Students autumn semester 2021

  • Hi! My name is Mara Barbini and I come from Livorno, Italy. I’ve been dancing since I was four years old and I’ve never stopped. With the support of my parents and my teachers, I decided to audition for a place at ZHdK, and now here I am. Zurich University of the Arts feels like the right place for me. I would like to learn about new styles of contemporary dance and new perspectives. Now I have the opportunity to work with experienced lecturers and both up-and-coming and renowned choreographers. My ultimate goal is to become a professional dancer.

    Porträt von Mara Barbini

  • Hi! My name is Lorenzo Capecci and I was born in Italy on 20 November 2002. I’ve been studying dance since I was 7 years old. For example, different techniques like ballet, method release, Graham, Limon, Taylor, Cunningham and breaking. I’ve taken part in the Italian Chanel program as a dancer and in productions of youth dance companies. I’m very happy to have the opportunity to attend the first year at ZHdK, where I hope to improve as a dancer with the help of the teachers and my classmates.

    Portrait of Lorenzo Capecci

  • My name is Marie da Silva and I was born in Germany in 2002.  When I was a child, I took lessons in ballet, contemporary dance and jazz in the dance studio in my home town. As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved how dance enables me to tell a story and express interpersonal relationships and intimate emotions with my body, without having to say a word. During the last two years at upper secondary school, my desire to become a professional dancer grew ever stronger, so I took it as a sign and decided to follow this career path. With the support of my family, my former dance teachers and my friends, I was accepted into ZHdK. Now I look foward to finding my feet in the world of dance.

    Portrait of Marie da Silva

  • My name is Coko De Windt; I am of Japanese and Belgian heritage and I was born in Japan in 2002. I’ve been living in Switzerland for more than 10 years. I’m a really positive person and have enjoyed listening and dancing to music since I was very young, but I love nothing more than expressing myself through movement. I’ve attended many classes in classical ballet, character dance and modern dance, and I can’t wait to work with all the inspiring students, teachers and choreographers at ZHdK.

    Portrait of Coko De Windt

  • I’m an artist who loves to dance and experiment in the dance field. I was born in a small town in a country that many people don’t know. I’ve made it my mission in life to surpass my dreams, even if it’s a matter of taking things step by step. That’s why I chose this programme and why I came to study at ZHdK. My name is Antonjija or, as I often say, Organised Chaos.

    Portrait of Antonjija Dimitrievska

  • Ciao! My name is René Fiorella. I was born in 2002 and I come from Ostuni in Puglia, Italy. My parents introduced me to the wonders of the arts when I was little. Once I started dancing, I realized that I had found my passion in life. I’m currently in the middle of the first year of the Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance at ZHdK, and am doing my level best to discover who I am as a person and as a dancer by learning about the many areas of contemporary dance. I enjoy combining different art forms as I’m also really interested in singing and theatre.

    Portrait of René Fiorella

  • My name is Lucie Froehlich. I was born in France in 2003. I started dancing when I was 6 years old. I studied ballet and contemporary dance in Montreal, Canada. I feel most alive and connected to myself when I dance. Studying at ZHdK will enable me to work on my technique and grow as an artist. I look forward to learning from every experience and challenge that I encounter on my journey here.

    Portrait von Lucie Froehlich

  • My name is Tommy Heefer and I’m from Holland. I’ve been dancing for a long time now. I started out as a hip hop dancer and then fell in love with contemporary dance. My favourite thing about dancing is being able to create something special and touching wherever and whenever I want with my own body. In Holland, I used to create my own choreographies together with other young dancers, but I think it’s time for a new experience. I look forward to working with the amazing choreographers and teachers here at ZHdK, and to meeting new dancers from all over the world.

    Portrait of Tommy Heeffer

  • Hi! My name is Alissa Kouzmenkov. I come from Australia, but I was born in New Zealand in 2004. I started classical ballet at the age of two and completed all my exams with a Level III and a Level IV Certificate in Dance. I was slowly introduced to contemporary dance in 2012, but I knew from the start that it was my calling. While I love the complexity, focus and beauty of classical ballet, contemporary dance allows me to explore everything that my body and the music has to offer. I am honored to be able to further my passion at ZHdK and excited to see what opportunities this adventure may hold for me.

