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Degree Programme MA, dance
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Degree Programme MA in Dance, 120 credits

The dancer’s 120 credit Master’s programme is intended as a response to the challenging artistic identity of the dancer in contemporary dance and to their changed role in dance art. In contemporary dance the dancer’s work places many demands: the versatile skills of a dancer and a performer, but also understanding of choreographic principles and structures involved and often also participation in creating the movement material of the work. Dancer’s ability to perceive movement and her understanding of how bodily experience is articulated and represented in contemporary culture – it’s intersubjective expressivity – is essential in meaning creation of dance art.

The studies aim to communicate knowledge and experience on the principles of motion and movement, to deepen the student’s artistic and intellectual skills and to give them the tools to develop their own artistic identity being conscious of the history of dance art and of its diverse and changing methods and various contexts in which it operates. The education aims at a creative, investigative, questioning and interactive relationship with the art of dance, the artistic working process and the dancer’s profession.

The degree is made up of modules comprising dance and movement techniques, somatic methods, dance workshops and theoretical studies, thematic seminars and the dancer’s own choreographic work. The dancer’s studies draw on a balance between dance practice, somatic studies, theory and performance.

The study module aims at giving students an understanding of the special features and meanings of dance techniques, practices, contexts and production methods. The students should understand the art of dance and their own bodily experience in their artistic, aesthetic, ethical and political dimensions.

The teaching is divided over two years, so that during the first year the students working in groups study the principles of dance and movement and the choreographic tradition of bodily experience and dance. In the second year motion, movement and art are examined from a wider perspective in relation to the surrounding society. During the second academic year the student can make individual choices with the help of their individual education plan (IEP), for example, they can choose practical training, work in a dance group or an independent project.

During the Master’s studies, the students are encouraged to build up a contemporary view on dance art together with choreography students through joint projects, seminars and dance productions.

The teaching is divided by themes as follows:

  • Bodily experience and perceiving of movement
  • Knowledge of traditions
  • Choreography, the group and society
  • The dancer as an artist in society
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DANCE AND MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES AND SOMATIC METHODS, TTB000x, 24 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should understand the principles and special features of the movement techniques they have learned, and be able to apply them to their artistic work. They should develop and expand their own skills in dance technique and their holistic understanding of movement and the use of the body in a way that will enable them to develop their career as dancer in a responsible way.

The study module is made up of thematic contents comprising dance techniques and somatic methods and other movement techniques supporting them.

Dance technique 1–5, TTB03-07, 13 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should develop and expand their own skills in dance technique. At the same time they should develop their ability to understand the principles of physical integration, the architecture and 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, TTB08x, 7 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.

Other movement techniques, TTB09x,
4 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should broaden their experience of movement and understand the importance of skills acquired through various kinds of physical practice for their own work as dancers. A course may, for example, include Asian martial arts or acrobatics.
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THEMATIC STUDIES AND DANCE PRODUCTIONS, TTC000x, 31 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should build up their professional competence so that it is wide-ranging, versatile and at the same time differentiated. They should have a profound understanding of the structure of the dancer’s work, the creative working process, and the specific and various ways and genres of performing. They will be able to find different ways of performing according to the needs of various productions, and have the ability to work together with choreographers inan open and creative spirit towards a common goal articulated through work. The students should be able to reflect on and articulate the goals and contents of their work.

The study module consists of eight courses as follows:

Dance workshop 1, TTC02, 4 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should be able to perceive the articulation of movement in their bodies and their own unique identity as dancers. They should be able to expand the dimensions of their movement and be motivated to study movement as a multifaceted relationship with the world. The students should be able to record and reflect on the different stages of this work.

Dance work 1, TTC05, 4 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should be able to work with their own movement and its meanings, make use of the themes of the previous courses and work out a solo performance on the basis of one of the themes.
Category C

Dance workshop 2, TTC03, 6 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should be able, through experience and written reflection, to understand the recent history of dance, the special features and changes in the dancer’s work. Through work on a repertoire, discussions and demonstrations, the students form an understanding of some key choreographers’ way of thinking about dance.

Dance work 2, workshop demonstration, TTC06x, 5 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should gain a more profound understanding of the dancer’s work in performances or projects produced together with choreography   		students. The students should become familiar with the artistic thinking of their colleagues, their ideas on choreography and be able to interact creatively with them. The students should be able to work as creative partners in the choreographic process.
Category C

Dance workshop 3, TTC04, 4 cr

Learning outcomes:
In the second year the students should understand dance art as a social and cultural phenomenon. They should be able to perceive the connections between the bodily experiences and the surrounding society, the different manifestations of global culture and various applied forms of the art of dance. The study module includes various courses that help to open the dancer’s eyes to the many possibilities offered by contemporary society.

