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Degree Programme MA, Choreography
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Degree Programme in Choreography (MA), 120 credits
The studies for the Master’s Degree in Choreography respond to the challenges arising from the diversity of contemporary dance and choreography, offering an education that builds on the following core contents: choreographic work, knowledge of traditions, conceptual analysis of choreographic thought, the ontological meaning of bodily experience and movement.

The students form their own profound conception of the nature of dance art, its past and its present. They independently form an understanding of the opportunities and practices created by the choreographer’s art and interpret them creatively.

The degree is an entity made up of the basics of choreography and composition workshops, knowledge of the body and movement, dance techniques, theoretical studies, thematic seminars, and the students’ own choreographic works. The studies are structured on the basis of themes for each term and cumulative learning. The different areas are mutually supportive and together form an entity made up of choreographic thought and practical work.

The following themes provide the framework of the studies:
  • bodily experience and perception of movement
  • knowledge of traditions
  • choreography, the group and society
  • the choreographer as an artist in society.

The graduates from the Master’s Degree Programme in Choreography are able to read, observe and form a picture of the means through which bodily experience communicates itself in art and in society and how these means change over time. They have developed an understanding of the meaning inherent in bodily articulation and movement and understand the 		different ways in which bodily experience and movement are organised, structured and performed. They are able to read the influence of choreographic and cultural traditions in contemporary dance art and interpret and filter them creatively and critically through their own lived world and modern society. They have the ability to place the choreographic art within the field of contemporary art, especially contemporary theatre and the performing arts, as well as the phenomena and problematics affecting them.

With these skills and knowledge, the students are capable of artistic activity, both independently and collegially. They know different choreographic practices and methods of creating a performance and also research relating to the performing arts. They are able to analyse their own creative processes, their choreographic intentions and motives and to discuss them productively with the other members of the work group and parties involved in arranging the production. They are able to create a choreographic work based on a plan, to document their work and to present it to others.

After completing the studies, the students also have the ability to network and actively seek new opportunities and strategies for action. They are able to form a picture of the different roles, agencies and possibilities open to the artist in society, now and in the future. They are aware of the views prevailing in contemporary art, the strategies of closely related arts and more broadly of the philosophical trends, changes and challenges affecting the global society.

The open concept of choreography offered by the education equips students to act creatively, courageously and uncompromisingly in the field of dance and also to participate in the creative renewal of the choreographic tradition, with understanding of the intellectual structural and practical conditions of each operating environment.
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STUDIES IN CHOREOGRAPHY AND DANCE WORKS, TKG00x, 39 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students’ should have a personal, creative and analytic conception of the multidimensional ways in which choreography acquires meaning as an art. They will be able to plan and realise choreographic works as well as participate in creative interaction with an artistic work group.

The study module consists of basic courses in choreography, composition workshops and works composed by the students themselves. The studies are integrated with theoretical studies and seminars according to the themes for the term. The themes are, if possible, treated in succession, as a series.

Choreography 1.
Embodied experience and composition, TKG01x, 5 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The student knows the basic elements of the movement composition and has the ability to create choreographic studies exploring embodied significances as well as choreographic articulation.
In addition they will be able to use this knowledge and their lived world to create a solo work. They will be familiar with methods relating to the genre of autobiographical performance.

Dance work 1, TKG02, 4 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should be able to create a short solo performance for themselves, in which they adapt themes from the previous courses. They are able to plan and use lighting in the performance on the basis of the lighting workshop preceding and also forming part of the study.
Category: C

Choreography 2.
Knowledge of traditions, TKG03, 6 cr

Learning Outcomes:
Students should know different choreographic principles and aims and be able to place them within the lineage of dance art. They should also know the choreographic repertoire and various working methods and be able to create studies in which they ’converse’ creatively with the various traditions of composition.

