Students autumn semester 2022

  • Hi, my name is Alina and I’m from Switzerland. My mother always told me that I wanted to dance before I could even walk. I was allowed to attend my first dance class when I was four years old. I always dreamed of becoming a professional dancer. I’m happy to be able to come a little closer to my childhood dream at ZHdK and I’m looking forward to the time and the experiences that await me on the BA Contemporary programme.

    Portrait of Alina Aegerter

  • My name is Timo and I was born in 2000. Growing up, I played ice hockey for several years. At the age of 15, when I stopped playing ice hockey, I had to find a new hobby. I don’t really remember how exactly, but somehow I stumbled into a jazz dance class and that’s where my journey began. I really loved going to dance classes, so I went to more, explored new styles, tried to hone my technique and so on. Pretty soon I knew that it was not only a hobby, but dance had become my passion. So for now I keep on working on myself and gathering lots of new experiences with dance and people from all over the world.

    Portrait of Timo Andermatten

  • Labas! (“Hello” in Lithuanian). My name is Gabrielė Andziulytė and I was born on 25 April 2004 in in a small Baltic country called Lithuania. I started dancing when I was four years old and have never stopped since. I began with ballet, but after a while I shifted and started concentrating more on contemporary dance. Then I got into an arts school where I studied contemporary dance and since then I have known that I would like to connect my life with dance in a professional way. This is why I auditioned and, fortunately, got into ZHdK. I am really looking forward to digging deeper into the world of dance in all possible ways. For me dance is a dialogue between body and soul. This is the thing I love the most about it and I am looking forward to mastering the language of movement even better.

    Portrait of Gabrielė Andziulytė

  • Hi, my name is Emma Bas and I was born in a little town in Valencia, Spain. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been interested in art in many different ways and when I was little I was a really creative child, always painting, singing and, of course, dancing. My dance teachers always told me that I had so much energy in my small body, calling me “earthquake”. Over the years I’ve learned to invest that energy in dance and transform it into my passion and my career.

    Portrait ofEmma Bas Gonzales

  • Hi! I’m Mattia from Pescara in Italy. I was born in 2004 and – inspired by Michael Jackson – I started studying ballet when I was eight with the goal of building up the right technique for contemporary dance. At the age of 12, I also started studying contemporary, modern and hip hop at my school, Professione Danza Pescara. I met a lot of interesting and inspiring choreographers, teachers and other people and I took part in many international competitions. Now I’m happy to be joining ZHdK in order to get the preparation I need to enter the world of professional dance.

    Portrait of Mattia Belgiorno

  • Hi! My name is Ana Blattner and I was born and raised in Switzerland. I am 19 years old and was born in 2003. I've always enjoyed moving and trying out various disciplines. Via gymnastics and circus, I found my way to dance three years ago. I began to take lessons in contemporary dance at a private studio in Basel and a year later I also started taking ballet classes there. My passion grew and very suddenly I was aware of a future I knew I would love. I was very lucky to have Ana Lopez as my mentor. She helped me to achieve a great deal and guided me through this new world. I am over the moon to be able to study at ZHdK and very curious about the new experiences I will have and lessons I will learn. And for the future, I am very excited to dance on whichever stage the world has ready for me!

    Portrait of Ana Blattner

  • Hi everyone, my name is Irene, I was born in 2003 and I come from Jesi, a little village in Italy. I’ve been dancing since I was four and then at 15 I moved to Livorno to study at the AED. There I had the opportunity to visit and get to know the ZHdK Bachelor’s programme in Contemporary Dance, falling in love with the school. Here I am now, pursuing my dream as a dancer and a ZHdK student. I’m really glad to have the opportunity to study here, to be able to improve and to come into contact with all the possibilities that this school offers.

    Potrait of Irene Branchesi

  • Hi! My name is Giorgia Ceriotti. I was born in 2002 and I come from a small town near Milan, Italy. I’ve been dancing ballet since I was six years old, but at the age of 12 I discovered contemporary dance and I felt as if it had always been part of me. When I was a child one, of my dreams was to take a BA in Contemporary Dance to complete my studies. And now here I am at ZHdK to start my journey with passion and enthusiasm!

    Portrait of Giorgia Ceriotti

  • Hello! My name is Helena Gonçalves. I was born in 2003 in Lisbon, Portugal. My dance journey was, and continues to be, a crossroads of unique discoveries. I started my professional dance training in Lisbon. There I had classical dance and contemporary as main subjects, but also enjoyed doing jazz and hip hop. The artistic fulfilment dance can bring me is something that I explore in order to work on finding my purpose in this art form. In addition, the energy that comes from dancing every day feeds into my many other interests such as reading, yoga and Gyrotonic. Thanks to its professional design, the Bachelor’s programme feels like the ideal place for me to work on my challenges and deepen my training and, in this way, be able to join a professional dance company.