Improvisation, TTC07, 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.

Voice training, TTC08x, 4 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should master the principles of voice production, speech and song, and understand the meanings and possibilities for using the voice in performances. On completing the course, the students should have greater confidence and awareness of their capacity for vocal expression.

Theatre workshop, TTC09, 2 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should understand the basics of an actor’s work and grasp the way how theatrical situations are built up from the performer’s perspective. They should be able to use improvisation drawing on the actor’s work as a method.
 
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THE PATH TO PROFESSIONALISM, TTD000x,
18 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should recognise their own individuality and learn about subjects of their own choice and thus deepen the knowledge and skills acquired during their artistic training.

The studies may include work as a member of a dance group arranged within the Department, working as a dancer in a work produced by choreography students, professional work outside the department, studies in contemporary theatre or other courses in various combinations. Students should agree with the professor responsible for the programme on the composition of the module and the appropriateness of the studies.
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THEORY AND SEMINARS, TTA000x, 17 cr

Learning outcomes
The students should understand the historical, philosophical and theoretical principles of contemporary choreography and the art of the dancer. They should be able to apply different methods in relation to their work as a dancer and analyse conceptually, articulate and communicate the basic premises and aims of their work. They should be familiar with the special features of non-European traditions in the performing arts.

The courses included in this module are realised in the form of theoretical studies, seminars and workshops.

Movement analysis, TTA07, 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.

Philosophy of movement and philosophy of art, TTA08, 3 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should have a grasp of the differences between the physical, the body, motion and movement, and be able to articulate various historical and philosophical concepts involved in movement.
They should be familiar with some of the main trends in the philosophy of art, have their own conception of the philosophical dimension of art and be able to ask questions relating to art, the work of art, truth and performance.

History and theory of dance, TTA09, 2 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should have a grasp of the history of dance art and related philosophical principles. They should know the key actors and works and understand the different ways in which the art of dance constructs meaning.

Aesthetics of performance, TTA10x, 4 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should understand the recent history of the dramaturgy of performance. They should also be familiar with the past and present of performance, live art and contemporary theatre as well as the main working methods and questions relating to them.

Seminar on dance art, TTA11, 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 a work.

Non-European theatre traditions, TTA12, 3 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should be able to recognise the special features and different traditions of the Asian performing arts. They should be familiar with their theory, techniques and written content. The main focus is on the theatre and dance traditions of India and East and Southeast Asia. A wide selection of video samples is studied.
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OTHER STUDIES, TTE000x, 10 cr

Learning outcomes:
Through orientation studies the students form a conception of their own study path, development needs and their orientation to the artistic field. Through elective studies they extend their competence in accordance with their personal interests.

Study guidance, TTE03, 2 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students are guided to reflect on the nature of the Master’s studies and their meaning to themselves, and they should 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.

Elective studies, TTE04, 5 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should be familiar with subjects close to their own artistic identity and thus deepen the knowledge and skills acquired during their artistic training.



In addition to core subjects offered by the Theatre Academy, the students may take elective studies at another university with a Flexible Study Rights agreement or at a summer university. The students are responsible for organising their own elective studies after consultation with a department professor.

Thesis seminar, TTE05, 1 cr

Learning outcomes:
The students should have the basic knowledge and skills required to complete 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.

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.
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MASTER’S THESIS, TTF000x,
20 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 of the thesis or the professional field and ability to communicate on issues relating to the artistic field.

Dancers studying according to an IEP may, instead of one extensive dance project, choose to implement different projects, some of which may involve performances.

Written part of the thesis, TTF03x, 4 cr

Learning outcomes:
Students should know the basic concepts of dance art, demonstrate their knowledge of their artistic field and familiarity with the subject matter of their thesis project. 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, TTF05x, 15 cr

Learning outcomes:
Students should demonstrate an overall mastery of the dancer’s work in a dance production. This may be the work of a dance group within the Department, the work of a choreography student or practical training as dancer in a professional group.

Before the thesis project is approved, the students must pass a maturity test, TTF05
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Updated: 11.08.2011
JulkisetArkisto

Updated: 11.08.2011 Kirsi Monni