Academy of Theatre and Dance Theatre

TechniekTechnical enTheatre Theater - 2828 ScenografieScenography 24 AssociateArts - Associate Degree Degree Academy of Theatre and Dance

ProductieProduction PodiumkunstenPodiumkiunsten and Stage Management 2222

TheaterdocentTheatre in Education Verkort 1818 Abbreviated

2 Dance Academy of Theatre and Dance

National Ballet Academy Urban Contemporary (JMD) 42 46

Modern Theatre 44 5 O’Clock Class 52 Dance

School for New Dance 48 Development (SNDO)

Dance in Education 50

DAS Choreography 60

1 Creative team Techniek en Theater 26

Regie Opleiding 20

Uitvoerenden Amsterdamse Toneelschool &Kleinkunstacademie 12

Makers Mime Opleiding 14

Docenten Theaterdocent 16

Masters DAS Theatre 58 Theater

Techniek en Theater - 28 Scenografie 24 Associate Degree Academy of Theatre and Dance

Productie Podiumkunsten 22

Theaterdocent Verkort 18

1 Nine reasons to study at the Academy of Theatre and Dance Academy of Theatre and Dance The Academy of Theatre and Dance (formerly de Theaterschool) is the Netherlands’ premier training school for all theatre and dance disciplines at bachelor and master’s degree level. As a student, you are the star of our show: we’ve built our courses to service your artistic talent, your ambitions and your dreams. Here are nine reasons why you should study with us.

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1 We’re one of a kind!

Our academy is the only one of its kind in the Netherlands: we are the only theatre and dance academy in the country with all disciplines and relevant resources under one roof. Students from fifteen specialisms can meet and inspire one another here, break new ground and challenge conventional thinking. They can collaborate and feed each other’s ideas, learn and take courage from one another – and bring new ideas to life in the process.

2 Learn from exceptional, experienced teachers

You’ll learn your craft from the most accomplished teachers and guest instructors, all of whom are practicing professio- nals themselves. You’ll also get to work with international artists-in-residence. You’ll have passionate professionals nurturing your creativity and craftsmanship, gearing your training to the constantly evolving artistic world. How do you transform your ideas into remarkable productions? By giving yourself a solid foundation upon which to build and keep building for life.

3 3 Learn at the heart of Dutch cultural life

The Academy of Theatre and Dance is located in the centre Academy of Theatre and Dance of the vibrant and open-minded city of Amsterdam, so you’ll be studying right at the heart of Dutch cultural life. We maintain close ties with leading theatres and theatre and dance companies. They include Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Frascati Theatre, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam and its in-house theatre company Toneelgroep Amsterdam, Dansmakers, Ro Theatre, Eastman/Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Club Guy & Roni, enabling you to build a useful network before you even graduate.

4 Learn in a open atmosphere & in an open-minded community

Our vibrant, international academy offers an environment in which everyone is free to dream, think and create, where ideas flow freely and diversity is the norm. We are an open- source academy, an academy where independent minded people can develop as artists. It’s a creative hub where students challenge each other, help each other to flourish, excel and reach their highest potential.

5 Create together

A creative hub doesn’t just happen by itself. Here at the academy, you’ll be a member of interdisciplinary creative teams working on exciting productions. Working in teams, future professional actors, performers, directors, dancers, choreographers, set and costume designers, producers, technical producers and lighting and sound designers inspire one another to create the most spectacular work. Your team members during your time here will form a valuable professional network for life.

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6 Access to the very best facilities

The school is purpose-built for theatre and dance training. Students here put on no fewer than 400 dance and theatre productions each year, and you’ll find all the facilities you need to realize your artistic ambitions – in professionally equipped studios, a large theatre, a dance theatre and several rehearsal studios. You’ll have full access to the costume workshop, scenery workshop, visual media department, the production bureau and the technical department. They are ready and waiting to help you carry out your artistic plans.

7 Plenty of hands-on experience

You’ll acquire a wealth of practical experience during your time here. Some of it you’ll get working on the many pro- ductions you’ll be involved in – often under the supervision of a guest director or choreographer. And then there are the collaborative cross-disciplinary projects in which you will work as an actor, dancer, theatre director, producer, technical producer or designer. And, finally, during your internship, you will get down to the real practical workings of your discipline.

