Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD)

About

The Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) is a specialist higher education institution in Leeds, UK, dedicated to training and educating dance artists, particularly in contemporary dance. Founded in 1985 by Nadine Senior MBE, it was the first conservatoire-level dance school in the public sector in the UK. NSCD focuses on developing versatile, collaborative, and individual dance artists with strong technical, creative, and performance skills. 

Objectives

The Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) has several key objectives, including educating, innovating, and transforming the dance world. 

Reasons to Study at Northern School of Contemporary Dance

1. A Diverse Learning Community

   The diversity in our student body enriches the life of the school, feeding creativity. We are delighted to have students from over 30 different countries, of different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, learning together. We work hard to identify the barriers which prevent students from accessing or completing training and to make adjustments based on an individual’s needs.

    

2. World-Class Teaching & Research

   At NSCD we encourage a curious, pioneering, innovative and independent attitude. We develop the dance artists of the future who go on to shape the art form, through a curriculum that is informed and enhanced by research and development. Staff research focuses on teaching and learning, technology-enhanced practice, performance, health & well-being and creative practice, and students work with staff on their projects as co-authors.

    

3. Get a taste of the industry

   Students get the chance to put on both informal and formal performances at NSCD’s own professional theatre, Riley Theatre, experiencing live audiences and engaging in intensive rehearsal blocks. Our entire staff comprises industry professionals, and an extensive list of guest artists and companies visit us to lead performance projects, masterclasses, workshops, and auditions, as well as contribute to career talks and sit on assessment panels.

   
    

4. High Student Support & Satisfaction

   • Easy and quick access to counselling support is available to any students experiencing personal or mental health challenges.
   • Unlimited free counselling is available throughout a student’s time at NSCD, with all students seen within a week of contacting the NSCD support service.
   • Wellbeing service rated as 98% in the Student Satisfaction Survey 2023/4
   • A team of experienced counsellors and nutritionists to support students.

Fees

Admission

Undergraduate Admission Requirement

Entry is through a successful application and audition.

• Additionally, candidates should normally have gained five GCSE passes (grade C/4 or above), which must include English Language, and two A Level passes or a L3 BTEC National diploma or professional/vocational training at an appropriate level.
• Exceptions are made for 17-year-olds who are offered a place on the BA (Hons) Dance: Choreography, Producing and Teaching degree course, who would therefore not have completed A Levels or a full diploma, etc.
• Equivalent qualifications may also be accepted, depending on the strength of the grades achieved. Equivalent level overseas qualifications are also accepted.
• Students with English as a second language will need a 5.5 ESOL level (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and 5.5 in speaking and listening) or equivalent.

In some cases, applicants who don’t have the standard entry requirements will be required to complete the School Matriculation Task as part of their entry req

Postgraduate Admission Requirments

Entry is through a successful application and interview.

• This course is open to graduates of two or three-year dance training programmes at Higher Education level, or dance artists with professional experience and equivalent vocational performing arts training.
• Students with English as a second language will need a 6.0 ESOL level (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and 5.5 in speaking and listening) or equivalent.

How To Apply For Admission

• IN PERSON: 

You are required to create an account via our online application portal Quercus to make an application. Once created, you can log in to see the status of any application(s), review your details and view any correspondence. 

The application form asks for the following: 

1. Personal details
2. Place of academic education and place of dance education (if any)
3. Application questions (up to 250 words per answer):
   – What are your future dance ambitions?
   – What is your biggest artistic inspiration?
   – What excites you about training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance?
4. Headshot photo (passport style is accepted – it doesn’t have to be a professional headshot)
5. Equality and Diversity information.

•  BY VIDEO: 

You are required to create an account via our online application portal Quercus to make an application. Once created, you can log in to see the status of any application(s), review your details and view any correspondence. 

