Why Ecosse?

Big in many ways is considered to be superior.  Think big.  A big organisation can harness funds and resources, particularly in the educational world.  What we lose from the big organisation is personal involvement and caring, particularly for younger students.  A smaller college can provide tailored packages to cater for individual needs and that caring touch involving help with accommodation and just the day-to-day turmoil of being a busy student.  At Ecosse Performers College we can boast the best of both worlds.  In a unique collaborative agreement with Moray College, we have harnessed the resources and expertise of a major component of the UHI Millennium Institute and combined it with the specialist knowledge and skills of a dedicated performers college. 

The big resources available to us allied with a specialist cadre of dedicated teachers and support staff provide a unique and unbeatable combination.  You can forget about having to provide large termly fees and concentrate on what you are here for - performing.  Many students are also available for bursaries to help with living and travel expenses.

Courses

As our name intimates, we put a great emphasis on performance.  Ultimately this is how you will be judged in the performing arts world.  Our aim is to give you invaluable experience throughout your time at the college.  We take relatively few students enabling us to concentrate our efforts on each individual and this gives you the chance of taking many more solo parts than you would ever expect to see in a larger college.  During your time with us you will take part in at least two major productions per year and you will be involved in countless appearances at junior and high schools throughout the region.  We are also requested to perform at major events throughout the year and we endeavour to give our students some real work experience when the opportunity arises. 

As well as performing you will receive a complete and thorough grounding in producing and presenting large performances.  With our children who attend Ecosse Juniors you will gain experience directing, working backstage, lighting and attending to the front of house.

We are proud to be one of the few Colleges to be approved centres for both the RAD and ISTD.  We are also fully approved by the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) to offer recognised educational qualifications.

For students wishing to gain teaching qualifications we run the RAD's Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies.  This is for those who want to teach ballet in private dance schools throughout the world. The new certificate replaces the popular Teaching Certificate. Studies include: Ballet knowledge, understanding and skills for teaching; RAD syllabus and preparing candidates for examinations; Health and Safe Practice; Teaching Practice and Theory, including planning and class management demonstrated through a mentored Practical Teaching Placement; Managing a Career as a Freelance Dance Teacher.

We also offer students the opportunity to train for the FDI and CDE with the ISTD.

The focus of the Foundation in Dance Instruction is on the development of necessary evaluative and critical skills for teachers in relation to ISTD Graded Examinations up to and including Levels 1 and 2 of the National Qualifications Framework, Level 1 being equivalent to GCSE grade D – G and Level 2 GCSE grade A – C.  Through tutoring, the candidate develops an understanding of the concepts essential to teaching dance without being required to put these into practice in the studio. This provides an essential basis and preparation for progression to the Certificate in Dance Education which includes supervised teaching practice.  The candidate maintains a portfolio of evidence of all units of the qualification which is moderated and standardised by the ISTD prior to certification. This qualification has been accredited by QCA (Accreditation Number 100/4395/0) at level 3 of the National Qualifications Framework which is equivalent to A level standard.

The Certificate in Dance Education focuses on equipping candidates to train dancers in Graded examinations up to and including Levels 1 and 2 of the National Qualifications Framework.  The objective of this qualification is to provide the practical and theoretical knowledge and understanding to become a teacher of dance. The candidate is required to undertake tutored teaching practice at a minimum of two different levels and study the theoretical aspects of teaching up to and including Intermediate.  The candidate maintains a portfolio of evidence of all units of the qualification which is moderated and standardised by the ISTD prior to certification.  The qualification has been accredited by QCA (Accreditation Number 100/4788/8) at level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework which is roughly equivalent to the first year of a degree course.

Classes run for approximately six to seven hours on every week day but students are also expected to attend some classes in the evenings and at weekends when performances demand a higher work rate.  All dance forms are taught with classical ballet forming the cornerstone of training to provide a good basic technique.  Drama and singing lessons also form an important part of the timetable.  These classes are optional extras, along with the FDI/CDE instruction, at a minimum charge per academic year.  Students are expected to work hard but are always fully supported by our dedicated team of teachers and administrative staff.

Dance, as the most dynamic of all arts, must constantly evolve and institutions responsible for the education and training of the dancers of the future must change as well. The philosophy of this college is that good dance is good dance, regardless of style, preference, or technique; but excellence can only come through the mastery of the most demanding techniques as well as the awareness of the multi-faceted nature of dance.  We attempt to offer a very global approach to the technique and the art of dancing. The goal is to produce dancers that can demonstrate excellence and versatility in technical training, artistic and intellectual depth, and a sense of context in a rapidly changing world.