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8 Develop your creative entrepreneurship

Working in the performing arts means working in a con- stantly evolving field. That’s why the Academy of Theatre and Dance gives you a solid foundation as a cultural entre- preneur. We teach you to recognise opportunities, to under- stand the importance of collaborating with other specialists as well as how to seek and choose who to work with, and to create and develop your own sphere of work. This foun- dation will equip you to make lasting contributions to the performing arts after you graduate.

9 You’ll work with the very latest digital tools

At our IDlab (Interdisciplinary Digital Lab) you’ll be intro- duced to the latest digital equipment, so you can work with tools such as 360-degree video and virtual and augmented reality. You’ll have plenty of freedom to experiment with new techniques and explore the possibilities they hold for you. The lab is run by the internationally renowned artistic duo of Quirine Racké and Helena Muskens, pioneers in the field of digital and interdisciplinary art.

6 Would you like to know more? Motivation and selection

This brochure provides brief summaries When you choose to become a of all the study programmes we offer at professional in the performing arts, the Academy of Theatre and Dance. you are choosing a way of life. Talent is The brochure is divided into three essential, of course, but you also need to parts: dance, theatre and the master’s love your discipline with a passion and Academy of Theatre and Dance programmes. If you’d like to know more want to do nothing else! The Academy about any of the courses, please join us of Theatre and Dance is committed to at one of our open days. Or else come maintaining an exceptionally high level to see one of our student productions of professionalism. For this reason we to get a sense of the atmosphere at the admit only the best and most highly Academy of Theatre and Dance. motivated students. Want to know more Please visit www.atd.amsterdam for about the selection process? Then visit more information about the courses, us at www.atd.amsterdam. open days and productions.

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Graduation performance WIND3 concept and scenography: Ruben Wijnstok light design: Tim van ‘t Hof choreography: Melvin Fraenk production: Vera Menheere

9 Theatre study programmes Theatre in the broadest sense Academy of Theatre and Dance

Are you part of the new generation of actors and theatre makers? The Academy of Theatre and Dance prepares actors for repertory theatre, theatre companies and groups, musical theatre, film and television dramas, and mime and cabaret theatre. Your teachers will be leading theatre makers who bring their experience in the field into the school. Your training at the Academy of Theatre and Dance will expose you to every facet of theatre.

10 Study programmes

Drama & Contemporary Music Theatre Mime School Theatre in Education Theatre in Education Abbreviated Theatre Directing Production and Stage Management Academy of Theatre and Dance Scenography Technical Theatre Arts Technical Theatre Arts – Associate Degree

4 years full-time

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education

senior secondary vocational education (mbo-4), senior general secondary education (havo), pre-university education (vwo), diploma and selections procedure

Creative team: the artistic link Theatre teacher in the performing arts Artistic dreams become reality by working Our Theatre in Education bachelor degree together as a team, and by engaging with the programme focuses on making theatre world around you. The creative people who productions with amateur performers. The come up with the idea for a theatre or dance programme also places great emphasis production and make it happen – the directors, on developing students’ mastery of the creative producers, technical producers and craft and teaching skills. Theatre teachers designers – unite around a shared vision, or work with pupils at primary and secondary are drawn together by a creative force. These schools, dance and theatre schools and with professionals acquire skills and experience amateur companies. They create educational by completing their training in Theatre and community projects and work with Directing, Production and Stage Management, youngsters from different cultures and all Technical Theatre Arts and Scenography. layers of society. Together they form the creative team and the artistic link between the idea, design, staging, performance and the audience.

11 Drama and Contemporary Music Theatre Connect with your audience, move people, get them thinking. Join the Drama and Contemporary Music

Academy of Theatre and Dance Theatre (ATKA) programme and you will learn to act and sing, and meet talented young students like yourself from other departments in the academy. We’ll help you develop into a versatile, creative, musical and entrepreneurial actor or cabaret artist.

