MA Dance Studies (Distinction)
Postgraduate Diploma Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
Fellow of Higher Education Academy
Additional qualifications
Advanced Choreological studies
Diploma Labanotation
Role and responsibilities:
As a member of the Leadership Team, Darren contributes towards the strategic direction, corporate policy-making and development and delivery of NSCD objectives. His primary role is to oversee the management of the School’s curriculum, student support and academic resource provision to achieve outstanding conservatoire-level student attainment. He is responsible for the effective leadership and development of an evolving, forward-facing curriculum, to meet the needs of aspiring dance artists aiming for careers in the field of contemporary dance. Darren also contributes to the curriculum by leading the PGdip ALTHE programme and he teaches on the MA DaCE module Arts project management. Darren is supporting staff to achieve formal teaching qualifications and professional recognition through fellowships with the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE).
“I consider myself to be from a working-class background, the first in my family to go to university. I was brought up in the foster and care system, through a guardianship order, with grandparents who supported my interest in the arts. I was lucky enough to have access to dance through my visionary comprehensive school in Leicester, which valued the arts and brought dance into the curriculum in the 1980s. I was awarded a scholarship and nurtured by Judy Webb and her team at Leicester arts advisory service who encouraged my application for training. Over the years, I have valued greatly the support from colleagues around my dyslexia.”
With over 30 years of experience in higher education across three institutions, Darren gained a strong background in curriculum design, planning, and development, which has significantly influenced his teaching and learning practices. His career spans teaching practical dance in a work-related context and diversifying into areas such as business and management, informed by his professional experience as a dance artist and later writing successful funding bids. He has held leadership roles in academic administration, supporting framework documents and curriculum writing workshops, and leading successful course validations. He has chaired validation panels, including being in consultancy roles as a panel member with institutions such as LAMDA and the University of the Arts Barcelona. At NSCD, he has guided the institution through key quality assurance reviews, contributing to the evaluation and enhancement of curriculum design. Additionally, he created and taught a curriculum design module for our PGDip ALTHE programme, which has supported staff development in this area and currently oversees the curriculum design process for the validation of new and existing courses, set for completion in 2025. Between 2008 to 2022, he was chair of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama’s Learning, Teaching and Quality assurance committee and Vice Chair of Senate. He is presently Chair for Senate, where all curriculum design and development matters are agreed and approved.
Darren has served as a panel member for periodic programme reviews and Validations for:
Darren was a panel member on the validation panel for Trinity Laban’s Certificate of Higher Education Programmes.
As a tutor on the MA Dance and Creative Enterprise and MA Dance Teaching and Facilitating programmes at NSCD, Darren plays a key role in supporting some of the pastoral care of students. He provides guidance and mentoring to help students navigate the academic and personal challenges of postgraduate study. Darren actively listens to students’ and ensures that they feel supported in their learning journey. Darren reports to Student Review Board on each student and when more specialised support is needed, he works closely with the well-being team, referring students to the appropriate resources and embedding well-being practices into his teaching to foster a balanced and supportive learning environment.
Darren completed his undergraduate training in Dance at Middlesex Polytechnic, before embarking on a performance career in America. Upon his return to the UK, he created and performed work in regional arts platforms including Dance Northwest’s Leap festival, and with his company X-Closion (1990-2004).
Darren has taught extensively in Primary, Secondary and Further Education before joining the full-time staff at Liverpool John Moores University in 2004. He was Programme Leader for Dance at LJMU from 2008-2016. His research-informed teaching is focused on employability for dance graduates, developing curriculum materials in response to the industry and professional practice areas. From 2007-2009, he was awarded a sabbatical by CETL (Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning) to form a small integrated company of disabled and non-disabled dancers to research inclusive practices and integration through the creative process. In February 2016, he left LJMU to take up the position of Director of Studies at Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
In 2020 Darren became Vice Principal & Director of Studies at NSCD.
Professional activity
Darren currently sits on the CDD Research & Ethics committee and chairs the Learning and Teaching committee at CDD. He is an Executive Board Member for Dance HE (2013-present) and External Panel Member (Subject specialist) for Periodic Programme Review Institute of the Arts Barcelona (2022).
Darren’s ongoing PhD research through publication project JUMP IN(tegrated) Dance, reflects upon the nature of peer learning within an integrated environment for dance undergraduates and community-based participants. His research and practice in this area was recognised in 2009 by an LJMU Curriculum Innovations Award. In 2012 & 2013, he published his first research papers in relation to his model of practice known as ‘an in-reaching community of practice’.
In 2014 he was part of a successful research council bid with the European Human Rights Commission to create and support ‘making reasonable adjustments’ legislation for schools and community activities. This helped to further investigate integrated practices through a learning communities and dance pedagogy.
In 2016, he was awarded an LJMU collaborative research grant with Dr Pauline Brooks and in 2017 was awarded a small research project grant by CDD to investigate whether the creation of an integrated peer learning community, in real time and through the virtual landscapes, can become a valuable learning tool within a Conservatoire setting.
Further successful grant applications:
