MA Black British Dance and Performance

impact, voice and gaze.

Course overview

Black British Dance and Performance is a pioneering, creative and intellectually critical MA, interrogating how Black dance is framed through the lens of impact, voice and gaze. It asks how systems of power have influenced representation, visibility and value—and how these are being actively challenged, reshaped and reimagined by Black artists and thinkers today.

Over three years and through a variety of modules, students will examine the importance of how language and terminology shape perception, challenge policy and develop tools to shift dominant narratives through writing, advocacy and dialogue. Students will have the opportunity to undertake in-depth case study analyses of key institutions and events, and critically analyse how platforms for Black dance operate, influence and evolve locally and internationally.

Through a combination of practice, research, critical theory and case study exploration, students will engage with key movements, makers and methodologies shaping the sector. Designed for artists, scholars, producers and curators, the course offers a unique space to explore the histories, legacies and contemporary practices of Black British dance in relation to global and Diasporic contexts. Completing the programme will equip students not only with knowledge of the past but with the tools to shape the future of dance and performance in a more inclusive and representative cultural landscape.

How will you study?

• Studio-based practical intensives: Facilitated by leading Black British and international artists, these intensives allow for immersive exploration of diverse movement vocabularies and choreographic methods
• Seminars and reading groups: Grounded in Black critical theory, decolonial thought, and performance studies, these sessions encourage critical dialogue and contextual understanding
• Research and reflective practice: Students are expected to engage in independent and collaborative research, contributing to a living body of knowledge about Black British performance, with a strong emphasis on critical writing, documentation and self-reflexivity
• Reference Library and archival engagement: Students will have the opportunity to work directly with Serendipity’s Reference Library and digital archive to unearth, analyse and contribute to historical and contemporary narratives of Black British performance
• Cultural leadership labs: These modules develop students’ strategic, curatorial and advocacy skills, equipping them to influence institutions and policy.

Fees and Finance

Eligible home-fee paying postgraduate students can apply for a postgraduate loan from the Student Loans Company to help with course fees and living costs.

• Home £8,127 (£2,709 per year)
• Overseas £18,000 ( £6,000 per year).

Entry requirements

The programme is ideal for those seeking to engage in discourse on Black dance, develop curatorial practice, and contribute to new and existing frameworks within the field. Serendipity welcomes choreographers, movement-based artists and performers looking to develop their voice as a maker and/or producer.

Above all, we are looking for ambition and commitment to your practice. This MA programme is open to graduates of two/three-year dance training programmes at higher education level, or to dance or movement artists with some professional experience and equivalent vocational training at an appropriate level.

We welcome applications from EU, EEA and International applicants. Students with English as a second language will need a 6.0 ESOL level (with a minimum of 5.5 in reading and 5.5 in speaking and listening).