Versatile professionals You’ll go to museums and concerts, and find At the Drama and Contemporary Music your way in art and music of all kinds. Theatre programme, we challenge students to We will challenge you to find inspiration in achieve their full potential as a performer and politics and society, on the internet, in film to develop into a committed, creative, musical and television, in games and virtual reality, actor. You’ll be equipped to perform in plays, in literature, on blogs and Twitter, through musicals and cabaret, in film and television journalism, and more. You will learn to think – or in theatre sketches and cabaret shows of independently, to draw on your own resources your own. You’ll learn how to combine physical and apply your own creativity. Obviously, an action with vocal performance, and to perform open and inquisitive mind is essential. not only for the camera, but with the camera, too. You’ll get training from our in-house and A professional network for life guest teachers who are themselves practicing This is the only acting course in the Nether- professionals who know their discipline lands that shares its roof with courses in every inside out. You’ll learn to sing, compose and other discipline in the field of professional write your own lyrics and dialogue. You’ll theatre and dance. This is a huge advantage train in our professional sound studios where for our students because it forces them to look we’ll encourage you to experiment with the beyond the boundaries of their own field. You’ll latest digital and technological tools in our get to work with talented young directors, Interdisciplinary Digital Lab. You will broaden production managers, set designers, dancers, your horizons in so many ways. And you’ll be mime artists, and lighting and sound design- training in Amsterdam, where cultural delights ers. You will also collaborate with students are right on your doorstep! So you’ll see lots of from the Film Academy next door. These joint shows, some by the big local and international projects will help you build a valuable network companies, others by more recently estab- for your future career before you’ve even lished, small-scale and experimental ones. graduated.

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Graduation performance Fort Europa, after Tom Lanoye

The study programme Career perspectives 1st and 2nd year: the foundations of your craft Our graduates are multifaceted, creative, • The first year is devoted to your develop- musical and entrepreneurial actors and ment as an actor and to honing your cabaret artists working in theatre, film and musical skills. television, musicals and cabaret. Some, like • You work on your technique and craft, get Alex Klaasen, create and perform in their acquainted with the age-old rules of per- own theatre sketches and cabaret shows. formance, and study text-based theatre, Others have established theatre or cabaret improvisation and on-camera acting. groups of their own, such as de Vliegende • You study the ancient and modern history Panters and the Mugmetdegoudentand of theatre and the other arts, new media, theatre group. Famous graduates include the film and television. actors Carice van Houten, Beau Schneider, • You get challenged to create, and you Rosa da Silva and Maarten Heijmans. learn to write and compose. • You reflect on your progress and develop Admission and selection your personal commitment to your craft. We admit about 20 applicants each year. Please visit our website for more information 3rd and 4th year: your chosen specialisation about the selection process. From your third year onwards, your training will be tailored to meet your specific needs and chosen specialisation. These activities will run in parallel with your compulsory classes. You will also mount your own ‘Penetrate into people’s souls with pro­duction. In your fourth year you transi- beauty and cause a momentary shift, tion to practical experience. You may either no matter how small and awkward.’ do an internship on a major production or Jan Zoet, director of the gain experience via some other activity to Academy of Theatre and Dance prepare you for your career after graduation.

13 Graduation performance Our House, direction: Boogaerdt/VanderSchoot

Mime School

Everything begins with movement! The Mime School is not about pretending; it’s about being. We teach you to analyse and understand body language and apply it theatrically in your own unique manner. Technique alone is boring. This is why we help you to develop as a distinctive mime artist and theatre maker with exceptional physical awareness and a unique personal style.

14 Movement, space and image theatre makers, directors, choreographers, The Mime School will teach you everything visual artists and video artists. you need to know about the basic elements of mime: movement, space and image. You 3rd and 4th year: focus on individual will learn to tune your performance to achieve development specific visual effects – and how they are In your third and fourth years of study, likely to affect an audience. You will develop you will do internships and work on a your personal body language based on mime group performance (with guidance from a Academy of Theatre and Dance corporel, a theory of movement that analyses theatre director). In this period individual the postures, actions and movements of the development and specialisation take on human body to exploit the potential of the a greater and greater emphasis, and your theatrical context. training is tailored accordingly. Research plays a central role in this course, both in the acting lessons and in creating Career perspectives stage work. By the end of your studies you will Our mime graduates either work indepen- have mastered the techniques and principles dently or combine independent productions of mime and incorporated your knowledge and with collaborations with mime companies. skills into your artistic vision. You will be self- Others are members of theatre or dance critical, disciplined and equipped to combine companies, while some work in television your strong analytical skills with fearless and film. Companies that count our former experimentation. Essentially, you will have graduates as members include Jakop become an independent, well-trained mime Ahlbom, Boogaerdt/VanderSchoot, Golden artist and theatre maker with a distinctive, Palace, Schwalbe and Schweigman&. personal style. Admission and selection The study programme Do you have an independent approach The mime and acting classes are the core to work while still being able to function subjects of your training. These are sup- effectively in teams? These are essential plemented with lessons in dance, chi kung, criteria, as is a physique that’s naturally acrobatics, yoga, music, vocal development, suited to this very physical form of theatre. singing, posture correction and movement We admit no more than 10 applicants each composition. You will also study dramaturgy year. Please visit our website for more and the history of mime, theatre, visual arts, information about the selection process. music theory and philosophy. ‘Our mime graduates are known for the 1st and 2nd year: the foundations of craft physical, visual and spatial qualities of their In your first year you will follow a regular acting, along with their individuality and schedule of classes and training sessions, passion for experimentation. This is why the and prepare a solo performance. The second Mime School attracts students from all over year includes two projects besides your the Netherlands and abroad.’ schedule of mandatory classes and training. The projects will work with renowned Loes van der Pligt, artistic director of the Mime School

15 Theatre in Education

Would you like to create theatre productions with people of all ages, from different cultures and all walks of life? Learn how to do exactly that by joining our Academy of Theatre and Dance Theatre in Education study programme. On completion you will be a versatile theatre maker with a compre- hensive teaching qualification (Bachelor of Education). We will teach you how to make theatre – and how to train others to do the same. You’ll learn how to design courses and workshops, conceive projects and direct.

Entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary groups and cultural and educational institu- We see theatre as a place to come together, a tions, both in the Netherlands and abroad, vantage point from where you can examine for example in Belgium, Curacao, China, the world, a place for newcomers and long- Suriname, England, Germany, Indonesia, term enthusiasts alike. At the Theatre in Turkey and North America. Education study programme you will become a unique, versatile theatre maker and a drama The study programme teacher with a comprehensive teaching 1st and 2nd year: the foundations of qualification. You’ll discover all the possibili- your craft ties theatre making has to offer. • Develop your talent and ability as a We teach students how to be entrepreneurial maker, actor and spatial designer. theatre makers with one aim in life: to get • Expand your analytical skills, increasing people moving! Connect the issues of our your capacity for theoretical reflection time to current events and your passion for and developing your vision. theatre. By the time you graduate you will • Classes and workshops in a range of have your own unique perspective on theatre core subjects: mime, theatre making, and art education. You will conceive artistic directing, spatial design (lighting, projects and understand how to navigate the decor, costume, video), music, acting vast field of professional theatre. You will learn and theatre pedagogy, vocal training/ to recognise and take advantage of opportu- singing, dance, theory of modern and nities within and beyond the artistic sector. classical theatre, dramaturgy, repertoire, We take a decidedly interdisciplinary theatre history and theatre orientation. approach, whether we’re making plays, • Extensive practical assignments will teaching classes or giving workshops. We develop you craft in the areas of acting, work closely with a variety of schools, theatre theatre orientation and theatre making.

