Partnership to see dance students producing national tours

The University is working with the world renowned Joss Arnott Dance to create a new MA dance programme, along with a postgraduate dance company providing students with unrivalled experience of working in professional theatres.        

The partnership will be launched when the Huddersfield-based company, known for bringing new audiences to contemporary dance through their adrenalin-fuelled productions, performs at the University’s New Adelphi Theatre on November 28 as part of their UK tour.        

The company’s founder Joss Arnott will work closely with students on the new MA Dance Performance and Professional Practices programme and will be the Artistic Director of Emergence, a dance company based at the University made up entirely of students from the course.        

Overseen by Joss, the students will work with internationally recognised choreographers to create a series of dance performances that they will take on a national tour of professional venues each year.        

Students will also develop skills in teaching and developing workshops, producing their own shows as well as the business skills necessary to develop careers in the dance industry.        

The programme will be based at the University’s £55m New Adelphi building, which opened last year and contains high-specification performance and dance rehearsal studios as well as a 350 seat theatre.        

The University is now recruiting students from dance schools and conservatoires across Europe to take part in the programme, with auditions for the first cohort due to take place next year at Sadler’s Wells in London, Studio Harmonic in Paris and the New Adelphi.        

As well as the performance programme, the University is also launching MA programmes in Choreography And Professional Practices and Creative Dance Education for students looking for other routes into the industry.        

Sarie Mairs Slee, Lecturer in Dance at the University of Salford, said: “This is an incredibly exciting collaboration which will enable us to offer unique opportunities for students who are serious about becoming dance professionals. Joss has a well-deserved international reputation as an innovator    in    contemporary    dance    and brings a wealth of knowledge, passion and experience to the programme.        

“As well as Joss himself, students will be able to work with internationally renowned choreographers and develop new work which they will then get to tour around the country – something which will provide them with unrivalled experience of working in the industry.”        

Joss Arnott said: “As Artistic Director of Emergence, I am looking forward to developing and mentoring dancers whilst commissioning a diverse range of choreographers each year that share the same artistic vision of producing work of the highest quality.

“There is a real buzz within the sector around this new, distinctive MA and I am extremely thrilled that Joss Arnott Dance will be working in partnership with the University to enhance the offer of exceptional dance training and opportunities for those looking to excel in today’s thriving    arts    industry.”        

Further information about the application process can be found here.