Category: Institutions

The Ausbildungskonferenz Tanz (AK|T) was founded in 2006 by the representatives of all federal dance training institutions in Germany. It is understood to be a consortium and national representation of interests with the goal of strengthening professional dance training in Germany (BA, MA / diploma / stage readiness test). The AK|T actively participates in the discussions about the current educational field in dance, through
_ representing the mutual interests of our member institution as a national body
_ the intensification of cooperation and concurrent elevation of the profile of the individual dance education institutions
_ networking with the international partners.

The most important mutual project of the AK|T is the dance education biennale, which has occurred regularly since 2008, at various locations, as a national forum for the exchange and contact between students and teachers. Since 2012, the dance education biennale is financed by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research as a national platform to promote the next generation of dancers.

The initiative for the merging of the dance institutions was instigated by Tanzplan Deutschland. Through countless meetings between teachers and students, both in practical cooperation and theoretical exchange, for the Bologna process, the conversion of study programs into bachelor and master programs and many other topics, a solid basis was created for the future work of the AK|T following the end of Tanzplan Deutschland.

The Academy of Dance is one of the most traditional training institutions for dancers in Germany, with roots in the Mannheim Ballet of the 18th century. Its foundation is classical ballet, complemented by contemporary techniques, improvisation, and subjects such as dance medicine, physiotherapy, and Pilates. The program supports individual development and emphasizes both artistic and health development. It offers a Bachelor’s degree in Dance (classical/contemporary, with stage experience at the Karlsruhe State Theater, among others), a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Pedagogy with a focus on classical ballet methodology, and Master’s programs in Dance and Dance Pedagogy for professional dancers.
The goal is to prepare students for a successful artistic or teaching career.

The Berlin State Ballet School combines professional dance education with academic education under one roof. As a state-run dance institution students and teachers from numerous nations meet here to further perfect the global language of dance on a daily basis, thus achieving technical virtuosity, artistic depth, and performing maturity. A pedagogical concept that successfully integrates artistic and practical subjects with general education subjects enables dual qualification from fifth grade through to vocational high school. Our students graduate as “state-certified stage dancers.” 90% of our graduates make the transition to theater or a company.

Founded by Palucca, the individual remains at the heart of our 100-year-old institution to this day. The artistic development and the individual abilities and skills of each student are the guiding principles of
our training programs. Our curricula and syllabi are based on the three pillars of classical dance, contemporary/modern dance, and improvisation. The aim is to overcome the traditional boundaries between different dance genres and techniques and to find a common approach. Through the close connection between theory and practice, students are encouraged to develop into independent and creative personalities who understand and apply the methods and techniques they have learned as the key to artistic freedom.

The Inter-University Centre for Dance Berlin (HZT) is a locally and internationally oriented study and research centre for creative and critical engagement with dance, choreography, body-based practices and performance.
The HZT offers three degree programmes: the Bachelor’s programme in Dance, Context, Choreography and the two Master’s programmes in Choreography (maC) and Solo/Dance/Authorship (MA SODA).
From 2023 to 2028, the internationally renowned artist who identifies as disabled, Scottish choreographer, performer and singer Claire Cunningham will be Einstein Professor for Choreography, Dance and Disability Arts at HZT Berlin.

The Ballet Academy of the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich (HMTM), founded in 1995 by Konstanze Vernon and directed by Prof. Jan Broeckx since 2010, is the only state-run training institution
for stage dance in Bavaria. Around 40-50 students in the Bachelor’s program in Dance and about 70 young students are trained in the Vaganova method as well as in national dance, contemporary dance, choreography, dance history, and dance medicine. Since 2020, a holistic educational concept has shaped the Academy’s work. Together with the Bavarian State Ballet and the Heinz Bosl Foundation, the Academy runs the Bavarian Junior Ballet Munich as a bridge to a professional company.

The Centre for Contemporary Dance at the University for Music and Dance Cologne forms an important hub for dance and dance research within the contemporary dance landscape. The three degree programs BA Dance, MA Dance Education and MA Dance Studies convey practices and perspectives of performative dance art, dance education and dance studies. This constellation, unique in Germany, forms an inspiring, artistic-practical as well as research-oriented study environment, in which interdisciplinary work and experimentation takes place. Through regional, national and international collaborations, CCD offers students active connections to a diverse professional field and promotes ongoing professionalisation, internationalisation and interdisciplinary exchange.

The Folkwang University of the Arts is the central and only educational institution in North Rhine-Westphalia for music, theater, dance, design, and science. Since 1927, in accordance with the Folkwang idea of interdisciplinary collaboration between the arts, a wide variety of art forms and disciplines have been united under one roof.
International dancers have been trained at the Folkwang University of the Arts since 1927. Many important figures are associated with this university, including world-famous personalities such as Folkwang co-founder Kurt Jooss and his student Pina Bausch. Folkwang dance training is interdisciplinary, tradition-conscious, versatile, and open-minded.

The School of the Hamburg Ballet, founded by John Neumeier in 1978, is one of the leading schools for a professional dance education in Europe and is committed to developing young, creative artists. The syllabus aims to prepare students for the versatile requirements of the current dance world. Based on the classical ballet technique, including pointe, pas de deux, classical and contemporary variations, and the study of John Neumeier repertoire, modern dance and choreographic composition are also integral to the program. The training is supplemented by character dance, Pilates and strengthening classes, as well as theory lessons. This visionary dance education is aimed towards developing artists, while preparing students for work in a professional company, either in Germany or abroad.