    Portrait of Helena Gonçalves

  • My name is Jane and I’m from Zurich. Creativity has always been a part of my life, whether it be through music, which I constantly listen to, or painting and drawing. But my favourite way of expressing myself is dance. I started dancing ballet when I was seven years old and later on discovered contemporary dance. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and having new experiences here at ZHdK and hope to discover more about myself, both within and outside of dance.

    Portrait of Jane Gotsmann

  • My name is Ginger Hobbs and I was born in Australia in 2004. I started studying ballet when I was four. As I got older, I was exposed to many styles but over time was drawn to contemporary dance. Whilst I love and respect the classical cannon, contemporary dance is a discipline that allows me to combine the intricacy and technical aspects of ballet with my own artistic practice. It offers the extension of my imagination and creative freedom. ZHdK is an institution I am inspired to be a part of. I feel it will allow me to evolve as both an artist and a person, and explore and celebrate my craft.

    Portrait of Ginger Hobbs

  • Hoi! I am Joëlle Hofmann and I come from Zurich. Ever since I was little I have been a storyteller and I like to describe dance as the very first language in which I learned to express my stories. A language that grew with me and has always accompanied me until today. I enjoyed my training in classical ballet, character dance and modern dance at the Ballettschule für das Opernhaus Zürich and am now thrilled to be able to continue my path at ZHdK, where I look forward to working with inspiring choreographers and teachers and to growing as a dancer and storyteller together with my fellow students.

    Portrait of Joëlle Hofmann

  • Hi! My name is Noa Köhler. I was born on 13 November 2004 and I’m from Zurich. Dance has been part of my life since I can remember. I was always dancing around everyone and I would drive my family crazy. So when I was five years old, my parents decided to send me to a ballet class. At the age of thirteen I discovered contemporary dance and fell in love with it. Since then my biggest dream has been to become a contemporary dancer. I’m fascinated by the infinite possibilities of movement contemporary dance allows me to discover. Being here now at ZHdK, making my dream come true, makes me the happiest person on earth!

    Portrait of Noa Köhler

  • Hello! My name is Sophie Larson and I come from the United States. I was born in 2003 and began dancing at the age of five, starting with ballet then venturing into jazz, contemporary, hip hop, etc. Dance and physical expression is something I have such a deep connection to and passion for, I find it hard to verbally express. Dance gives me a purpose, endless opportunities to better myself, and allows me to be vulnerable and connect with a diverse community of people. I am eager to immerse myself in the contemporary dance scene in Europe and am beyond grateful to start my training here at ZHdK!

    Portrait of Sophie Larson

  • Hey! My name is Sheang-Li and I’m from Biel in Switzerland. Growing up, I always had a connection to dance but one year before being accepted by ZHdK I discovered contemporary dance and that’s when I decided that I wanted to pursue dance as a career. I’m super grateful for the opportunity to study here at ZHdK. It pushes me to grow as an artist but also as a human being.

    Portrait of Sheang-Li Pung

  • Hello, my name is Gianluca Rodenghi and I come from Milan in Italy. I started dancing as a child with break dance and hip hop. It was only at the age of 14 that I discovered classical and contemporary dance. I got hooked on it and decided to dedicate myself to these new styles.
    ZHdK is the perfect place for me because I hope that one day dance will become my profession. I look forward to working with experienced teachers and choreographers from all over the world.

    Portrait of Gianluca Rodenghi

  • My name is Lucía Valero. I was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 2004 and have been dancing since I was three years old. I started dancing because my mother has a dance school. I studied dance at the Escola de Dansa Spin with my mother, but I also spent two years studying at the conservatory in Madrid. I am very excited to be studying at the ZHdK! I decided to audition here because I want to develop more and learn as much as possible.

    Portrait of Lucía Valero

  • Hello everyone. My name is Manon Veenstra and I was born in the Netherlands in 2004. Like many people here, I started dancing when I was really young (five years old). As soon as I knew it was possible to be a professional dancer and dance all day, this became my dream. Since that moment I have danced in many schools and performances. Being a Bachelor’s student at ZHdK is the next step on the path to making my dream come true. I really love learning from all the teachers, choreographers and, of course, my classmates. 

    Portrait of Manon Veenstra

  • Hi everyone, I’m Lucio Volcov and I’m Italian. Yes, my surname doesn’t sound Italian – in fact, my parents are Moldovan. If I should tell you who I am, I would have to say that I am one of the most sarcastic and sincere people you can know and this is also reflected in my way of dancing, which is energetic, sincere and funny. If you meet me don't be afraid to talk to me, because I know I have an apparently unfriendly face. I am very happy to be here ;) 

    Portrait of Lucio Volcov

  • Hey, I’m Lucy. I started dancing ballet when I was four. Eventually I started doing jazz, tap and contemporary with the idea of being a musical theatre performer. When I was 16, I moved to a ballet school in Sydney, Australia, where I further trained in ballet and contemporary, quickly falling in love with the idea of being in a dance company. It was there that I decided I wanted to train in contemporary dance while still working towards my Bachelor’s degree.

    Portrait of Lucy Woodhouse