Course content and structure

Course content

You expand your knowledge by specializing in teaching skills within your own area of dance. You reflect on a range of dance techniques and engage with historical and contemporary choreographic concepts. Communicating and teaching in the training and rehearsal process are also part of the programme. Artistic research plays an important role, particularly as a reflection of your own teaching profile and its implementation.

Master Dance Project

Course structure.

The programme consists of seven modules (Dance Reflection, Communication, Inbetween Arts, Project One, Choreography Practice/Teaching Practice, Artistic Investigation, Graduation project). 

Module area 1: Dance Reflection

The module ‘Dance Reflection’ focuses on the reflection of dance history and various choreographic and dance-related technical concepts. Through reconstructions, performance analysis and lecture demonstrations, various styles and genres are compared and closely examined. Methods of artistic research are discussed and learned. Visits to theatre performances are part of the programme. Practical knowledge about the body and body perception techniques are also discussed. The focus is on the reflection of one’s own artistic work.

Module area 2: Communication

The module ‘Communication’ teaches communicative skills such as conversation management and feedback methods. Additionally, the module teaches students rehearsal direction, production management, and marketing of one’s own work: self-management, company management, aspects of marketing, as well as planning, organizing, and financing of artistic projects and companies are discussed. 

Module area 3: Inbetween Arts 

This module addresses artistic topics that follow an interdisciplinary approach. Experts from various disciplines teach a topic from different perspectives. 

Module area 4: Project One

In this module, students are running rehearsals and training sessions for a choreographic project with public presentation. In teams of two (Major in “Choreography“ and Major “Teaching and Rehearsing Dance Professionals”), students develop a short choreography, that is presented to the public. 

Module area 5: Teaching Practice

This module focuses on teaching dance and its practical application. It deals with various pedagogical methods, dance techniques, choreographic processes and their transmission, which are implanted in practice. The focus is on the analysis of training and rehearsal, as well as the examination of the working methods of renowned choreographers who are invited to the module as guest lecturers. In addition, practical exercises in the form of teaching samples with feedback are provided.  

Module area 6: Artistic Investigation 

This module offers the opportunity to carry out an internship in an institutional or independent company. However, this module can also serve as a research phase, in which students work intensively on a project or the development of their teaching profile within a specified time frame. 

Module area 7: Graduation project

This module includes the Implementation of a demonstration lecture with a public presentation and the completion of a Master’s thesis. 

Skills

Skills acquired in the course.

You are empowered to develop your own teaching profile and position yourself in the dance field as a training and rehearsal director. You will be able to conduct trainings and rehearsals on a professional dance level and accompany choreographers in the artistic process. You can lead creative processes in planning and implementation.  You position your own working areas in research contexts, organize and market your own work, and are able to tap into funding sources.

Admissions requirements.

The target group for the Master’s Major in “Teaching and Rehearsing Dance Professionals” are trained classical and contemporary dancers and dance professionals with professional experience who would like to expand their artistic profile and qualify for work as training and rehearsal directors. 

Admissions requirements are regulated In the Study and Examination Regulations (StO).

Benefits of studying at ZHdK.

The Master’s Major in “Teaching and Rehearsing Dance Professionals” provides you with a broad national and international network during your studies. With a focus on professional dance, you will work at a high level of technical proficiency and lead training and rehearsal sessions. In addition, the programme responds to current trends in understanding choreography, rehearsal, and training by providing you with the opportunity to reflect on and rethink your own dance practice, aesthetics and processes. 
Interdisciplinary projects and collaborations take place especially with the departments of music, theatre and film. Various dance companies and dance houses of the city and state theatre companies as well as the independent scene serve as cooperation partners of the Master’s Major in “Teaching and Rehearsing Dance Professionals” providing a broad network to facilitate integration into the professional world.