Dance work 2.
Workshop demonstrations, TKG04x, 5 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students are able to apply the teachings of the
previous course to their choreographic thought and working methods. They are capable of creative interaction with their fellow students and they plan and carry through a small-scale work or a series of choreographic studies with dancers. Relating to their knowledge of traditions, the students are able to apply the knowledge and skills gained in music, sound art and dramaturgy studies to their own choreographic work, and for example, create interactive choreographic situations based on contact work.
Category: C

Choreography 3.
Choreography, the group and society, TKG05x, 5 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should understand the phenomena of contemporary dance and the issues affecting it in relation to the current global reality. They are able to create links between their own choreographic thought and the surrounding environment and they know the related methods of choreographic scores, performative and social choreography, and performance and live art. The students should also understand the choreographic work from the perspective of communication and the person experiencing/participating in it. The students should understand group dynamics both as part of the work group’s creative process and from the director’s point of view.

Dance work 3, TKG06x, 9 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should create a work in creative interaction with various designers and a group of performers. They should be able to participate productively, systematically and in a goal-oriented way in an artistic group and be able to form a picture of all the different areas of a work and its environment in terms of content, production and structure.
Category: B

Choreography 4.
The choreographer as an artist in society, TKG07x, 5 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should have the knowledge and skills to perceive choreography and the working methods available to the choreographer over a broad social and interactive spectrum. The student knows the possibilities of the source-based choreography and is familiar with contemporary creation.  Another aim of the course is to support the skills and knowledge that will enable the students to reflect on their own study path and independently create a choreographic work as a practice-based final project for the Master’s degree.
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DANCE AND MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES AND SOMATIC METHODS, TKF00, 11 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should understand the principles and special features of various movement techniques and be able to apply them to their work and to their own relation with their body. They should develop and expand their own technical dance skills and holistic understanding of movement and use of self in a way that supports their choreographic work.

The study module consists of contents comprising dance and movement techniques, somatic methods and improvisation.

Dance and movement techniques, TKF01x, 5 cr

Learning Outcomes:
In studying dance and movement techniques the focus is on the choreographic perspective. In these studies and in active reflection on the studies, the students should develop their ability to understand bodily integration and the principles of movement, the architecture of movement, the analysis of movement, how to convey themes, the construction of phrases and their interrelationships, and variations in the spatial and temporal dynamics of movement.

Somatic methods, TKF02x, 4 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should understand bodily experience as a basic human way of relating to the world and movement as a life phenomenon. By applying somatic methods they should practice their perception and awareness, bodily articulation and understanding of the meaningfulness and intersubjective nature of movement. They should be able to find different levels of meaningfulness both in their own experience of movement and in the bodily experience of others and be able to analyse and articulate them.

Improvisation, TKF03, 2 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should be able to apply their understanding of the principles of movement, of their technical dance skills and the meaning of movement in a creative way. They should be able to improvise different choreographic situations and continuums, either individually or in groups, both freely and based on a theme. In improvising they will have practised their interactive skills and deepened their understanding of the uniqueness of time, space, self and the other’s, thus developing their ability for immediate, responsive and aware expression in performing and for ad hoc, creative thought about structure and movement.
 
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THEORY AND SEMINARS, TKH00, 24 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should understand the historical, philosophical and theoretical principles of contemporary choreography. They should be able to apply different methods and strategies in relation to their work as a choreographer and analyse conceptually, articulate and communicate the basic premises and aims of their work.

The courses included in study module are realised as theoretical studies, seminars and workshops.

The history and theory of choreography, TKH01, 8 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should have formed their own conception of the history of choreography and the related philosophical and theoretical principles. They should know the key actors and works and understand the different ways in which choreography constructs meaning.

Aesthetics of performance, TKH02x, 7 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should be able to analyse their own work through dramaturgical thought. They should know the central concepts and practices of dramaturgy from Aristotle to post-dramatic dramaturgy, as well as performance theory. They should also be familiar with the history and present status of performance, the performing arts

 and the contemporary theatre as well as the main working methods and questions relating to them.

Philosophy of art, cultural research, TKH03, 4 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should be familiar with the philosophy of movement and some of the main trends in the philosophy of art. They should have their own conception of the philosophical dimension of art and be able to pose questions relating art, the work of art, truth and performance. In addition they should have an understanding of cultural research and current questions affecting society.

