EMERGENCE

MA Dance: Performance
and Professional Practices

The MA Dance: Performance and Professional Practices programme is a professionally focused course (12-months), co-designed and delivered between Joss Arnott Dance and the University of Salford.

The programme not only focuses on contemporary dance performance at the highest level, but also addresses the wider needs of the dance professional including modules on producing, teaching and workshop design/delivery – allowing dancers to develop their skills, knowledge and experience to expand their professional opportunities upon graduation.

Dancers become part of Emergence postgraduate dance company, who work with internationally acclaimed choreographers to produce a programme of new performance work each year. Emergence tour nationally each spring season led by Artistic Director, Joss Arnott with Programme Leader, Debbie Milner.

The company dancers also develop their skills by undertaking roles throughout the year in marketing, social media design, production and rehearsal directing.

EMPLOYMENT ROUTES: Our alumni dancers have enjoyed success joining performance companies and organisations including Beijing Dance Theatre, Joss Arnott Dance, New Adventures, Southpaw Dance Comapny, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, ACE Dance and Music, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company and Company Chameleon to name a few. Alumni also have strong records in securing jobs within the sector, focusing on teaching, fashion, music videos, film, producing, marketing and social media.

Graduates have also joined leading talent agencies including Take 3 Agency, The Dark Horse Agency and The C’C’C Agency.

This prestigious and highly selective programme has industry collaboration at its very heart and mirrors working environments in the creative industries. Join us to expand yourself as a performer, artist, collaborator and a well-rounded dance professional in the thriving cultural scene in Salford and Manchester.

For those seeking more information, 2025 audition dates and application details for September 2025 entry please visit our HOW TO APPLY section.

Choreographers for Emergence 2024/25 are Sofia Nappi, Sarah Golding and Yukiko Masui (SAY Dance) and Joss Arnott.