Performing Arts
Dance
Dance is a term for describing ways of using the body to tell stories, interpret music and express emotion.
Styles of dance include:
- classical ballet
- contemporary dance
- modern stage dance - which may include tap and jazz dancing
- social dancing, including ballroom, disco, freestyle and line dancing.
Even for top soloists, dance is teamwork and performing is a small, but vital part of the job. Maintaining skills and fitness in daily classes and rehearsing take up most of the time.
Dancers work in theatres, film and TV studios, nightclubs, hotels, halls and holiday resorts. Hours can be long and normally involve evenings and weekends. Touring may mean working away from home for long periods.
A dancer needs:
- talent and lots of motivation
- a good sense of rhythm and timing
- to love music
- good health and physical fitness
- to work well in a team.
A dance career is very competitive, and some unemployment is almost inevitable outside the large companies.
Opportunities exist in ballet, contemporary dance, musical theatre and dance in education.
Training continues throughout a dancers career, with even the most successful dancers attending classes daily.
Once in a dance company, promotion to soloist depends on ability, physique and luck - only a few become soloists or principal dancers. Some performers move into teaching, choreography, movement therapy or arts management.
Dance is included along with acting and optional singing in Performing Arts.
Drama
Actors and actresses bring to life characters created by playwrights and scriptwriters. A lot of their working life is spent rehearsing, for stage, TV or film productions. They also have to research their characters and learn lines.
Finding the next job is a major part of an actors life, so they spend a lot of time preparing for and attending auditions. Skills such as singing and dancing can make finding work easier.
Actors working hours can be long and irregular, and may include evenings and weekends.
They work indoors in theatres and TV or film studios, but filming can also involve outdoor work. Actors often spend time away from home, around the UK or abroad.
Actors need to be:
- talented and determined
- physically fit, with good stamina and a strong, trained voice
- lively and creative
- good team workers, adaptable and versatile.
It is also important to be interested in:
- acting and the theatre
- performing to an audience.
There is work for actors in theatre, television and film - any actors prospects depend on talent, self-discipline, and luck.
Most actors do full professional training at drama school. Entry is very competitive and candidates have to take one or more auditions. They should also have evidence of an interest in acting, for example belonging to an amateur dramatic or community drama group.
Courses give students many stage skills, as well as the chance to take part in productions and demonstrate their skills to agents and casting directors.
Actors can progress to larger parts if they give consistently good performances. Some go into other work, such as directing, writing or teaching.
Newbury College offer a range of Performing Arts courses after which students may progress to drama or dance schools.
To apply for any of these courses call 01635 845000 and we will arrange an interview.
Our Learner Services and Information team can also offer careers advice and guidance if you are not sure which course to choose.
Newbury College
Monks Lane
Newbury
RG14 7TD
Telephone: 01635 845000
Fax: 01635 845312
Email: info@newbury-college.ac.uk