Diploma in Musical Theatre and Dance
The Trinity Professional Performing Arts Diploma is a three-year, full-time course that leads to a formal qualification in either dance or musical theatre.
The diploma is validated by Trinity College London and is set at level 6 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). The diploma is equivalent to a BA and can provide a route onto some MA programmes. There are also opportunities to extend the diploma to an undergraduate degree. Visit the Trinity College website to find out more about progression.
The Trinity Diploma has more contact hours than our undergraduate courses, giving you time to hone your craft and learn a wide range of performance styles and techniques.
Intimate classroom settings foster a unique family atmosphere amongst students and ensure that you receive a high level of support from our expert lecturers.
The Professional Performing Arts Diplomas were designed to support aspiring professionals wishing to pursue employment opportunities in the performing arts industry by providing formal recognition of the successful completion of full-time performing arts training.
These diplomas give formal recognition to the skills, knowledge and understanding that are acquired in training to become professional dancers, musical theatre performers and actors.
What will I learn?
The curriculum was designed using advice from industry professionals, the Council for Dance Education and Training, and the National Council for Drama Training. The training you receive at Performers College will be innovative, personal and authentic, equipping you with the practical skills and industry knowledge that you need to become a professional dancer, musical theatre performer or actor. You’ll also gain a variety of transferable skills that you can use in your professional and personal life.
The course contains technical units that are assessed by the teaching staff at Performers College and externally moderated by Trinity College, as well as a performance unit that is assessed directly by Trinity. Modules include Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Acting and Singing. In your third year, you can choose whether to specialise in dance or musical theatre; your choice will determine which qualification you graduate with.
In addition to technical performance skills, you’ll develop competencies related to your professional practice, such as research, show reviews, logbooks and personal reflections. These efforts provide an understanding of the broader context of working as a performer. Year 3 features an Employability and Skills unit, which covers key areas that will help you build and sustain your career, such as taxation, unions and risk assessments. You’ll also benefit from a vibrant enrichment programme that will further connect you with the performing arts industry.
Why should I choose Performers College for my Trinity Diploma?
During your time at Performers College, you’ll get the chance to perform in various student-led productions. You’ll be able to perform in the annual end-of-year college show, as well as in the productions associated with your diploma.
Our Creative Futures Team will help you achieve your goals by providing CV workshops and one-to-one career guidance sessions and sharing work-related opportunities. They also organise Agent Panel Days, which are incredible for networking and practising your performance skills – many students even receive offers for professional representation as a result of these events. Read more about one of our Agent Panel Days here.
Course Specification
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Length of Course: Three Years
Awarding Institution: Trinity College London
Campus Delivery: Essex
Language of study: English
Final Award: Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance and Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre
Minimum Requirements
Candidates will be required to attend an audition and demonstrate ability in dance, singing and acting.
You should have the necessary physical and mental aptitudes for a demanding course of study and be over the UK statutory school leaving age
Accommodation
At Performers College, we are committed to supporting our students in their transition from school to a university setting. We understand that many students joining us for the Trinity Diploma will be under the age of 18, so this is a very high priority for us.
Our dedicated Accommodation Teams are always there to advise you on accommodation at each campus. Although Performers College does not have its own halls of residence, there are many ways of finding fellow students to live with in house shares. Alternatively, some locations have private halls of residence, and at our Essex campus you can even choose to live with a host family. Find out more about your accommodation options here.
Support Team
Contact our excellent Student Support Team for support with your course, your mental health, or any special educational needs you may have. Creating a sense of community is incredibly important to us, and we want to make everyone feel as welcome as possible in our Performers College family. Discover more about how we support our students here.
Dance and Drama Awards
Performers College is a proud provider of the Dance and Drama Award (DaDA). When you apply to the Trinity College Diploma with us, you’ll automatically be considered for a DaDA. This is an award funded by the EFSA (Education and Skills Funding Agency) that is designed to help with your university fees and living costs.
DaDAs are offered to students aged 16-23 who demonstrate talent and have the potential to succeed in the performing arts industry. The sum you receive will depend on your household income, as well as where you live and study. For details on eligibility, please visit the DaDA website.
Advanced Learner Loans
Alternatively, if you are over the age of 18, you’ll have access to an Advanced Learner Loan (ALL). This is a government-funded loan that does not take your household income into account and does not involve a credit check. Repayments for this loan are determined by how much you earn and not how much you borrowed. See the ALL website for further details.
Course fees
For fee-paying students, the cost of the Trinity Diploma course is £15,000 per year, split into three termly instalments. Fees are subject to change each academic year. Although you’ll be ineligible for a student loan from Student Finance England for the Trinity Diploma, you can access this funding if you go on to study another higher education course, such as a BA or MA.
Year 1
Class names and structure may be subject to change.
Including: Classwork evaluations, research, show reviews and a performance project
Classes in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, commercial, acting, singing, musical theatre.
One mid-year assessment in each of the following: Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Singing and Acting
Year 2
Class names and structure may be subject to change.
Including: Classwork evaluations, research, show reviews and a performance project
Classes in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, commercial, acting, singing, musical theatre and acting through song.
One mid-year assessment in each of the following: Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Singing and Acting
Year 3
Class names and structure may be subject to change.
A series of lectures followed by a series marked tests and relevant associated work.
Performing to an audience in a range of contexts demonstrating all the technical skills acquired through their chosen Key and Supporting technical skills units.
(Externally assessed by Trinity)
Assignments, research, performance project and viva voce
Classes in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, commercial, acting, singing, musical theatre and acting through song. (Internally assessed and moderated by Trinity)
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Any questions?
Our enquiries team is always available to answer your questions. Just call 01273 840 346 or email [email protected].
