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Course code C78

CUA51520 - Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance)

Creative thinkers made here.

Creative thinkers made here.

Why study at ECU?

Important

This course is not offered for study on-campus to international students with a student visa.

About this Course

This nationally-recognised qualification is the first year of a two-year vocational dance program and is ballet focused.

The course provides intense technical training and develops stylistic/artistic expression through practical experience, classes and performance opportunities. Students develop technical and creative skills in discipline areas of ballet, pointe, pas de deux and solos, contemporary techniques, choreography, dance history, music for dance, anatomy, nutrition and fitness.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 5 Diploma Award.

Course code C78

Entry requirements

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

1 year 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 attend an audition and interview where the candidate demonstrates competence in at least one dance style at Certificate IV level.
    It is desirable that all applicants demonstrate expertise through extensive vocational experience, or in grades in different dance styles through dance societies that run examinations linked to certification levels, and that they are turning at least 16 by 30 June in the year of commencing the course.

    Academic admission requirements (Band 1) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Completion of Year 10 or equivalent.
  • English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Year 10 English completion or equivalent.

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

The Training Package rules require 7 Core units plus 10 Elective units. At WAAPA these 17 VET Units of Competency are clustered within the course delivery units of Ballet, Contemporary Technique, Allied Contemporary Techniques, Pas de Deux/Duo, Performance Professional Practice, Anatomy and Fitness, Choreography, History, Music, RPD.

Year 1 - VET Full

Ballet
Unit Code Unit Title
CUADAN511Refine ballet techniques
CUADAN512Refine ballet performance skills
CUADAN513Perform repertoire for corps de ballet
CUADAN514Perform ballet solo variations
Pas de Deux/Duo
Unit Code Unit Title
CUADAN517Refine dance partnering techniques
RPD
Unit Code Unit Title
CUADAN531Refine dance techniques
Performance Professional Practice
Unit Code Unit Title
CUAPRF511Refine performance techniques
Nutrition and Anatomy
Unit Code Unit Title
CUAWHS413Incorporate anatomy principles into skill development
CUAWHS511Maintain a high level of fitness for performance
Contemporary Technique
Unit Code Unit Title
CUADAN515Refine contemporary dance techniques
Allied Contemporary Techniques
Unit Code Unit Title
CUADAN518Develop expertise in allied contemporary dance techniques
Pointe (Girls Only)
Unit Code Unit Title
CUADAN519Refine pointe work techniques
Boys Only
Unit Code Unit Title
CUAWHS411Apply movement and behavioural principles to conditioning
Choreography
Unit Code Unit Title
CUACHR413Develop choreography skills
Music
Unit Code Unit Title
CUADLT412Explore the relationship between music and dance
History
Unit Code Unit Title
CUAWRT501Write about dance
Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title
CUAPRF513Prepare for and perform in competitive environments
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title
CUAPPR512Develop sustainability of own professional practice

C78|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

  • Students may be required to attend evening and weekend rehearsals and performances.

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

VET course fees are set by the WA Government and they vary from course to course. For more information, please go to Fees and Scholarships.

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 prepares the talented dance artist for the demands of work in mainstream Australian and overseas ballet and/or dance companies. It provides intense practical experience, developing strong technique and artistry through classes and performance opportunities.

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

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.

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.