3 Year Diploma Programme – Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School
The finest task of Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School is to support the international group of highly ambitious dancers who wish to develop their full potential, gain profound technical and artistic skills and knowlegde and attain a long and distinguished career as company- or freelance dancer and artist internationally.
This combination gives the students the opportunity to both immerse themselves in dance as a craft and to use Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School as a creative and network building point of departure for the future.
The goal of the 3-year Diploma Programme at CCDS is for the students to develop into highly skilled and aware dancers who can take full charge of their own development and handle their careers as professional dancers and artists for a long career in the future.
STRUCTURE OF A TYPICAL WEEK
In a typical week (Monday-Friday) students are expected to work 4-6 hours per day and dedicate 2 hours per day for individual optimisation of their body potential, research, management and for self-studies. Some weeks are dedicated fully to a workshop or rehearsals, others are organised as classes. During periods of productions at Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School, performances and rehearsals can take place in evenings and weekends.
Every school year the students take part in several public productions. Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School collaborates with a number of choreographers, cultural institutions and organisations. Collaborators are for example choreographers such as Gustavo Ramirez Sansano (ES), Roberto Scafati (IT/D), Jon Ole Olstad (N/D) and Tamas Moricz (HU/BE). To see more, please visit Teachers. Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School has performed at The National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen Music Theater, Ministry of Culture, Royal Cast Collection, Østre Gasværk Theatre, Royal Danish Ballet, Nimb in Tivoli, The National Museum, The Cisterns as well as a long list of site specific performances.
The Diploma Programme includes individual coaching and mentoring of the students to optimise their artistic and technical development to the fullest. CCDS has a strong focus on melting education in safe frames with reality and a strong focus on preparing the students the best possible way for the world they will most likely meet as a professional dancer. In this profession daily life working with different people of different ages, cultures, backgrounds and different experiences is a very realistic scenario.
Therefore, the students of CCDS will have a lot of classes together across the first, second and third years. It means a lot to us that the students feel responsible for their own development – we are here to guide the students both technically, artistically but definitely also in finding the most constructive and efficient learning process where they at the end are extremely independent. Working tasks and expectations depend on the level of experience of the individual student.
By the end of every semester (Winter and Summer) there will be an exam followed by individual feedback.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School is looking for dancers who have already achieved a solid technical experience in classical and contemporary dance and are ready to challenge themselves in order to develop their full potential.
To audition for the 3-year Diploma Programme is to audition for becoming part of an international ambitious team for 3 years. All the dancers support each other in developing their potential and skills to the fullest; through daily training, personal coaching and through performance periods. In the final semester, the dancers have the chance to specialise through individual apprentice periods with choreographers and companies.
Please read about the audition and application process here.
TEACHING LANGUAGE
The daily working language as well as all correspondence is in English.
We do not require any certificate confirming your language ability, but expect you to be able to follow instructions in English.
COURSE-RELATED EXPENCES
Students are expected to bring their own training clothes (indoor and outdoor use), shoes (indoor and outdoor use and running shoes), knee pads, and also nude and black underwear, nude and black socks and swimwear.
Point shoes can be used in some ballet classes when it is approved by the teachers. Point shoes are not required to participate in any classes.
Literature and material for Management, Anatomy & Physiology, Music and Dance History is partly found online, at public libraries and in some cases there are expenses related to literature, features on webpages and apps supporting the curriculum. Furthermore, the school can recommend apps to download for a small fee for educational purpose.
DIPLOMA
To obtain the final diploma students must pass the annual exams and pass the school year.
If absence exceeds 10%, a diploma will not be issued.
CLASSES AND SUBJECTS AT CCDS
SUBJECTS 1ST YEAR
Ballet
Contemporary
Repertoire
Improvisation
Rehearsals
Performance practice; incl. work with choreographers & public performances
Partnering
Personal Coaching & mentoring
Optimising Training
Composition, with a focus on solo work
Complementary subjects & workshops:
Anatomy & physiology, closely connected to Optimising Training
Dance History & Music
Acrobatics
Voice Training
SUBJECTS 2ND YEAR
Ballet
Contemporary
Repertoire
Improvisation
Rehearsals
Performance practice; incl. work with choreographers & public performances
Partnering
Personal Coaching & mentoring
Optimising Training
Composition, with a focus on solo work
Complementary subjects & workshops:
Research
Management
Voice Training
Acrobatics
SUBJECTS AND APPRENTICE PERIOD 3RD YEAR
Ballet
Contemporary
Rehearsals
Repertoire
Improvisation
Performance practice; incl. work with choreographers & public performances
Communication & Audience relations
Personal coaching & mentoring
Composition focused on solo work
Webpage creation & management
Filming of solo for audition
Optimising Training
Acrobatics
Possibility of apprentice period and individual specialisation
The complementary workshops are supported by self-studies of curriculum and connected to the daily practical work.
COURSE FEE
The total education fee for the 3-year Diploma Programme 2023/2026 is 152,000 DKK to be paid in six instalments.
Payment for the first year:
The first instalment of 20,000 DKK is due to be paid 2 weeks after acceptance.
The second instalment of 20,000 DKK is due to be paid May 25th 2023.
The third instalment of 17,000 DDK is to be paid November 25th 2023.
Payment for the second year:
The fourth instalment of 40,000 DKK is due to be paid March 25th 2024.
The fifth instalment of 17,000 DDK is to be paid November 25th 2024.
Payment for the third year:
The sixth instalment of 38,000 DKK is due to be paid March 25th 2025.
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
More information and to apply at: https://www.cph-dance.com/3-year-diploma-programme/