Direction

Head of Dance

Jason Beechey

In September 2023, the ZHdK Executive Board appointed Jason Beechey as Head of Dance at ZHdK following a public tender. He is responsible for the Zurich Dance Academy (taZ), Bachelor Contemporary Dance and Master Dance programs. He will officially take up his position on 1 August, 2024.

Jason Beechey is the former rector of Palucca University of Dance Dresden, which offers a broad spectrum of programmes in dance, choreography, and dance education. Born in Canada, his work focuses on creative learning and the possibility to grow individually – according to one’s own profile. After his dance training in Canada and in the USA, Jason Beechey danced and worked in London, Belgium and France, among other places in Europe. He was the artistic director of the 2014 Dance Education Biennale as well as a member of the artistic committee of the Prix de Lausanne for many years. 

Jason Beechey was a member of the taZ interim management team from 2022 - 2024. 

Jason Beechey

    Operations Manager

    Sandra Nussberger

    Sandra Nussberger received her training in modern and contemporary dance at the Iwanson School in Munich, after which she appeared in several productions directed by Jenny Coogan. She was “artiste choréographic” at Molteni’s in Zurich, under the artistic direction of Philipp Egli.

    Between 1997 and 2005, Sandra Nussberger worked as a guest instructor for professional contemporary dance and a freelance choreographer; her projects received private and public funding.

    Until 2007, she taught contemporary dance at Zurich Dance Academy, and she was head of the MAS Dance Education at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) from 2006–2011.

    She has been the operations manager and part of the management of Zurich Dance Academy since 2009.

    Sandra Nussberger was a member of the taZ interim management team from 2022 until 2024. 

    Sandra Nussberger

      Programme coordination

      Àkos Sebestyén

      Àkos Sebestyén has been teaching classical dance, pas de deux and variations at the Zurich Dance Academy since 2009. He studied at the National Dance and Fine Arts School in Hungary and at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg. In addition, Àkos Sebestyén completed a Master of Advanced Studies in dance pedagogy at ZHdK. He had engagements at Györi Ballet, Vienna State Opera and as a soloist at Zurich Ballet. During his professional career he has collaborated with numerous personalities from the dance world. His repertoire includes classical, neoclassical, modern and contemporary pieces. He is also active as a choreographer, jury member and guest lecturer at various competitions, ensembles and schools.

      Àkos Sebestyén was a member of the taZ interim management team from 2022 until 2024. 

      [Translate to English:] Àkos Sebestyén

        Development & Projects

        Kristina Trolle

        Kristina Trolle is a scholar in communication and film studies. She studied at the Berlin University of the Arts and taught at the Departement of Film Studies at University of Zurich. At ZHdK, Kristina Trolle teaches seminars on media theory, cultural marketing and project management in Art Education (Bachelor and Master programme). Kristina Trolle has been the quality manager of the Department of Performing Arts and Film (DDK) since 2021. She is responsible for quality development at DDK and a member of the Quality Development Committee at ZHdK.

        Kristina Trolle was a member of the taZ interim management team from 2022 until 2024. 

        Kristina Trolle