Dance and Drama BA Hons (Dance) with Kingston University London

Course overview

Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) is one of Scotland's largest and most dynamic performing arts departments. Here, creativity meets opportunity in a vibrant, professional environment designed to help you thrive.

Our state-of-the-art facilities include the impressive PASS Studio Theatre, eight purpose-built dance and rehearsal studios, specialist classrooms, and a cutting-edge Learning Resource Centre and Library – everything you need to bring your artistic vision to life.

Located in the heart of Edinburgh – the world's Festival City – PASS has strong connections with leading theatres, companies, and creatives. These partnerships open doors to exciting performance opportunities, innovative projects, and invaluable industry insight.

BA Course Overview

The BA (Hons) Dance and Drama degree at Edinburgh College is an intensive industry training course validated by Kingston University. It will challenge your potential as you immerse yourself in the art of Dance and performance through a range of techniques. This is a university-level course that will ensure you are prepared to an industry standard to progress into a career as a portfolio artist.

You will develop a range of transferable skills to equip you for the demands of a competitive world. Dancers can influence society, and this course aims to show you how you can become a part of that influence. You will critically engage in industry practices and learn how to take a simple performance idea and bring it to life. Throughout the course, you will gain essential experience in professional environments and make crucial connections with industry professionals. 

Spotlight Membership

The BA course is also a member of the Spotlight Graduate scheme; our BA students can apply to become Graduate Spotlight members during the first term of the year. Spotlight is the industry's leading casting platform, connecting performers, agents, and casting directors. Spotlight graduate membership is the stamp of professionalism that puts you in the best place to promote yourself to the industry as you complete your training. 

Further Performance Opportunities 

• First Footing - In-house dance production in The PASS Theatre
• Cross Currents - Dance end-of-year show, where BA students work with internal and external choreographers to showcase and celebrate their skills in a venue in Edinburgh City. 
• Edinburgh Fringe Festival - The BA cohort have the opportunity to showcase their work on a platform which runs as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 
• Babel FAST Festival - Students have the opportunity to devise and perform at this International theatre festival in Romania. They are also able to participate in workshops delivered by well-known artists from around the world and receive free entry to all the shows in the festival programme. 

Core Modules are:

• Access to Professional Workplace. Module leader, Rosalind Hoyte
• 21st-century choreography. Module Leader, Hannah Mason
• Production Project: Making a Performance. Module leader, Ashling Findlay-Carroll
• Ensemble Performance. Module leader, Eleanor Morrison

You will also participate in classes to develop your skills in:

• Body Conditioning for Performers
• Study Skills for Performing Arts
• Fundamental Dance Techniques - Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary and Commercial
• Audition Technique
• Personal and Professional Planning
• Website and Portfolio Building
• Entrepreneurial Skills

Placement information

Access to Professional Workplace - Enables students to organise and undertake a placement with a professional organisation in a career path of their choice within the Performing Arts Sector:

• Dance education
• Community dance management and delivery
• Event organisation
• Dance company management
• Outreach
• Creative
• Social Media/Marketing

This module enables you to gain a deeper understanding of current industry practices and expectations when working in the professional performing arts sector across a range of contexts and settings, allowing you to begin to define your role as a practitioner, artist, or creator. 

How the course is assessed

• Practical assessments
• Portfolios
• Presentations
• Written assessments

Number of days per week

• 5 days per week

Entry requirements

• HND Dance Artist or Professional Dance performance (Graded Unit A/B result).
• HND Musical Theatre with a Graded unit A/B result.

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

Audition Process 

Our BA Audition consists of two stages: Application and Statement, and Practical Audition and Interview.

Stage 1: Complete the application form 

• Please upload your response to the following question in the personal statement section of your application.

Written Task: 500 words that address the following question: 

Question: If dance is a reflection of the world in which we live and our position in it, what do you want to say? Who do you want to say it to? And how will you say it? 

Stage 2: Audition, Workshop and Interview

Technique Class:

You will participate in a technique class that incorporates Ballet, Contemporary, and Jazz. We recommend wearing dancewear, tying long hair up, wearing appropriate footwear, and removing any jewellery.

Creative Workshop:

You will be guided through a series of improvisational and directed creative tasks to assess your creativity and collaboration skills.

Interview:

You will be interviewed by two BA staff members, who will ask you a series of questions to assess your suitability for the course further.

Following your attendance at audition a decision will be sent to you as soon as possible, this will not be during the audition day but we aim to send audition decisions within 7-10days. Unfortunately, due to the high number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide feedback.

If you have any questions, please email the DramaDanceBA@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.

Applications must be fully submitted before an Audition or interview date is sent out.

Practical Audition Dates (Granton Campus,10 AM - 1 PM)

• Wednesday 10 December 2025 
• Thursday 8 January 2026
• Further Dates will be added if required

Allocated dates will be given once applications have been completed.

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Progression and Articulation Routes

• MA in Dance Science at Edinburgh University
• MEd Learning and Teaching in the Performing Arts at RCS
• PGDE at Edinburgh Napier University, University of Edinburgh
• MA Programme at the Institute of the Arts, Barcelona

Career options

• Teaching
• Performing
• Choreographing
• Directing
• Dance Management
• Community Dance Artist