The application form asks for the following: 

1. Personal details
2. Place of academic education and place of dance education (if any)
3. Application questions (up to 250 words per answer):
   – What are your future dance ambitions?
   – What is your biggest artistic inspiration?
   – What excites you about training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance?
4. Headshot photo (passport style is accepted – it doesn’t have to be a professional headshot)
5. Equality and Diversity information 
6. Include a link to your recorded video footage
7. Pay the £20 application fee to confirm your application.

Admission Contacts

Email: [email protected]
Phone : +44(0)113 219 3000

Gallery

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  Graduating Students

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  Library

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  Dance Practice

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  Ballet Presentation

Life @NSCD

Facilities

Library: The library & archive pages have been created to keep you informed about our collections, gathering all relevant information in one central place for students, staff & researchers to access all our resources & social network pages. If you are an NSCD student you can also access this information on Moodle, in the Library Guide & you can keep up to date on our social media pages.

Cafeteria: The main function of our café is to cater for the students and staff of the school. The foyer area provides a welcoming and comfortable area to relax and socialise during well-earned breaks between classes; like the living room to a big family house. Further break out spaces with tables and chairs can be found in the foyer of the theatre area, upstairs landing of the theatre area, the balcony of the theatre and the quiet zone near studio 8.

Accommodation: Northern School of Contemporary Dance does not own student accommodation, but we do use the services of Unipol, a student housing charity, who accredit our recommended student housing. Together, we provide support and useful contacts for you to use when arranging your accommodation.

Accreditations

University of Kent

Vice Chancellor

Academic Staff

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  GRISELDA TOGOBO

  Director Griselda Togobo is an international corporate consultant. She is also a multi-faceted entrepreneur, engineer and chartered accountant. Her experience as a black woman in the corporate world drives her... read more

  to help progressive global companies create inclusive workplaces. She works directly with CEOs and business leaders to embed a culture of inclusion at the heart of their talent strategy.

  Griselda is the CEO of Forwardladies.com, a women's professional development company with an ambition to advance female leadership for an equitable and sustainable future for the next generation. Griselda hosts a leadership podcast, is a sought-after keynote speaker and author. Her clients include Boeing, Sage, HSBC, Natwest, Shell, Cambridge University, Oxford University and many others.

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  ANTONIO BUKHAR SSEBUUMA

  Lecturer In Cultural Dance Forms Dance Forms. Antonio has contributed to curriculum design and review/redesign of the CertHE programme and contributes to the Undergraduate provision with an expertise in hip-hop, dancehall, breaking, ... read more

  afro-fusion, house, Ugandan indigenous dances – forming an Afrocentric contemporary dance practice. Antonio has an active professional and research practice as a community artist, choreographer, educator, performer and theatre maker and is engaged in research areas of intercultural relations, community arts, interdisciplinary practice and holistic dance pedagogy. Antonio earned his MA in Dance Teaching and Facilitating from NSCD in 2023 and has been the recipient of international dance fellowships (2017, DE & NZ / 2019 NZ) and awards. Antonio has presented at conferences in the UK, Europe and Africa, bringing focus to Afro-fusion, community dance pedagogies, traditional music and decolonisation in music and dance studies in Ghana. Antonio has published work in journals internationally.
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  AILSA ROBINSON

  Marketing Officer

Notable Alumni

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  ESHE BLAKE-BANDELE Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer, Singer, Model
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  JOHN WANNEHAG Company Dancer at Tanz Mainz, Germany
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  GAIL PARMEL MBE Founder and Artistic Director of ACE Dance and Music
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  STUART WATERS Dance Artist, Performer, Maker, Teacher

History

Since its inception in 1985, NSCD has produced some of the UK’s leading contemporary dance artists including Akram Khan, Tom Roden, Robert Hylton, Benji Reid and Fleur Darkin.

NSCD moved into its permanent home of a former synagogue in Chapeltown in 1987 and since then it has grown into one of the UK’s leading dance training institutions. Nadi... read more