Module: DAN6202-20 Dancing Knowledge

Level: 6

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Anna Heighway

Module Tutor Contact Details: a.heighway@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Dance is a significant historical, socio-cultural, political and artistic phenomenon that can be studied as part of our human pursuit for knowledge. Dance is also a creative and embodied practice that engages us in complex modes of knowing that can challenge conventional forms of research and offer opportunities to expand our understanding of the world. 

This module enables you to design, plan, and conduct a dance research project. It can be completed as a stand-alone module or it can be used to provide you with an opportunity to undertake preparatory research in advance of engaging with your independent study in DAN6002- 20 or DAN6003-40. The module aims to facilitate the research of ideas within a professional and/or academic context and to foster a positive approach to lifelong learning and career development.

This module is concerned with providing you with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue your own research interest and to share the outcomes with others. You will have the opportunity to identify and progress your individual interests in depth. Although you will be introduced to existing frameworks, we invite you to approach research as a creative and constantly evolving endeavour that you play a part in defining. 

2. Outline syllabus:

At the beginning of the module you will attend a series of sessions that will introduce you to processes and approaches that can be used to research dance. You will explore a breadth of perspectives from which dance can be excavated (e.g. somatics, choreography, performance, dance-science, politics, technology and philosophy) before deciding on a focus for an investigation. Tutorials will test the nature of your project and allow you an opportunity to agree on a negotiated project brief. If you are taking an accompanying independent study module in semester 2, the project negotiation in that subsequent module will clarify or revise the brief created in this module, accounting for any changes that have arisen from your research.

The final submission will be a 5,000-word or equivalent research file. The content of this file will vary from project to project, but the presumption is that you will balance practical and written elements.

You can work individually or you can choose to work collaboratively on a piece of shared research, performance, or blended project. 

How you present the final research file is integral to demonstrating the advanced critical thinking at the heart of this module. An indicative final submission might be an informal studio presentation with accompanying written analysis. If you are using this module as an opportunity to prepare for your Independent Study then you should articulate clearly how you intend to process your research findings into the subsequent module.

3. Teaching and learning activities:

This study module focuses on independent learning, in line with the FHEQ level 6 descriptor. While there is some initial lecture delivery around research and planning, the main tutor contact is through advisory tutorials to support your study choice and planning and subsequent checkup points.

Students on this module have the support of the Broadcast and Publishing Labs, with the various opportunities for using equipment, learning new skills, and creating artefacts that the labs allow. You can also access specialist workshops in project management and other library-led sessions.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Research File (5,000 words or equivalent)

• % Weighting: 100%