Foundation Course in Dance and Musical Theatre (Cert HE)

In your acting classes you will study many different acting techniques. You will take part in workshop classes, tutorials, and improvisation groups to enable you to develop a personal approach to acting through exploration of a variety of techniques.

Term 1: The self, using freedom & response and acknowledging blocks and habits.

• Introduction to vocal technique
  Exploration of dynamic vocal choices (poetry).
• Introduction to Meisner technique.

Term 2: Tackling text. We introduce a basic toolkit for approaching text, to include fundamental work on units and objectives.

• Introduction to Stanislavsky technique.
• We also Introduce Actioning Technique through Shakespeare and apply to contemporary text work.

Term 3: Creating character, expressive movement, heightened/classical text.

• Drawing the focus towards character creation. You will rehearse an extended scene study project to be performed at the end of term, carrying out a full rehearsal process with the group, with the tutor taking on a directorial role.

In Singing, students will develop their technical ability, musicality and confidence in singing. Enabling students to sing with technical control, safety, confidence, concentration, discipline and energy.  Through Ensemble classes, One to one singing lessons, Audition class and Weekly performance classes you will learn:

• Presentational skills for auditions.
• Using the voice safely in performance.
• Application of appropriate vocal technique.
• The ability to work in an effective and disciplined way as a soloist and as a member of a chorus.
• The development of a ‘legit’ singing style.
• To perform a range of songs to suit a variety of audition requirements.
• The understanding of the techniques and terminology of professional musical theatre.
• Develop a broader understanding of a variety of musical theatre styles.
• In acting through song classes you will integrate the acting skills with the vocal techniques to develop your storytelling in song.

Students will begin to develop their skills and knowledge of the core dance disciplines of Musical Theatre.  You will take part in daily technique classes in jazz, ballet, tap, commercial and contemporary. The foundation course aims:

• To give students a solid foundation in dance technique.
• To develop each student’s competence and confidence in jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary and physical conditioning.
• To develop an understanding of the history of dance in musical theatre through the study of practitioners including Matt Mattox, Jerome Robbins, Michael Bennett & Fosse.
• The inclusion of Pilates in our course will help develop an understanding of the human body to avoid injuries and improve physical fitness.
• Song and dance classes will develop the relationship between Acting, Singing and Dance.
• To provide students with a foundation in dance training in a Musical Theatre context.