Studiegids

Dance and Embodiment Techniques

Cornerstone of the education, this study component consists of daily classes in dance and embodiment techniques of Europeanist and Africanist artistic and cultural heritage. The offered techniques may be defined by individual artists or embodiment practitioners, or collective dance and movement expressions. 

The component’s structure ensures that the students are training in diverse dance vocabularies, functional and stylistic manners of dancing, while building the awareness of their body in movement across its physical, mental and emotional potential and possibilities. Particular attention is given to a constant dialogue between the inner sensation and the external form, between the self, the environment and the cultural community, between the functional and the expressive aspects of a movement. Across the diversity of approaches offered, technical and artistic progress is ensured through the work on transversal fundamentals

Performing and Composition

This study component groups practices that provide tools in composition, improvisation, movement research, performing and interpretation that enable students to create their own material in a creative process, provide personal interpretations of diverse choreographic proposals and develop performative skills applicable to a variety of performative frameworks. Furthermore, student’s imagination, creativity and individuality is particularly fostered. They are encouraged to develop their collaborative and communicative abilities as integral part of performative work. 

Extended Performative Practices for Dancers 

This component groups techniques and practices, coming from complementary performing arts forms, such as music and theatre, that provide additional tools and insights into the art of performing. They allow students to deepen their capacity to create meaningful and layered performances in diverse and interdisciplinary works. 

Projects and Performances

This study component groups creation projects with choreographers of diverse aesthetic and cultural provenance as well as student’s own research and creation projects. 

Working on performances gives students insight into a complete creation process, from the initial idea to the performance on stage. It is a training ground on which students apply a range of  tools and competencies as they experience firsthand the heart of their future profession. The engagement with the proposed variety of creations, in terms of artistic vision, working methods and performative contexts, allows students to gradually form their approach, vision and posture as dancers, co-creative performer and interpreters. 

The learning through these projects is at the same time circular and evolving. It involves practice and repetition of the same elements in ever changing personal and artistic context. Students work is expected to gradually become more aware, intentional, nuanced and mature. 

Artistic Culture and Context

This component gathers knowledge from dance studies, performance studies, philosophy, humanities, and contextual understanding of the current dance and performing arts field. It is designed to provide context and depth to artistic practice, contribute to developing students’ reflexive and investigative abilities, and offer them a necessary perspective to position themselves and their practice in the artistic and social field. 

Health and Sustainability

This component ensures that students gain fundamental theoretical and practical knowledge of human body in relation to movement and performance. They are familiarised with anatomy and kinesiology, fitness, nutrition and mental skills. The content is interdisciplinary, combining sport science, psychology, functional posture and movement therapy, amongst others, offering practical tools in injury prevention, body fitness, physical and mental preparation, maintenance and recuperation. 

The approach is experiential, multidimensional and personalised leading students to develop the awareness of their structural, functional, physiological and affective body. The goal is to help students develop the knowledge and tools to be able to make informed decisions in their training practice and performance.  

Extended Professional Practices

Professional dancers nowadays need a broad set of skills to create and maintain working opportunities. This study component trains students to handle elements of theatre technique, production process, communication tools and visual media as integral part of their future professional practice. 

Professional Orientation and Integration

Throughout the education, students are expected to make steps towards a good understanding of their future profession, develop a personal vision and become autonomous in creating professional opportunities for themselves. In order to do so, they receive mentoring and coaching through a largely self-guided learning trajectory as they complete several assignments and internships before they graduate.