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Nordic MA in Dance Studies (No-MA-ds)

The curriculum for the Nordic MA in Dance Studies contains four compulsory courses, electives and the MA thesis.

Dance Analysis (15 ECTS) – Autumn, Trondheim, Norway

The course addresses methodologies for dance analysis as developed both on a general basis, within certain fields of dance research and within different dance genres. We discuss the theoretical basis for dance notation and for analyzing various aspects for dance accessed for instance through dance movement, dance works and dance events.

The course gives the student methodological tools and a theoretical basis for conducting advanced dance analysis, for teaching it and for critical assessment and use of available material within the discipline.

Dance and Cultural Theory (15 ECTS) – Spring, Stockholm, Sweden

The course’s theme is ”Dance, Body, and Cultural Theories”, and addresses various approaches to essentialist and constructionist perspectives, either placed in opposition to one another, or used as interrelated analytic tools in order to make room for the interplay between lived experience, discursive formations and historical contexts.

These perspectives include conceptualizations of the body from a sociological and phenomenological point of view, as well as ideas drawn from postcolonial theories where the interconnection of ethnicity, race, nationality, gender, and sexuality are put to analytic use. The emphasis is placed on theory, but the reading list includes several texts in which applications are made on different types and genres of dance, both participatory and theatrical.

Dance History (15 ECTS) – Autumn, Copenhagen, Denmark

The purpose of the course is to reflect upon scientific questions regarding the study of dance history. The lectures draw attention to a wide variety of historiographical paradigms including theories such as ”quellenkritik” as well as methodologies developed as a consequence of the linguistic turn. Different accounts of dance history are discussed in terms of the use of methodology as well as empirical materials. The dance in question includes participatory as well as theatrical dance forms from the western world as well as dance forms from a wider global context.

Dance Anthropology (15 ECTS) – Autumn, Tampere, Finland

The course gives an advanced introduction to different fields of ethnochoreology and dance anthropology. During the course, the students will be given focused insights into chosen theoretical and methodological approaches within these fields: these cover approaches emphasising dance structure and other ones emphasising cultural context. The course consists of discussing various research materials from a global context.  A special attention will be given to Nordic research and projects as well as anthropological field work.

Electives

The electives give the student an opportunity to build up a deeper and specialized knowledge of particular areas of interest in dance studies. The four universities are obliged to offer elective courses during those semesters in which the compulsory course takes place at their institution. But an elective might also be an individual project or an apprenticeship. This latter opportunity can be a crucial factor in relation to the future job situation after having finished the MA degree. 

MA thesis

The thesis is the most inclusive and final exam in the MA degree offered by four  research institutions. Writing the MA thesis can also be about the development competences directed towards a future career.