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Voor hen die bang zijn, regie: Gerbrand Bos

3rd and 4th year: developing your artistry Career perspectives and pedagogic theatre skills Graduates from the Theatre in Education • Making plays with a variety of group study programme have gone on to work in types. arts education or as independent theatre • Working with actors to put together makers and cultural entrepreneurs. They your own production, just as previous work as theatre teachers, CKV teachers in graduates Priscilla Vaudelle and Tim cultural and artistic education, and arts co- van den Heuvel did with LostProject, the ordinators in primary and secondary schools Tolhuistuin’s resident theatre company. and in institutions of higher education. Some • Internships at educational institutions, have become teaching theatre makers at theatre companies and festivals, such as theatre companies, educational institutions, Ro Theater and Maas Theater en Dans. and commercial and community art centres. • At the beginning of your fourth year, you will devise your own graduation plan comprising several components: ‘”Theatre maker” is an absolutely beauti- an interdisciplinary project based on ful job description; it’s all-embracing. The spatial design, a community art/theatre . Theatre in Education study programme project, an educational theatre project, shows you how to inhabit your role as a a graduation show, organising and theatre maker. And to do this successfully, programming our own annual Take it is essential to know how to communicate Off festival, writing an essay or artistic and take people on a journey, no matter what project plan, and developing your own their age.’ website and portfolio. Tanya Hermsen, artistic director of the Theatre in • You will complete at least one of the Education study programme components abroad.

17 Theatre in Education - Abbreviated Training for professionals

Are you a professional actor, director, mime artist or Academy of Theatre and Dance performer who would like to work with untrained per- formers? You can do precisely that by joining our two- year Theatre in Education study programme for gradu- ates. You will graduate as teaching theatre maker with a comprehensive teaching qualification (Bachelor of Education). We will teach you to make plays with people of all ages, from different cultures and all walks of life, whether within or outside the formal education system.

Learn while working Teaching theatre maker and artistic The programme is very practice-oriented. initiator Our philosophy is: ‘Learn while working; The study programme prepares you for two work while learning’. This approach allows roles: teaching theatre maker and artistic you to combine your own professional initiator. practice and your studies. We use teaching • As a teaching theatre maker, you intertwine practices such as coaching, buddy systems artistry and knowledge transmission. and peer reviews. We also make provisions In this role, you shape artistic ideas and for your own research and experimentation. execute them in a variety of locations and We teach students how to be entrepreneurial educational situations for the benefit of theatre makers with one aim in life: to get various types of audience. people moving! Connect the issues of our • As an artistic initiator, you recognise and time to current events and your passion take opportunities. You initiate and set up for theatre. By the time you graduate you projects in a variety of fields, attract relevant will have your own unique perspective partners and make connections. on theatre and art education. You will conceive artistic projects and understand The study programme how to navigate the vast field of professional Every Monday and over five weekends each theatre. You will learn to recognise and year, you will attend classes and workshops take advantage of opportunities within and at the Academy of Theatre and Dance. You beyond the artistic sector. will also apply your knowledge and practice your skills in real work environments.

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Location project in Amsterdamse Bos

Under certain circumstances your own pro- education. Others are drama teachers, cultural fessional practice may qualify as a venue. and art education teachers, art coordinators or The two-year study programme comprises cultural entrepreneurs, or else teaching theatre ten blocks (five per year). Each block in the makers in theatre associations or theatre com- first year is supervised by a different ‘artis- panies, educational institutions, or commercial tic owner’. These ‘owners’ are professionals or community art centres. who define the structure and content of their block with a permanent team from the Academy of Theatre and Dance. You will ‘Wherever there’s disunity, you need individu- learn to create with children, teenagers, als – skilled communicators – who know how adults and special target groups using the to find what connects people. They are the ones table-and-stage principle (tafel en vloer who understand how to clarify a problem by the principe). You will also be taught how to simple re-enactment of a parable, for instance, create interdisciplinary work and to create or with a role-playing exercise; who have a light on-site work, among other things. You will touch when it comes to weighty issues; who be asked to volunteer examples from your can think in playful mosaics of collaboration own professional practice as topics for dis- and communication; and enjoy themselves cussion and analysis in the theory classes. while doing all that. These skilled connectors and communicators often blend pedagogy with Career perspectives a whole array of arts idioms, consolidating soft Some of our graduates have set up their own power with a firm but light-hearted touch.’ theatre companies; some work in primary or Loek Zonneveld, theatre critic and secondary schools, or in institutions of higher teacher at Theatre in Education

19 Theatre Directing

Do you have the urge to create, and to express your personal vision and artistry? At the Theatre Directing study programme you will learn how to Academy of Theatre and Dance use the medium of theatre to nurture and articulate your unique voice and interests. And you’ll work with your creative team to give true expression to the topics and themes that grip your imagination. Our motto is ’Anything goes, as long as it’s good’.

