Bath Spa University

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Contemporary Circus and Physical Performance (Foundation Degree)

This course will teach individuals to be performers in the broadest sense of the word. Contemporary circus is a fusion of artforms and incorporates physical theatre and movement as well as traditional circus skills.

For more information about this course please visit the School of Music and Performing Arts website.

The philosophy behind this course is that minds and personalities must be developed as much as bodies. The training has a pragmatic approach to learning for a vocational profession and a holistic approach to teaching each individual student.

It will ensure that the demands and rigours of good technique are met whilst encouraging you to develop an innovative and imaginative approach to circus and physical theatre by expanding your range of knowledge of possible styles and approaches.

You will be prepared for work in a variety of settings such as theatre, circus and festivals. The emphasis is on creating and devising new work in this new and evolving medium.

Course Structure and Content

The course comprises five main areas:

• Specialist Choices (Acrobatics, Aerial, Equilibristics and Manipulation or Physical Theatre);
• Performance, Movement, Voice and Creative Studies;
• Body Training;
• Complementary Studies, including Practical, Technical and Academic Theory;
• Practice and Evaluations.

In the first year you will spend six weeks doing all four of the specialist choices before choosing two pathways which you will follow throughout the remainder of the two years alongside the core Performance, Movement, Voice, Body Conditioning and Creative Studies classes. In the first term there will a strong emphasis on skills training in these specialist areas as well as an introduction to physical performance and devising, after which the emphasis will move increasingly towards their creative application culminating, mid-year, in students individually producing a project shown to an invited audience and then a final ensemble production which will be shown to the public at the end of Year 1. Week by week you will present devised work and over the year will also gain some experience in street theatre, the integration and re-interpretation of work, perform at live events (these often include the Glastonbury and Bath Festivals). Alongside these, you will gain a wide background understanding to the styles, influences and genres underlying their practical work and the technical knowledge needed to stage work.

The second year aims to broaden your range of styles, techniques and understanding, helping you to reinterpret work through different mediums and for different audiences whilst allowing you not only to build up a diverse portfolio of work but to create a specific act or piece of work over an extended period. The course will also build on your knowledge of the performing arts sector to understand how to promote and stage your own work and to manage yourselves. This will also include some introductory 'teacher training'.

Teaching Methods

You will experience a mix of practical classes, formal lectures, small group tutorials, one to one tutorials, supervised practice sessions and visits from external specialists. In addition students will each week devise and perform presentations to each other for tutor and peer feedback.

Assessment Methods

You will be assessed in a variety of ways to ensure that a range of abilities and skills are examined. You will be set course work which will be assessed through public performances and creative project development, artistic and theoretical presentations, written feedback and reflection, personal training logs, practical tests, research and some essay work.

Entry Requirements

160-200 UCAS Tariff points (eg BC; CD+AS c).

Candidates who do not have standard qualifications but who are over 21 and have appropriate experience will be considered.

Entry is through an audition process. All candidates deemed appropriate for the course will be invited to audition at Circomedia.

At audition, candidates are assessed on individual merit. Those invited to audition are likely to be asked to submit some supplementary information prior to the audition date. Auditions are held three times a year and students will need to attend the day offered in order that decisions can be made in line with UCAS deadlines. At audition, you will have a taste of all the skill areas, plus movement and performance. You will be required to present a three minute performance piece in a style and skill of your choice in addition to being interviewed. In some instances students may be asked to produce some additional written work or do a short presentation on a given subject (advance notice will be given if this is the case).

Alternative qualifications welcome.