BOURNEMOUTH students have been left 'without a place to go' after the university announced it would be axing its dance course.

Arts Univeristy Bournemouth has confirmed it will not take any new admissions into its BA (Hons) Dance degree from 2024.

The current students and alumni have sent letters of protest and started a petition against the course closure.

There are currently 50 students on the course which costs £9,250 per year.

The petition has received 1,336 signatures so far and aims to reach 1,500.

Josie Goodburn, an AUB dance graduate, said: “We are absolutely devastated by this news.

"We have so many young local dancers who will be affected by this, and we need it to be known the value of this course is far beyond monetary and is a lifeline to many people.”

A joint statement from dance groups, One Dance UK, DanceHE, People Dancing and Society for Dance Research, said: “It is of deep concern to learn of more dance degree closures ahead of the 2024/25 intake.

“The impact of current financial pressures and challenges faced by the higher education sector is acute.“As more courses close, the reality is that students who don’t wish to live away from home have limited or often no route to study dance at university.”

They added: “We need decision makers across government and within education to work together to address the erosion of degree level dance provision, and request that decisions to close courses imminently are reconsidered.”

A spokesperson for the university said: “With great regret, we have had to suspend intake into our BA (Hons) Dance degree for 2024 entry onwards.

“Although the quality of our offer has always been excellent, the business model has become untenable.

“Our decision will allow the University to consider the potential for the development of a new contemporary arts performance provision that future-proofs the subject area and responds to current and future market demands.”

 AUB is working to convene a series of discussions under the title ‘Dance Futures’ to see how they harness the enormous energy and interest in contemporary dance, movement, health and well-being.

The aim will be to keep dance in all its forms alive and vital, relevant to the widest community across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.