Study programme
Codarts dancers are well-trained, open-minded, healthy, creative and innovative dance artists. Our programme is set up to allow our graduates a choice in which direction they wish to follow their professional path in dance.
Study programme
The content of our program aims to educate young talented students to become top level contemporary dance artists. Craftmanship, technique, autonomy, creativity, individuality and artistic expression make up the foundation from which to set goals, accept challenges and make choices. Codarts provides a program in which tradition and current developments are equally valuable and embodied craftmanship is as much encouraged as the search for creativity and adventure. A continuous search for development by pushing boundaries is guided by a strong awareness of health. The program enables the student to take responsibility for their own development encouraged by a team of renowned teachers and choreographers.
Performances that the students will participate in during the studies are important educational moments, in which all elements come together. Performing is therefore the backbone of the curriculum.
We feel privileged to work and educate students within a dynamic and international context in which many performances, internships, tours and many contacts in the international professional field make up a stimulating setting.
The curriculum of our 4 year program is categorized into 4 clusters
- Dancer/Performer
- Maker/Performer
- Contextual studies
- Professional/Entrepreneur
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Year 1
The main focus point within the first study year is for the new students to build up and broaden their technical and physical abilities including their strength and endurance. There are daily Ballet classes and various Modern dance technique classes such as Graham, Laban based classes and Floorwork.
Within the module Performance Creative Skills, creative tools and thinking are being offered and stimulated through various assignments and classes such as Improvisation and Drama. Other subjects like Conditioning classes, Yoga, Artistic Research and theoretical classes such as Dance History and Music theory are part of the weekly schedule. The first steps towards working with choreographers and towards creation in general are being made and the students will perform a Marta Graham show with original Marta Graham Repertoire.
For the (mostly international) new students arriving in Rotterdam we offer a side program called Living in Rotterdam (LIR). It provides various workshops in order for the new students to get to know each other and to make them feel at home at Codarts and within the city of Rotterdam. Additionally through LIR the new students gain certain skills and knowledge, needed to manage themselves from a practical point of view within their daily lives.
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Year 2
During the second year students continue to improve technical and artistic skills. Ballet classes, Cunningham technique, Contextual studies, Drama, Improvisation and Artistic Research will continue to be part of the weekly schedule. Students continue to work on strength, endurance and body awareness through Conditioning classes and Pilates.
Both for Ballet and Contemporary techniques more classes are taught by guest teachers. Coming from the professional work field these teachers bring a variety of new approaches and styles and therefor are an added value towards the solid technical base the students gained and the artistic skills they start to embody.
In the second year a variety of inspiring workshops and projects are offered and students will create own work in the form of a Youth Production. At last the students will start to work with guest choreographers and broaden their repertoire. Performance opportunities are rising and students will perform more often and in various settings and venues. The repertoire for the Codarts Dance Company tour that will take place during the 3rd year is being built.
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Year 3
Our third year students form The Codarts Dance Company and tour with the program ‘Talent on the Move’, in and outside The Netherlands. Over the past seasons Codarts students performed in Canada, Italy, Poland, France and the USA (NYC). Organizing partner of this annual tour is The Holland Dance Festival. All supporting classes are thought by guest teachers. Next to daily Ballet classes the students are exposed to a variety of Contemporary techniques and improvisation classes. Artistic research and the creation and showing of own work in various settings and contexts ensures that, next to the daily training and the frequent performances, the 3rd year student is getting ready for an internship within a professional company. Internship auditions will take place during the third year.
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Year 4
During the fourth year students are ‘on internship’ and no longer in ‘the Codarts house’. Over the past seasons students followed internship programs in companies such as; Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, NDT2, Conny Janssen Danst, Introdans, TanzMainz, Gotebrog Operans Danskompani, Ballet National De Marseille, Ballet Basel, Bern Ballet, Grand theatre De Geneva and many others.
Students are on internship for the full season while still being connected to and supported by the Codarts team. At the end of the season students will do their final exam in both Ballet and Contemporary techniques. A self-created solo and a pitch are also part of the final exams. During the fourth year and while being on internship students create their own website stating the professional artists they have become and showing ready ness to enter the professional field of dance.
After graduation
Codarts dancers are well-trained, open-minded, healthy, creative and innovative dance artists. Our programme is set up to allow our graduates a choice in which direction they wish to follow their professional path in dance.
Many of our alumni have found a job with a dance company, for example: Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, NDT, Conny Janssen Danst, Club Guy & Roni, Nanine Linning, Cullberg Ballet, Norrdans. Other graduates have become active participants in the freelance circuit and work with choreographers such as Samir Calixto, Krisztina De Chatel, Marina Mascarell, Joerie Dubbe and Sagi Gross. Some graduates start their own collective or practise jobs in other dance-related professions.
Nanine Linning (graduation year 1998), choreographer
‘Nowadays the Vincent van Goghs of this world – those who do only one thing, which is create good art – can no longer survive. Today, you have to create good art and be just flat out active on social media as well.