Institutions

The academy is one of the educational institutions for dancers in Germany that has the richest tradition. Its roots reach back into the glorious time of ballet in Mannheim in the 18th century under the Prince elector Carl Theodor. The classic European ballet tradition is the basis for instruction and the point of departure for the classical repertoire as well as for all contemporary dance styles and improvisation. We see our role as a pedagogic team in working with students on the basis of trust while cultivating mutual respect. In order to assure this, international guest teachers are invited on a regular basis, paired with workshops, lectures and master classes with neo-classic and contemporary choreographers. Students are also integrated into a specifically oriented and diverse repertoire in order to receive stage practice. The educational program’s motivation and impulse must be to go beyond one’s own limits and open up new artistic horizons.

The Ballett-Akademie der Hochschule für Musik und Theater München belongs to the leading educational institutions for stage dance. The spectrum of instruction ranges from the lower levels with eight-year old apprentices, the BA programme for dance on up to the Junior Company in cooperation with the Bayerische Staatsoper and the Heinz Bosl-Stiftung. The foundation of the educational program is the Russian Vaganova method, augmented by other pedagogic approaches and modern dance technique. As early as possible, the young dancers gain experience on stage at many appearances. Since 2010, the Ballett-Akademie has been under the direction of Prof. Jan Broeckx, an internationally revered guest dancer, ballet master and dance teacher.

The Folkwang Universität der Künste has been educating international dancers since 1927. Many important personalities are connected to this university, among them some that are world famous, such as the Folkwang co-founder Kurt Jooss or his student Pina Bausch. This dance education program sees itself as interdisciplinary, tied to traditions and active in many directions. Working with guest choreographers plays an important role.

The objective of the BAtanz is the education and individual advancement of creative, expressive dance personalities who have a broad spectrum in ballet technique but also in the contemporary field and can implement their qualities in a sovereign way. They have developed abilities to creatively support artistic work processes and are able to reflect on themselves and the artform of dance in an interdisciplinary, historical and societal context.

The close connection between academic education and artistic practice characterizes the three study programs at HZT Berlin (Inter-University Centre for Dance Berlin). The programs offer an experimental approach to study and nurture a critical reflection of art and art practice. Focus is placed on creatively and critically addressing what dance, performance and choreography are, and can be, as artforms in today’s social and cultural environments.

Founded by choreographer John Cranko in 1971, the school became one of the first internationally esteemed centres for young dancers under the leadership of Anne Woolliams. One of the most renowned ballet schools in the world, the John Cranko School is affiliated with the Stuttgart Ballet and has been under the direction of Tadeusz Matacz since 1999. Its principal focus is on the classical Vaganova technique and on studying classical variations, while further subjects, including Modern, Improvisation and Spanish Dance, round off the training. Notable choreographers are regularly brought in to create their own works in cooperation with the school. From the age of ten, students from all over the world can stay at the boarding school and attend a state school. Training at the academy takes two years and ends with a state-approved qualification as a dancer.

“Preserve tradition, dare to do new things.” (Gregor Seyffert)
The Staatliche Ballett- und Artistikschule Berlin offers a unique outstanding stage dance education. Selected top talents from all parts of the world are prepared to have an international career. They master the style and virtuosity of classic/romantic ballet as well as the most innovative and expressive new creations of contemporary dance. With their evening-length performances on opera stages in Berlin and other cities, the school has gained a distinctive reputation as the largest and simultaneously youngest ballet company in Germany.

Prof. John Neumeier, Artistic Director and Chief Choreographer of the Hamburg Ballet, has continually focused on the preservation of ballet tradition, while giving his works a modern dramatic framework. In 1978, he founded the School of the Hamburg Ballet. In 1989 the school, together with the company, moved into its own “Ballettzentrum” (ballet center). Today more than 80% of the company’s dancers are graduates from the school.

The School of the Hamburg Ballet trains young people from all over the world for a professional dance career. The syllabus gives priority to all aspects of classical-academic dance such as pas de deux, pointe work, classical and contemporary variations, and Neumeier-repertoire. The syllabus also includes courses dedicated to the techniques of modern and character dance and is complemented by Pilates and strengthening classes. A strong emphasis is put on classes in choreographic composition. 

The Zentrum für Zeitgenössischen Tanz / Centre for Contemporary Dance in Cologne sees its direction as fundamentally interdisciplinary and would like to set clear impulses for artistic and practice-oriented research. The concept of the study programs (BA, MA and PhD) are based on an innovative interaction between the three disciplines dance, dance studies and communication of dance.