What will you learn? actors? What sort of impact can the location In your heart you’re already a director – or the audience have on your material? How nobody can really make you one. You feel should you get the most of non-theatrical driven to create an outlet for your personal spaces? How should you go about directing for stories and convictions. Your art demands it of non-theatregoers? you. What the Theatre Directing programme You will learn how to establish your own work- will do is reach right into your artistic core and ing culture, and how to get your creative team challenge you to examine, question, nurture to share ownership of your vision and core and express those things that grip your ideas so that they give their full creative input. imagination, and to shape your artistic vision. You’ll learn to speak the language of designers, You will share and stay true to that vision with playwrights and actors, to inspire your team your team of designers, technicians and actors and take them along on your artistic journey in order to bring your ideas to life. so that what you make together truly repre- The objective of this four-year programme is sents your vision. You’ll motivate and manage to prepare you to think big, and it equips you without losing sight of the big picture. with a matrix you can apply on any scale, be it through an opera, a musical, musical theatre, a The study programme choreography, an exhibition, a performance, a Our study programme is like a ‘theatre lecture or any other medium. house’ where students from different Your training will impart an understanding of disciplines and at different stages are various interdisciplinary creative processes: learning together. The programme itself How can you combine sound and music, or is designed to be flexible, so that it can be images and the human body, to the best adapted to address what’s important to effect? What’s the best way of managing you and what the theatre world considers and engaging with singers, musicians and relevant, controversial or innovative. You conductors, or with dancers, mime artists and will learn to work as part of a creative team

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Graduation performance Hamlet, direction: Espen Hjort that includes students from Scenography, Career perspectives Production and Stage Management and Our graduate directors work in the Technical Theatre Arts. You will be taught professional theatre world, in large and by both highly-regarded veterans of the established repertory companies and theatre and rising stars, such as: Erik in smaller start-ups – in genres such as Whien, Marien Jongewaard (Nieuw West), movement theatre, musical theatre, and Paul Koek (De Veenfabriek), Marcus Azzini theatre for children and young people. The (Toneelgroep Oostpool), Suzan Boogaerdt possibilities are endless, so exactly where (Boogaerdt/VanderSchoot, Ro Theater), you choose to go will depend on your area Frans Strijards, Theu Boermans (Nationale of specialisation. Well-known graduates Toneel), Rieks Swarte, Anthony Heidweiller from the study programme include Marcus (Nationale Opera & Ballet), Sjaron Minailo Azzini, Jetse Batelaan, Julie van den Berghe, (Nationale Opera & Ballet), Luk Perceval Lotte van den Berg, Maren Bjørseth, Thibaud (Thalia Theater and KVS Brussel), Rezy Delpeut, Olivier Diepenhorst, Susanne Schumacher (Nationale Toneel), Thibaud Kennedy, Sarah Moeremans, Tallulah Delpeut (Theater Utrecht), Adelheid Roosen Schwab and Nina Spijkers. (WijkSafari), Janine Brogt, Jeroen de Nooijer, Daphne Richter, Loek Sonneveld and actors Admission and selection Chris Nietvelt and Vincent van der Valk and Your age is unimportant. All that matters is casting director Hans Kemna. your talent. Please visit our website for more You will also meet notable artists from information about the selection process. the international theatre world and from other disciplines. These include the artists Quirine Racké & Helena Muskens, Quinsy Gario, Guy Biran, B-architect Sven Grooten, the scenographers Herbert Jansen, Ruben ‘Anything, absolutely anything that Wijnstok, Calle De Hoog and Marc Warning, you put on a stage gains meaning. dramatists Rob Klinkenberg and Johan Understand that meaning and Reyniers, the novelist Oscar van den connect it to your art, your goal.’ Boogaard, playwright Rob de Graaf and Steven Van Watermeulen, artistic director of the sound artists Wim Selles and Harpo ‘t Hart. Theatre Directing study programme

21 Production and Stage Management Creative Producing

Do you love the arts and organising? At the Production Academy of Theatre and Dance and Stage Management study programme you will become an outstanding creative producer, production manager, stage manager or assistant director. It will equip you with the skills to finance, organise, plan and execute projects in the most effective ways, and teach you how to participate in the creative process to realise the shared dream of the entire artistic team.