    Portrait of Alissa Kouzmenkov

  • My name is Océane Lhomme and I was born in Paris in 2000. I’m an artist and a dancer. I first encountered dance when I took ballet lessons at the age of 5. I’ve discovered more and more dance techniques and movement methods over the years, but one of my favourite areas is somatic techniques. Now my focus is on contemporary dance, but I would also love to merge the aforementioned techniques with more urban dances, acting, singing...etc., which will enable me to open up to new fields. ZHdK is a wonderful place where I have space to develop as an artist and prepare to work as a professional dancer.

    Portrait of Océane Lhomme

  • Dance has been a part of my life since I was a teenager, and has given it greater meaning and focus. I can’t imagine a day without it. From 2017–2021, I completed my first BA in Urban and Contemporary Stage Dance at Tanzwerk101 in Zurich, and got to know the world of dance from a professional perspective as well. I’m now continuing my dance studies at ZHdK to improve my technique in classical dance, find my true artistic voice, and network in the dance theatre scene. I’m very grateful to have the chance to study here.

    Portrait of Ikenna Nwaogu

  • My name is Angelina and I was born in Geneva on 21.01.2003. After 8 years of rhythmic gymnastics, during which I was able to participate in the Swiss championships, I started dancing at Dance Area Geneva in a sports-art-study class. Then I had the opportunity to consolidate my school studies and dance at CFP arts Geneva, which offers professional training in interpretive dance with a focus on contemporary dance. After completing this 3-year qualification, I was very fortunate to gain a place here at ZHdK. I can’t wait to continue my training as a dancer.

    Portrait of Angelina Pico

  • Hi! My name is Gionata. I come from a small country village nestled in the Tuscan valleys in Italy. I started my studies at the age of 6; initially, I tried my hand at hip hop and then I threw myself headlong into ballet. At the age of 14, I moved to Livorno to study ballet and the Graham technique at Liceo Niccolini Palli. At the age of 16, I entered the Rudra Bejart Atelier in Lausanne, which eventually closed due to internal issues. I chose ZHdK because I want to broaden my knowledge of the world of contemporary dance and because I would like to experience new qualities of movement, and I think this is the right place to do that.

  • Hi, I’m Gioia Tartaglia and I was born in Pesaro, Italy, in 2003. I practiced rhythmic gymnastics for 8 years and then, at the age of 13, I discovered dance. I started studying ballet and a year later also contemporary dance. I studied in a dance school in Pesaro, and  in 2019/2020, I attended the AIDA dance school, in Milan. In 2019, I achieved the Advance 2 examination of R.A.D. with distinction. Since I’ve discovered dance, I’ve started feeling that my passion was growing and growing and now I can’t see my future without dance in it. I feel the desire to study, improve, work with different choreographers and come into contact with new aspects of the world of dance and now that I’m studying at the ZHdK, I have the opportunity to follow these dreams. I’ve always liked to get involved and face new challenges and experiences and now, I have the chance to grow not only as a dancer but also as an artist in general.

  • Hi! My name is Bas Van der Meulen. I love to entertain people, be on stage and provide the audience with a wonderful experience, and tell a story which touches their hearts. I’m a cheerful, fun-loving person. I’m creative, down-to-earth and hardworking. The musical Billy Elliot opened my eyes to the world of dance. I took theatre and singing classes and went on to study music education at The Dutch Academy of Performing Arts in the Netherlands. During the 3-year degree, I developed my singing, acting and dancing skills. There I discovered that I wanted to specialize in dance. What are my strengths? Writing lyrics for songs, playing instruments, singing, and expressing a myriad of emotions – I can go from ugly, to crazy, to sensitive, to vulnerable in a heartbeat. Finally, I enjoy dancing, mostly modern and ballet, but I really love jazz, such as Bob Fosse, tap and showdance.

    Portrait of Bas Van der Meulen

  • Hi! My name is Ricardo Vasquez. I was born in Merida, Mexico in 2003. I started dancing 3 years ago, mainly training in hip hop, but later I explored contemporary dance. I love this dance form because it allows me to express myself naturally with my body through movement. I’m excited to be studying at ZHdK as it gives me the opportunity to explore everything that contemporary dance has to offer, and learn different techniques at the same time.

    Portrait of Ricardo Vasquez