Introduction
The Creative Industries Faculty at QUT operates ‘Creative Industries Project’ units, within which a variety of projects and experiences are offered as part of the Work-Integrated Learning approach. Within this framework, one of the options offered to students is the interdisciplinary international dance tour. The tour builds upon previous performance experiences across the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance Performance) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Production) courses by providing students with the opportunity to experience touring as a performance group, much like being part of a professional dance ‘company’. Furthermore, the tour is open to 3rd year students from Film, TV & Animation for documentary film-making activities. The students engage with international groups, both professional and student, in the context of production design and development, workshops, rehearsals and performances. Outcomes are expected to be at professional standard and students are required to deal with the myriad industry requirements of a touring company operating in high-pressure situations. Students are expected to meet professional standards for personal and team management and safe dance practice, as well as interdisciplinary and team production in multi-cultural contexts. The experience replicates the professional expectations of touring professionals in performance industries.

About the program
This project is a capstone component of the BFA (Dance Performance) and (Technical Production) courses and is attached to an accredited unit (one quarter of a semester load), which focuses upon the provision of a transition into the industry that reflects the real world experience to students. The program changes each year as new external partnerships and events unfold. In 2014, students will take part in international dance festivals and masterclass dance camps across Europe and Asia.

One staff member accompanies a small group of students on the tour, whilst two staff members are also involved in the pre-tour planning. Although the partnership development and general planning is an ongoing task, the formal process begins early each year: seeking approval for the itinerary, preparing schedules, making festival applications and securing funding. The Dance Department, in consultation with the entire student body, annually sets fundraising targets for the Discipline to achieve. These funds are utilised in ensuring that students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds are able to participate in the project via significantly subsidised costs. Students are also encouraged to explore access to the Overseas Higher Education Loan Scheme (OS-HELP), which provides financial assistance for eligible undergraduate students to study overseas. All students are covered by the University’s travel insurance providers.

Criteria for enrolment
Students must have completed relevant (identified) units within their course prior to enrolling. There is no grade requirement, however, dance students must pass an audition to perform in their selected repertoire. All students are expected to be able to demonstrate that they:

• Have high level skills and knowledge in their specialist area
• Can effectively communicate in a variety of contexts and modes
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Have characteristics of self-reliance and leadership

Delivery
The unit delivery includes 2-3 weeks of specific classes and rehearsals before leaving for the actual capstone experience (i.e. international Dance Tour), comprising between 3 – 4 weeks of touring. Dependent upon the repertoire chosen to be performed, rehearsals can also occur regularly throughout the Semester before the intensive pre-travel weeks. Student numbers are limited, although this varies (12-15 is the norm).

Students are provided with a range of supports in preparing for the tour, as well as during the experience. This includes: provision of group and individual performance psychology sessions focusing upon preparation strategies related to travel, performance and touring activities; cultural awareness and education activities; and academic supervision support related to reflective learning activities.

Assessment
Students are assessed both as a team and individually. They work together on the performance piece/s and individually as participants. Assessment is based on reports, observed participation and reflective journals. A final group oral presentation is delivered to staff and other student peers at the conclusion of the capstone experience. Marks are allocated to each student participant on the basis of their component of the presentation.

Outcomes
This tour is essential in ensuring that final year students are appropriately prepared for their chosen profession, including the portability of their skills to any international destination. Employers in this field value highly prior experience in touring, particularly international touring.

The educational, performative and production related opportunities presented by this project provide an open platform for young artists to interact with a diverse range of international students and professionals. This includes exposure to learning in new and diverse environments, both physical and cultural, and experience of the rigours of touring as a small dance company. Travel and learning opportunities contextualised within other cultural environments assist the students to become more adaptable, improve their networking capabilities, globalise these networks, and provide reflective activities that assist them to capture their learning with the aim to dissect and understand its value and efficacy in an international context.

Image: copyright Fiona Cullen 2013

Key characteristics
Loading: 12credit points over a semester (1/8 FTE)
Disciplines: dance, technical production, film TV & animation
Location: international, industry, performance
Assessment: group and individual; project planning and management, creative practice, reflection and presentation
Funding: support through international mobility grants and faculty where possible, plus some student contributions

Authors/contacts
A/Prof. Gene Moyle, Head of Discipline, School of Media, Entertainment, Creative Arts,
Dance
[email_link email=”g.moyle@qut.edu.au”]Email Gene[/email_link]