View source for Scottish School of Contemporary Dance

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{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
The '''Scottish School of Contemporary Dance''' is a [[dance]] and [[performing arts]] school affiliated with the [[Dundee College]]. 
It offers a four-year training from foundation level and prepares students for careers as dance performers, [[choreography|choreographers]], and community artists. The School is relatively small (approx 100 students) and has close links with a variety of professional artists, including the [[Scottish Dance Theatre]], and Thomas Small, director of Shaper Caper.

It grew from an existing one year foundation course based at [[Dundee College]], which was started in 1991 by [[Peter Royston (choreographer)|Peter Royston]]. The second and third year of training were added in 1998 and 1999. A successful bid to the [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]] allowed the college to build a facility at its Kingsway campus, comprising dance studios and a theatre. Building began in 2001 and "The Space" was officially opened by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth]] as part of the [[Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Golden Jubilee celebrations]] in 2002.

The College also successfully applied to the National Lottery for a Dance Artist from the [[Scottish Arts Council]] to develop a community programme which would use the facilities at non-training times. Market research was undertaken to determine the potential for a small touring venue.

The school offers training to professional level focussing on technique in [[Graham technique|Graham]], [[Merce Cunningham|Cunningham]] and [[release technique]]s with a strong [[ballet]] development. The school seeks to nurture students choreographically and creatively and invites specialist lecturers such as [[Richard Alston (choreographer)|Richard Alston]], [[Stephen Petronio]], and Sean Feldman.

Performances in the theatre have included those by the [[Scottish Ballet]], the Scottish Dance Theatre, [[The X Factor]], Stephen Petronio, and David Hughes.

In September 2008 the school welcomed its first BA Hons degree students. This one year completion degree addition to the 3 or 4-year training is validated by [[Northumbria University]] and allows students to achieve levels of professional training previously only available in conservatoires in England.
 
Patrons are:
*"The Space": [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]], [[David Bellamy]]
*The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance: Stephen Petronio

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091220081849/http://www.dundeecollege.ac.uk/SSCD Scottish School of Contemporary Dance]
{{Dundee}}
{{Performing Arts Schools in the United Kingdom|dance}}
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[[Category:Dance schools in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Scotland]]
[[Category:Dance in Scotland]]
[[Category:Education in Dundee]]
[[Category:Culture in Dundee]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Dundee]]
[[Category:Performing arts education in Scotland]]
[[Category:Contemporary dance in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Scotland]]


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