance, intensive training and classroom practice are central to the philosophy of the program.

The pursuit of physical excellence is paired with the nurturing of creativity, laying the foundations for the performer, choreographer and/or independent practitioner. The course provides an insight into dance as an art form, and as a social and educative experience, offering additional skills in communication, critical thinking, research and analysis.

Sustainability in relation to professional career pathways is emphasised through engagement with industry partners and exposure to diverse performance environments. Industry placement, short study tours and international exchange opportunities provide a local, national and international perspective.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree Award.

Course code T73

CRICOS code 108846A

Entry requirements

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

International students - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $37,600

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

3 years full-time

See Course Details for further information.

Availability & Campus

Location Semester 1 Semester 2
Joondalup
Mount Lawley FT
South West
Online
*FT = Full-time study PT = Part-time study

Timetable

This course has a modified timetable. See Course Notes.

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

  • The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

    All applicants are required to submit satisfactory medical reports, and attend an audition, and attend an interview. Information regarding interview and audition requirements and procedures is available from WAAPA.

    For more information, including guidelines for specific disciplines, please see our Interviews, folios and auditions web page.

    All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • AQF Cert IV;
    • Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
    • Undergraduate Certificate;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • University Preparation Course;*
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or*
    • Experience Based Entry Scheme.*

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

    For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

  • English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0);
    • Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
    • University Preparation Course;
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;*
    • AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
    • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

Applications for this course are not accepted through ECU's Experience Based Entry Scheme.

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

  • The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

    All applicants are required to submit satisfactory medical reports, and attend an audition, and attend an interview. Information regarding interview and audition requirements and procedures is available from WAAPA.

    For more information, including guidelines for specific disciplines, please see our Interviews, folios and auditions web page.

    All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • AQF Cert IV;
    • Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
    • Undergraduate Certificate;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • University Preparation Course;*
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or*
    • Experience Based Entry Scheme.*

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

    For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

  • English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0);
    • Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
    • University Preparation Course;
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;*
    • AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
    • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

Applications for this course are not accepted through ECU's Experience Based Entry Scheme.

Course Details

Semester availability

Semester 1: Study full-time at Mount Lawley

Course Structure

Year 1 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN1400Technique 130
Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN1405Creative Process15
DAN1410Body Knowledge15
DAN1415Politics of Dance 115
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN1420Creative Practice 1 15
DAN1425Integrated Body Practices 115
DAN1430Cultural Perspectives 115
Year 2 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN2400Technique 230
DAN2405Creative Practice 230
Year 2 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN2430Integrated Body Practices 215
DAN2415Politics of Dance 215
Year 2 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN2420Dance Education15
DAN2425Cultural Perspectives 215
Year 3 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3400Technique 3: Professional Practice20
DAN3405Performance 20
DAN3410Career Pathways20
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3415Politics of Dance 315

Plus, choose 3 units from the selection below: * If you enrol in RAD Access Route, you only need to choose 1 additional unit * If you want to enrol in Creative Project 2, you must enrol in Creative Project 1

Year 3 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3450 ^RAD Access Route30
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3455 ^Creative Project 115
DAN3460 ^Allied Disciplines 15
Year 3 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3465 ^Creative Project 215
DAN3470 ^Creative Research Practice: Thinking Bodies15
PAM3104 ^Stage Combat15

Students who have completed the WAAPA Advanced Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) or Advanced Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance) should enrol in the following units from Year Three:

Year 3 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3405Performance 20
DAN3410Career Pathways20
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN2430Integrated Body Practices 215
DAN3480Elite Ballet 120
Plus, choose 1 unit from the selection below:
DAN3455 ^Creative Project 115
DAN3415 ^Politics of Dance 315
DAN3460 ^Allied Disciplines 15
Year 3 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3485Elite Ballet 230
Plus, choose 1 unit from the selection below:
DAN2425 ^Cultural Perspectives 215
DAN2420 ^Dance Education15
DAN3465 ^Creative Project 215
DAN3470 ^Creative Research Practice: Thinking Bodies15
PAM3104 ^Stage Combat15
DAN3450 ^RAD Access Route30
Year 4 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3490Professional Practice15
Plus, choose 2 units from the selection below:
DAN3455 ^Creative Project 115
DAN3415 ^Politics of Dance 315
DAN3460 ^Allied Disciplines 15
DAN2170 ^The Arts in Historical and Cultural Contexts15
PAM3104 ^Stage Combat15

^ Core Option

T73|1

For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.

