MPhil/PhD Dance in London United Kingdom | University of Roehampton

The Department of Dance is home to the globally renowned Centre for Dance Research (CDR), founded fifteen years ago, which serves as a hub for scholars and students worldwide. The Center supports diverse research initiatives spanning historical, analytical, anthropological, and cultural studies, alongside professional practice-based research. This thematic area explores dance as a cultural phenomenon that reflects societal values and power dynamics through anthropological and political inquiry, countering Eurocentric perspectives in dance scholarship by encompassing popular, folk, social, ritual, and theatrical dance forms.
A PhD program caters to students pursuing independent research leading to original contributions in their field. Both full-time and part-time options are available, with intakes in October and January.
Applicants need only submit a preliminary research proposal initially. The first phase of study focuses on refining this proposal with guidance from faculty supervisors.
The Centre for Research in Arts and Creative Exchange (CRACE) critically examines contemporary approaches to arts research, pioneering innovative methodologies.

CRACE operates on principles of inclusivity, cooperation, and empowerment. Leveraging expertise across dance, performance, digital media, visual arts, curation, adaptation studies, gender/sexuality research, and intercultural arts, it fosters heterogeneous approaches rather than standardization. This evolving initiative continuously reimagines collaborative frameworks, driving transformative, interdisciplinary work committed to societal progress and forward-thinking creativity.