New Performing Arts course delivered with Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama
A West Midlands college has joined forces with one the oldest theatre academies in the UK to help more students in the region gain vital industry experience thanks to a new qualification.
Coventry College has teamed up with the Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama (MADD) College to co-deliver a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Performing Arts with options to specialise in Musical Theatre or Dance, helping aspiring performers, dancers and choreographers take another step towards a dream role in the theatre and dance industry.
The year-long course will build on students’ BTEC studies to provide industry-led learning on professional-standard productions, with outreach programmes and classroom learning led by active performing arts professionals.
The college, which caps each class at 30 students to ensure a high level of individual support, regularly performs at national and international events, and hosts an annual showcase in Covent Garden, London.
The first HNC cohort, who will be able to study across both campuses in Coventry and Nottingham, will begin their studies in September 2023, with auditions now open.
The college was founded in 1967, and also offers three-year diplomas in Musical Theatre and Professional Dance in addition to a Level 6 course awarded by Trinity College London, and a range of part-time, intensive and foundation year options.
Edward Nudd, Principal at MADD College, said: “We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Coventry College to help performing arts students from across the region build on their college studies and access some of the best theatre tuition in the country.
“We are well established and attract students from across the world with our graduates gaining top theatre and TV positions, but always aim to be forward thinking. This new course is a fantastic, practical way for aspiring young performers to take another huge step towards their dream career in the industry – and provides a level of practical engagement that most won’t get until after university.
“The course is designed to be 100 per cent industry-driven, and all of our tutors are professionals who have performed far and wide with a huge amount of practical experience.”
Laura Johnson, Director of Creative Industries at Coventry College, said: “This new partnership will bring fantastic opportunities for young people across Coventry and the Midlands to receive industry standard training without the need to relocate to London.
“MADD’s ethos around practical learning and connecting students with working professionals aligns very closely with our own approach to further education, and we can’t wait to get started to see what we can help our students achieve together.”