Student handbook

Course notes

Important course notes

  • Evening performances and rehearsals, twice yearly.

  • Students will complete the Career Pathways unit as part of this course. It is a professional practice unit consisting of choreography, rehearsal, and performance, which aids in both the training and assessment of students in the dance program.
    Students are allowed two weeks (preferably one in each semester) to complete one or two placements. Placement hours for the Career Pathways units will usually vary between 10 and 30 hours, depending on how many hours the host organisation is able to offer.

    Clearances and/or Risk Management Protocols Required

    A placement host may have vaccination and other requirements, including vaccination against Covid-19 unless you have a medical exemption. Please consider this requirement before enrolling in this Course, and speak with the Course coordinator if this raises any concerns. You may not be able to complete placement units if you are unable to meet the placement requirements, which may impact your ability to complete this course.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Apply broad theoretical, technical and practical discipline knowledge to a range of professional and associated dance-related contexts.
  2. Think critically to analyse, interpret and conceptualise complex disciplinary knowledge within a choreographic and dance performance context.
  3. Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse performance contexts to produce creative and innovative ideas in response to industry trends.
  4. Use digital technologies and discipline related literacies to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources.
  5. Successfully communicate knowledge and ideas, which incorporate other art forms, including duo and improvisation within a range of choreographic styles and approaches.
  6. Incorporate techniques and teaching approaches to demonstrate a global outlook and communicate cross-cultural awareness, including indigenous cultural competence.
  7. Apply initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making when interpreting the intention of choreographic work for professional practice in both solo and collaborative settings.
  8. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning through self-reflection and application of feedback on individual project work in diverse settings.

Course Details

Semester availability

Semester 1: Study full-time at Mount Lawley

Course Structure

Year 1 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN1400Technique 130
Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN1405Creative Process15
DAN1410Body Knowledge15
DAN1415Politics of Dance 115
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN1420Creative Practice 1 15
DAN1425Integrated Body Practices 115
DAN1430Cultural Perspectives 115
Year 2 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN2400Technique 230
DAN2405Creative Practice 230
Year 2 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN2430Integrated Body Practices 215
DAN2415Politics of Dance 215
Year 2 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN2420Dance Education15
DAN2425Cultural Perspectives 215
Year 3 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3400Technique 3: Professional Practice20
DAN3405Performance 20
DAN3410Career Pathways20
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3415Politics of Dance 315

Plus, choose 3 units from the selection below: * If you enrol in RAD Access Route, you only need to choose 1 additional unit * If you want to enrol in Creative Project 2, you must enrol in Creative Project 1

Year 3 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3450 ^RAD Access Route30
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3455 ^Creative Project 115
DAN3460 ^Allied Disciplines 15
Year 3 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3465 ^Creative Project 215
DAN3470 ^Creative Research Practice: Thinking Bodies15
PAM3104 ^Stage Combat15

Students who have completed the WAAPA Advanced Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) or Advanced Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance) should enrol in the following units from Year Three:

Year 3 - Full Year
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3405Performance 20
DAN3410Career Pathways20
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN2430Integrated Body Practices 215
DAN3480Elite Ballet 120
Plus, choose 1 unit from the selection below:
DAN3455 ^Creative Project 115
DAN3415 ^Politics of Dance 315
DAN3460 ^Allied Disciplines 15
Year 3 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3485Elite Ballet 230
Plus, choose 1 unit from the selection below:
DAN2425 ^Cultural Perspectives 215
DAN2420 ^Dance Education15
DAN3465 ^Creative Project 215
DAN3470 ^Creative Research Practice: Thinking Bodies15
PAM3104 ^Stage Combat15
DAN3450 ^RAD Access Route30
Year 4 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
DAN3490Professional Practice15
Plus, choose 2 units from the selection below:
DAN3455 ^Creative Project 115
DAN3415 ^Politics of Dance 315
DAN3460 ^Allied Disciplines 15
DAN2170 ^The Arts in Historical and Cultural Contexts15
PAM3104 ^Stage Combat15

^ Core Option

T73|1

For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.