Analysis of movement, TKH04, 2 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should have the basic knowledge of the central theories relating to analysis of the dynamics and structure of movement (e.g. Laban Movement Analysis, Bartenieff Fundamentals), the theory of somatics and the philosophy of embodiment behind somatic techniques.

Dance seminar, TKH05, 3 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should be familiar with contemporary choreography, choreographers and works and be capable of constructive, fruitful and critical discussion of dance and its place in the field of contemporary art and culture. They should also be able to find information independently and give a seminar presentation of an artist or work.
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OTHER STUDIES, TKM00, 15 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should have a versatile conception of the knowledge required in the choreographer’s profession, and of the abilities required to support the process of creating a work and the work in its entirety. Through orientation to the profession the students should form a concept of their own study path, their development needs and orientation towards the field of art.

The courses included in the study module are realised as theoretical studies, seminars and workshops.

Theatre work, TKM01, 4 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students know the main trends, methods and problematics of the theatre in the past and present. They should know the basics of the theatre director’s work and be able to apply these skills to their own work. They will also be able to apply various improvisation methods and knowledge and skills relating to the work of an actor in their group work.

Music and sound art, TKM02, 2 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should understand the historical, structural and cultural factors relating to music, sound art and sound design from the perspective of dance and choreography. In addition they should have the ability to understand the application of musical analysis to the structure of music, both in theory and in practice.

Lighting design, TKM03x, 1 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should know the practical and artistic basics of lighting design and have an understanding of the interaction between choreographic meanings and lighting design.

Dance, video and media, TKM04, 3 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should know the traditions of the genres “dance film and dance for the camera”, as well as the productional and technical basics of making a video. In addition, they will be familiar with the possibilities for using virtual technology in the choreographer’s profession and in choreographic works.

Study guidance, TKM05, 2 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students are guided to reflect on the nature of the Master’s studies and their meaning to themselves. They should also have the necessary information on the content, implementation, progress, targeted competencies and assessment of the studies. They draw up an individual education plan (IEP), targeted at work as a professional in the artistic field.

Production and cultural infrastructure, TKM06, 2 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should master the basics of producing a dance work and understand the contexts in which a performance and a work are presented. They will have a conception of the practical and productional requirements for the choreographer’s profession and of the structural and productional environment of dance, both in Finland and internationally.

Thesis seminar TKM07, 1 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should have the basic knowledge and skills required for completing the written part of the thesis and be familiar with certain qualitative research methods. The course serves as an orientation to postgraduate studies at a later stage.
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THE PATH TO PROFESSIONALISM, TKL00, 10 cr

Learning Outcomes:
The students should be familiar with subjects of their own choice that are necessary and close to them, thus deepening the knowledge and skills acquired during their artistic training.

The entire composition of this study module is
 agreed in discussions on the individual education plan with the professor responsible for the study module. Students can choose core subjects offered by the Theatre Academy, studies on the contemporary theatre, workshops arranged with other departments, studies at a university with a Flexible Study Rights agreement and at a summer university. They can also take some of their credits as practical training in the profession
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MASTER’S THESIS, TKN00, 21 cr

Learning Outcomes:
In the Master’s thesis project the students should demonstrate that they have reached the objectives set out in the IEP. The written parts of the Master’s thesis project should demonstrate mastery of the subject matter of the thesis or the professional field and ability to communicate on issues relating to the artistic field.

Written part of the thesis, TKN02

Learning Outcomes:
The written part of the thesis demonstrates the
students’ mastery of the basic concepts of choreography and their knowledge of their field of art and familiarity with the subject matter of the Master’s thesis. They should have the ability to communicate on issues relating to their own artistic field and reflect independently on questions concerning the field.

The thesis project may, but need not be, directly related to artistic work.

Artistic part of the thesis, TKN03

Learning Outcomes:
The artistic part of the thesis demonstrates that students are capable of independent artistic work. They should be able to create a work that embraces all the stages of choreographic work and gives an idea of the students` abilities to act as a professional choreographer and their potential for finding their own identity as an artist.

Before approval of the thesis project, the students must pass a maturity test, TKN04.
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Updated: 11.08.2011
JulkisetArkisto

Updated: 11.08.2011 Kirsi Monni