Dance
Dance is integral to understanding the history and social life of many cultures, and offers a context for embodied learning about ourselves, how we relate to and communicate with others, and the world. Dance is experienced in many forms throughout Aotearoa in social, ritual, traditional and contemporary artistic contexts.
Dance is available as a minor.
Dance students will develop creative skills and innovative teaching methods for dance in community settings, schools and professional contexts, informed by understandings of wellbeing and lifelong learning through the arts.
Learning dance offers the opportunity for focused practical engagement in contemporary movement practices, choreography and improvisation. It incorporates diverse approaches to understanding dance through ethnography, cultural studies, phenomenology and creative practice as research. The work and ideas of contemporary practitioners in New Zealand and in other cultures provides a context for specific discussions, to which students bring their own dance knowledge. Dance papers have public performances as final assessments and the learning process is embodied through practical classes and workshops, rehearsals and performances.
Dance is taught within the Theatre Studies and Dance programme. The staff are highly qualified and contain a broad spectrum of professional, artistic practice. Their research interests include performance-as-research, contemporary performance theory, directing, choreographing, site dance, digital dance, somatic practices and movement for wellbeing.
Dance classes, seminars and rehearsals take place in the purpose-built Dance Studio, with performances also in the The Playhouse Theatre in the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.
Key information
| Study Location: | Hamilton |
|---|---|
| Area of Study: |
Career opportunities
- Teacher
- Dancer
- Arts Administrator
- Director
- Community Arts Worker
Papers
Available Dance papers
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANCE101 | Dance, Movement and Culture | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides practical experience with different forms of dance, an introduction to choreography, and a critical examination of how dance is influenced by societal and cultural issues. | |||
| MAORI157 | Ngā Mahi a Rehia: An Introduction to Kapa Haka | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) |
| An introduction to the theoretical and practical components of kapa haka as a means of communication and cultural expression in the Maori world. | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANCE201 | Choreographing Dance | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) |
| This paper offers an opportunity to experience choreographic process and critically consider the roles of dance and movement in specific places and sites such as urban environments, public recreational facilities and gardens. | |||
| THSTS212 | Developing Text and Action | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) |
| This paper develops performance and writing for performance skills. Using techniques based on contemporary/postdramatic methods in theatre and performance, students will engage with the creation and performance of new theatrical work, leading to performance assessment. | |||
| THSTS260 | Exploring the Physical in Theatre | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton) |
| This paper charts the use of the term 'physical theatre', providing an overview of the areas of debate in the field. Workshops are contextualised by theoretical readings exploring the landscape from which the term emerged. | |||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANCE301 | Performing Dance | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton) |
| This paper offers an advanced study of choreography for performance, focussing on solo choreography, critical reflections on embodiment, gender and culture in dance, and a final public performance production. | |||
Subject requirements
To complete a minor in Dance, students must complete 60 points (four papers), including DANCE101, DANCE201, DANCE202 and DANCE301, or other papers approved by the School.
Scholarships and prizes
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject links
The University offers dance classes regularly. For more information, see Dance on Campus.
Learn more about Dance at the University of Waikato, our staff, students and news.
Planning Your Minor
We recommend taking Dance as a minor within the Bachelor of Arts (Theatre Studies). Alternatively, Dance can be taken as a minor for any undergraduate degree at the University of Waikato.
Degree planner — BA (Theatre Studies & Dance)
Year 1
ENGLI101 or INTLC101
One from List A
100 Level
Field of the Degree
100 Level
Field of the Degree
Elective
Year 2
One from List B
200 Level Field of the Degree
Elective
Year 3
One from List C
Elective
Elective
- Major
- Compulsory
- Elective
*Papers with an asterisk count towards a minor in Dance.
Papers not listed above:
BA Papers
Lists A, B and C
List A: Academic Foundations
- ARTSC103 Rights and Reasons
- ARTSC105 Language in Context
- ENSLA103 Undergraduate Research Writing for ESL Students
- ENSLA202 Oral Skills for Academic English
List B: Cultural Perspectives
Any Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies paper, or- ANTHY101 Exploring Cultures: Introduction to Anthropology
- ANTHY102 Exploring Cultures: Aotearoa and the Pacific
- ANTHY201 Patriots, Racists, and Foreigners: Ethnicity and Identity in Global Perspective
- DSIGN252 Cultural Perspectives for Design
- EDUCA200 Te Hononga Tangata
- ENGLI200 Global Fictions
- GEOGY219 Māori Lands and Communities
- INTLC101 International Languages and Cultures
- INTLC221 Understanding East Asia
- INTLC222 Food Practices & Cultural Journeys
- LINGS203 Language, Society and Culture
- Any MAORI paper
- Any PACIS paper
List C: Work-Integrated Learning
- ALPSS301 Work-integrated learning - Placements
- ARTSW300 Arts and Cultural Festivals
- ARTSW301 Professional Practice in the Arts (prerequisites ARTSC110 - so open to all BA students)
- ARTSW302 Work-Related Project in the Arts (prerequisites ARTSC110 - so open to all BA students)
- LINGS301 Research Apprenticeship
- MEDIA307 Professional Studio Production
- POPST300 Population Studies Work-Related Project
- PSYCH301 Psychology Research Assistantship
- SOCSC301 Work-Integrated Learning - Work-Related Project
- WRITE396 Writing Studies Work Placement
*Please consult our Student Advisors for the correct work-integrated learning paper.
Subject to approval
Contacts
School of Arts
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4922
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: [email protected]
Graduate and Postgraduate Email Enquiries: [email protected]