Dance Studies

The Dance Studies Programme has the most extensive range of tertiary dance degrees in New Zealand. Our teachers are nationally and internationally recognised choreographers, artists and academics, who are skilled in developing dance students to their full potential. The Bachelor of Dance Studies offers you the opportunity to develop your physical and intellectual prowess. You will gain skills, build networks and develop attitudes that will transform your view of dance and enable you to build a sustainable career.

You will integrate mind, body and spirit by learning in, through and about dance:

• Learning in dance - use dance as the medium for exploring, creating, communicating and interpreting ideas.
• Learning through dance - develop skills such as problem-solving, communication, presentation, self-confidence, teamwork, leadership and research.
• Learning about dance - explore different dance forms and functions past and present, in New Zealand and internationally.

Year One

• DANCE 120—Dance Vocabulary I
• DANCE 131—Dance Education
• MĀORI 190 —Kapa Haka 1
• PACIFIC 110—Pacific Music and Dance
• DANCE 107—Dance History and Contexts
• DANCE 110—Contemporary Dance and Choreography 1
• DANCE 112—Dance Kinesiology
• DANCE 121*—Dance Technique

Year Two

• DANCE 220—Dance Vocabulary II
• DANCE 231—Community Dance
• DANCE XXX* —Dance Elective Course
• General Education
• DANCE 210—Contemporary Dance and Choreography 2
• DANCE 212—New Zealand Dance Contexts and History
• DANCE 222—Safe Dance Practices
• General Education

Year Three

• DANCE 314—Dance and Technology
• DANCE 320—Dance Vocabulary III
• DANCE 322—Professional Practices
• DANCE XXX** —Elective Course
• DANCE 302—Dance in Aotearoa / New Zealand
• DANCE 310—Contemporary Dance and Choreography 3
• DANCE 331—Dance Education Research
• DANCE XXX** —Elective Course

*Two courses (30 points) must be from DANCE 121, 201, 207, 211, 215, 250, 300, 301, 312, 350, 351

**Dance Undergraduate Elective Course or any other available course

General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level. A minimum of three A-Level subjects completed, with at least 'C' grade or higher attained or Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma (minimum total score of 24).

Additional programme entry requirements:subject to the qualitative evaluation of a CV, written statement and an audition/interview.

Written statement

All applicants are required to submit a 500 word written statement outlining your reasons for wanting to participate in the Bachelor of Dance Studies programme.

Curriculum Vitae

All applicants are required to submit a complete CV. This should list all relevant training, experience (professional and amateur), involvement in community and extracurricular activities, dance experiences and accomplishments.

Group audition workshop

Applicants are required to participate in a group workshop audition and/or attend an interview*. The workshop includes a 1-2 hour movement exploration workshop followed by a group discussion. Please wear comfortable clothing (there is no expectation of body type, fashion or uniform). No set pieces are required for the audition. Once you have submitted your Application for Admission, you will receive an invitation to register for an audition. 

All applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide satisfactory evidence of their proficiency in English:

• IELTS (Academic): Overall score of 6.0 and all bands 5.5 or better
• Internet-based TOEFL (iBT): Overall score of 80 plus a written score of 21
• Paper-based TOEFL: Overall score of 550 plus Essay (TWE) of 4.5
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) and Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): Overall score of 169 and all bands 162 or better
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: Overall score of 50 and no PTE communicative skills score below 42. You must authorise the University to view and verify your PTE scores.

• University of Auckland International Student Scholarships