Student handbook

Course notes

Important course notes

  • Evening performances and rehearsals, twice yearly.

  • Students will complete the Career Pathways unit as part of this course. It is a professional practice unit consisting of choreography, rehearsal, and performance, which aids in both the training and assessment of students in the dance program.
    Students are allowed two weeks (preferably one in each semester) to complete one or two placements. Placement hours for the Career Pathways units will usually vary between 10 and 30 hours, depending on how many hours the host organisation is able to offer.

    Clearances and/or Risk Management Protocols Required

    A placement host may have vaccination and other requirements, including vaccination against Covid-19 unless you have a medical exemption. Please consider this requirement before enrolling in this Course, and speak with the Course coordinator if this raises any concerns. You may not be able to complete placement units if you are unable to meet the placement requirements, which may impact your ability to complete this course.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Apply broad theoretical, technical and practical discipline knowledge to a range of professional and associated dance-related contexts.
  2. Think critically to analyse, interpret and conceptualise complex disciplinary knowledge within a choreographic and dance performance context.
  3. Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse performance contexts to produce creative and innovative ideas in response to industry trends.
  4. Use digital technologies and discipline related literacies to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources.
  5. Successfully communicate knowledge and ideas, which incorporate other art forms, including duo and improvisation within a range of choreographic styles and approaches.
  6. Incorporate techniques and teaching approaches to demonstrate a global outlook and communicate cross-cultural awareness, including indigenous cultural competence.
  7. Apply initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making when interpreting the intention of choreographic work for professional practice in both solo and collaborative settings.
  8. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning through self-reflection and application of feedback on individual project work in diverse settings.

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

  • AUD $8,950 - Commonwealth supported estimated 1st year indicative fee 1

Note

1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for the individual units you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.

Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.

Scholarships

ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.

Find a scholarship

Career Opportunities

This course encourages students to pursue individual goals as dance artists, choreographers, teachers, dance academics or researchers.

Possible future job titles

Dancer, Contemporary Dancer, Ballet Dancer, Choreographer, Dance Teacher, Entertainer, Performer, Dance Researcher, Dance Academic

Similar courses to consider

Courses you can consider if you are interested in progressing further in this area.

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

  • AUD $37,600 - International students estimated 1st year indicative fee 1

Note

1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, and has been calculated based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for each individual unit you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.

Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.

Scholarships

ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.

Find a scholarship

Career Opportunities

This course encourages students to pursue individual goals as dance artists, choreographers, teachers, dance academics or researchers.

Possible future job titles

Dancer, Contemporary Dancer, Ballet Dancer, Choreographer, Dance Teacher, Entertainer, Performer, Dance Researcher, Dance Academic

Similar courses to consider

Courses you can consider if you are interested in progressing further in this area.

Need some help deciding what to study?

Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.

Experiences

Experiences

Quick guide to uni-speak

    • The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.

    • ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.

    • CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.

    • A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.

    • Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.

    • If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.

    • If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.

      Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.

    • Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.

    • A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.

    • We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.

    • These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.

    • An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.

Quick guide to uni-speak

    • The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.

    • ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.

    • CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.

    • A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.

    • Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.

    • If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.

    • If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.

      Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.

    • Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.

    • A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.

    • We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.

    • These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.

    • An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.

Do you have any questions about the Bachelor of Arts (Dance)?

The Important Things

Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.

Course Entry

There's more than one admission pathway into an ECU course. It depends on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience.

Fees & Scholarships

Course tuition fees can change, but we can give you an estimate of your costs. If you're eligible, a scholarship or student loan can help too.

Applying

Applying for a course is a fairly simple process, especially if you have scanned copies of qualifications, your resume or other paperwork, ready to upload.

ECU Experience

Starting a course is an exciting and sometimes daunting time, so we make a massive effort to ensure you get all the support you need to have a positive experience.