Programme aims to boost postgraduate dance research

A new programme focused on specialist Postgraduate Research (PhD) degrees in dance has been launched by the University of the Arts London (UAL) and London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS).

The institutions said they hope to establish a cross-institutional and cross-college supervisor network, which would provide student researchers with a "distinctive sense of community whilst promoting dance, choreography, performance, and movement research."
 
The collaboration aims to build a cohort of postgraduate research students in dance and related embodied practices within a cross-arts and interdisciplinary framework.

Professor Vida L. Midgelow, Dean of UAL’s Doctoral School, said the programme extends an existing relationship with LCDS into doctoral research. 

"This relationship reflects the UAL Doctoral School’s ambition to provide innovative research degree environments and support PhD projects that make a difference in the world," she said. 

"The collaboration brings new opportunities for dance-based researchers, increasing the visibility and significance of their work at a time when dance in higher education is at risk. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our first co-supervised students!”

Dr Efrosini Protopapa, Director of Postgraduate Courses and Research at The Place, where LCDS is based, said: "We look forward to supporting PhD projects that seek to navigate some of the challenges of contemporary life through practice in imaginative, outward-facing, groundbreaking ways.”