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Dance is an art form, which enables people to take a different look at themselves, others and the world. The curriculum of the four-year contemporary dance course at ArtEZ in Arnhem focuses on discovering what type of dance artist you are and how you can develop your own strong position in the world of dance.

As a dancer or maker, you are the focus of the course. We monitor your individual and artistic development, but also what you need to fulfil your potential as a dance artist. In designing the curriculum, we therefore also try to establish the right balance between intensity and rest.

Rapidly moving world
The Dance Artist course ensures that you can take your place as a dance artist in a rapidly changing world, so that you leave the school with an open and flexible mindset. You are given the resilience and tools to adapt to new circumstances. And above all, to create new contexts, dimensions and realities.

Photo: Bart Grietens

What do you learn in the higher professional Dance Artist course in Arnhem?

To fulfil your potential as a dance artist and develop your artistic identity, the curriculum comprises the following learning lines and subjects.

  • Performativity, Artistry, Individual necessity 
    These include subjects like Professional Creations, Artistic Research and Improvisation & Composition. 

  • Craftmanship in widest sense of the word 
    In terms of dance techniques, we use two learning lines. The first is Contemporary Styles & Cultures (CSC), in which contemporary dance techniques are taught. This is supported by Technical Foundation Techniques (TFT), in which ballet and modern dance classes are given.  

  • Awareness, Engagement, Sensitivity, Curiosity and Impact 
    This includes subjects like workshops Brave Spaces (Diversity & Inclusion), World Walks and Creating Site-specific Duets.

  • Body, Mind, Balance and Creativity 
    These include subjects like Body Mind Inquiry, Anatomical Awareness and Mental Health Training. 

  • Research, Theory, Entrepreneurship 
    These include Work field orientation, Dance theory and Artistic Research.

Interdisciplinary projects

The bachelor course Dance Artist is situated in the multidisciplinary environment of ArtEZ. Because the dance world is becoming increasingly richer/broader, the curriculum offers interdisciplinary subjects and projects, including:

  • Focused theatre classes are given by lecturers from the School of Acting and you do several subjects with students from the School of Acting. 

     

  • An interdisciplinary week in which first year students from different art courses at ArtEZ are given the freedom to create together. This results in a performance which is open to the public.

  • A collaboration with Cinedans which focuses on the connection between dance and camera. Over the course of a week, you work in small groups, choosing different tasks: scenario, camera, directing and execution.

  • Here you work with students from other courses, including from the School of Acting. You work on forms of immersive environments (3D film) and other contemporary theatre technology.  

  • In Choco, third year makers work together on five presentations with composers from the Academy of Music. The first and second-year students co-create and dance in these new compositions. They are accompanied live by musicians from the Orkest de Ereprijs orchestra.

Structure of the course

  • Introduction
    In the first year, you are introduced to all aspects of dance artistry.

    This year is divided into five parts: Landing, First Interpretation, Professional Creation, Creating Solo and Connection. In each period, you work towards a final project. During Professional Creation, as a class you study in more depth the existing work of a professional choreographer, and then perform it during the final shows.

    Throughout the year, you strengthen your dance-technical skills with Contemporary Styles & Cultures (CSC) and Technical Foundation Techniques (TFT). You are also introduced to Dance Theory, Artistic Research and Work Field Orientation.

    In the first year, you can also apply for the Honours Lab, to supplement the theoretical programme of your own bachelor course.

  • The second year of the dance course at ArtEZ focuses on developing skills and technical ability. You also study more body awareness to help you in your development as a dance artist, and you perform a duet on location. You also present the performance that you mastered during the first year, outside school. During Professional Creation, in the second year you create your work with a professional choreographer.

  • From the third year of the bachelor course Dance Artist, you increasingly focus on developing your own artistic identity as a dance artist. You are also given extra coaching and peer review sessions from an external dancer or maker. With a personal development plan, you prepare for the transition to the work field. Obviously, you perform as much work as possible of students and professionals from inside and outside the school.

  • The fourth year of the Dance Artist dance course in Arnhem involves an internship and/or projects in the Netherlands or abroad. With support from a mentor, you plan your own graduation programme. You might do an internship with a company, develop your own method, set up a project or create your own dance production. In this graduation year, you fly out into the work field, under the supervision of your chosen coach.

    Our students have participated in projects in among others Milan, Porto, Vienna, Brussels, Mainz, Aachen, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Reykjavik, Tel Aviv, Jersey, Linz, Sienna, New York and Bern. Our fourth-year students do internships at or create work for:

    • Poetic Disasters Club
    • Staatstheater Kassel
    • Het Houten
    • Huis Skanes
    • Dansteater Pfalztheater
    • Keiserslautern
    • Katja Heitman
    • Cinedans
    • Zoro Feighl
    • Concordia T
    • Tanz Mainz
    • Cullberg ballet
    • NB Projects
    • Project Sally
    • Danielle Huygens
    • Pfalztheater
    • Keiserslautern
    • Poetic Disasters Club
    • Ann van den Broek
    • Introdans
    • David Middendorp
    • Scapino Ballet
    • Keren Levi
    • Generale Oost
    • Dansateliers
    • Jan Martens
    • Cullberg Ballet
    • Nordans
    • National Dance Company Wales
    • Club Guy & Roni

Course supervision

During the dancer or maker course, you receive intensive support from mentors, lecturers and a transition supervisor (who helps you rehabilitate after any injury). In the fourth year, from the Circle of Guides, you receive individual supervision from a professional in the work field. There is therefore plenty of time and opportunity for individual support.

We support you in your physical and technical dance development, as well as in your personal artistic development. We give you tools to embody this and invite you to discover for yourself what role you wish to play in dance and how you can embody this.

Confidential counsellor

ArtEZ has an independent confidential counsellor, for both students and alumni.

Facilities

Our dance course has several modern, spacious studios, theatres, classrooms and a multimedia library. As a student, you can book studios yourself.

Proactively to the work field 

From the first year, you are aware of the different professional options. By engaging with your own network, communication and production, you learn to proactively reflect about your position in the field. You are introduced to working in a company and as an independent entrepreneur. In the third year, experts give workshops about various aspects of entrepreneurship. Dancers and choreographers from the world of dance also come and talk about their experiences.

Study in Arnhem

Arnhem stands for green, creativity and enterpreneurship. As a student city, it literally offers space for many different initiatives. 

More aboute studying in Arnhem

Photo: Bart Grietens