- Location
- Anniesland Campus
- SCQF Level
- 8
- Start Date
- 26 Aug 2024
- Qualification Type
- HND
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 2 Years (August to June)
This HND Dance Artists course aims to further develop your skills if you have successfully completed the 1 or 2-year NQ Dance course, and you can demonstrate your suitability for professional dance training and have proven academic ability. A variety of dance forms and related subjects will be studied and, whilst the course is largely practical, there will be an appropriate theoretical input. HND Dance Artists equips you with the skills to move on to degree level dance training or to employment in this highly competitive field.
What will I learn?
A successful dance artist needs to be as versatile as possible and therefore equal importance is placed on performance, teaching and choreography.
During HND Dance Artists you will study:
- Anatomy and injury prevention for dancers
- Body conditioning
- Advanced Choreographic skills
- Classical ballet
- Contact improvisation
- Contemporary dance
- Contextual studies
- Dance history
- Dance: Performance and production
- ISTD examinations syllabi
- Jazz / Tap dance
- Teaching skills
- Work placement
- Sound editing for choreography.
The award-winning Dance Studio Scotland is based in the fantastic purpose-built facility at Glasgow Clyde College's Anniesland Campus. Equipped with three large studios and a multi-gym, it offers a thorough and disciplined four-year professional training, which prepares students for a variety of careers in the dance industry.
Alongside recognised SQA qualifications at NC/HNC/HND levels, there is also the opportunity to take ISTD examinations in classical ballet, tap, modern and jazz in the first two years of full-time study. Our lecturing staff have had extensive performing, teaching and choreographic experience which is skillfully passed on to our students.
Watch the highlights from this year's end of term show, Pulse. Pulse performance
Hear from HND Dance student Elle.
Entry requirements (minimum)
Entry is subject to a practical audition and group interview.
- NC Dance or strong dance technique which includes a minimum of two years classical ballet training (RAD, ISTD), or equivalent
- A minimum of one Higher, which should be English at Band C or above
- If you hold a relevant HNC, it may be possible to access Year 2 of the HND. Please contact the Faculty directly to enquire.
- The physical potential to undergo professional dance training.
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may also be considered, but you must demonstrate exceptional technical ability and complete a written assignment, prior to audition.
Entry requirement equivalency table
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
Dance Studio Scotland has an outstanding international teaching faculty and has very strong industry links. Students at Glasgow Clyde College frequently work with professional dancers and industry bodies. We regularly invite world-class guests from the professional world into the department, which provides a rich source of inspiration and allows our students to network.
We have hosted and participated in workshops/ residencies with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Richard Alston Dance Company, Scottish Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, Nederlands Dans Theater, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, BalletBoyz, Richard Alston Dance Company and the National Dance Company of Wales.
In addition, we commission at least one new piece of professional choreographic work per year, which allows the HND Dance Artists students to forge working relationships with potential employers.
Articulation Routes
We have a formal articulation agreement with London Studio Centre for direct entry to Year 3 of BA (Hons) Professional Performance (Top Up). Students should have a 'B' Grade in the Graded Unit and must pass the entrance audition.
We also have a formal articulation agreement (for a minimum of two places) with The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance at Dundee and Angus College. Our students can progress directly to their one year BA (Hons) Dance.
Jobs and further study
Previous students have progressed to:
- London Contemporary Dance School
- Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire
- Bird College - Conservatoire
- London Studio Centre
- Performers College
- Institute of the Arts, Barcelona
- Laine Theatre Arts
- The Urdang Academy
- Italia Conti
- Northern School of Contemporary Dance
- The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance
- Addict Dance Academy
- MGA Academy of Performing Arts.
The department has many successful graduates and careers can be extremely varied. Former students are working as performers, teachers, choreographers, community dance artists and dance administrators. Self-employment is also very common and many graduates are successfully running their own businesses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Invited to attend a ‘live’ audition, which will take place at our studios at Anniesland Campus. You do not have to prepare anything in advance and information will be sent out detailing the content of the audition. You will be given a decision on the day.
If you are not based in Scotland, you can submit filmed dance material for a ‘virtual’ audition. Details of exactly what you should include will be advised and you should aim to send your short film within one week. We aim to inform you of the outcome within 48 hours of receipt of your video audition. The competition for places is high and we advise that you do not delay this stage.
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
The outcome of the audition will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer within 14 days to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer within 14 days to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, usually in June. Joining instructions will normally be sent out in early July.
You will also receive an invitation in May to attend our end-of-term production and an introductory Day of Dance, held in June. Uniform requirements will also be outlined at the Day of Dance.