What will you learn? of directors, of business managers? The Production and Stage Management Our programme offers a solid and carefully programme is the only one of its kind in the judged blend of theory and practice. You’ll be Netherlands. Nowhere else in the country will equipped with the skills to finance, organise, you find a performing arts curriculum tailored plan and implement projects, and taught specifically to this discipline. We will train you about every aspect of production. The course to be an outstanding cultural organiser and incorporates internships at major artistic entrepreneur and a creative problem-solver: institutions and an annual international field someone who is unfailingly enterprising, trip that may take you to Belgium, Germany, committed, bold and critical. At graduation Istanbul or New York – offering you the chance you will have the exceptional communication to experience the international context of the skills to help you orchestrate the variety of theatre practice and connecting you with an disciplines that make up a creative team. international network of organisations and How do you create the conditions necessary professionals in the field. for the smooth execution of a creative idea? You will emerge from the programme a How do you share that idea with a team of pro- producer/production manager with a clear per- fessionals occupying very different roles: the sonal vision of theatre and art who possesses director, scenographer, lighting designer, ac- a unique ability to participate in the creative tors, technicians, multimedia specialists, etc? process with directors, choreographers and How should you go about ensuring the crea- composers alike. You will never lose sight of tive team is going to be able to develop the the overall artistic vision and devise relevant idea in the best possible way? How do you get solutions to problems and shape the entire comfortable with the language of technicians, production process.

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Graduation performance Die Fledermaus, production: Sophie Kroese

The study programme 3rd and 4th year: time to specialise The programme is structured around three From the third year onwards the course themes that recur in each academic year: is individually tailored to your needs; • craft, around your interests and specialisms. • art and society, Your internship will match your chosen • you and the team. discipline. In your final year you will produce at least one graduation show at the 1st and 2nd year: the foundations of your craft Academy of Theatre and Dance, working in • Your first two years of study will include collaboration with student choreographers, courses in management, organisation, directors, designers, etc. communication, presentation, cultural policy, law, finance and marketing. Career perspectives • You will also be given a theoretical Our training prepares you for your occupation grounding in ethics, drama, art and as a creative producer, production manager, cultural history, music history, theatre stage manager or assistant director in any history and theatre engineering. conceivable medium of the performing • You will learn about all the disciplines arts, be it theatre, dance, musical theatre, within the performing arts. opera or performance. Or perhaps you want • You will do internships at major profes- organise events, concerts and festivals – our sional institutions such as Toneelgroep study programme will equip you this sort Oostpol, Stage Entertainment, the of work, too. Previous graduates have found Dutch National Opera, Oerol Festival, employment at DeLaMar Theater, Stage the Parade Theatre Festival, Paradiso- Entertainment, the Netherlands Film Festival, Melkweg Production house and the ISH, Frascati Productions, Compagnietheater, Holland Festival. the Dutch National Ballet, the annual Uitmarkt festival and Toneelgroep Amsterdam.

23 Scenography Scenic Design

Who are the only designers in the world that are still truly free to decide everything about a space? Who are

Academy of Theatre and Dance the only people that get to create entirely new worlds – for shows of all kinds, for exhibitions and events – using scenery, images, sound, lighting and costumes, working in collaboration with other artists? That would be the scenographer, and the Scenography programme is the course that prepares you for this dream job.

What will you learn? country that is part of a faculty that includes The Scenography programme will give you all all the other theatre and dance disciplines. you need to become an interdisciplinary artist That means you will be working on exciting, with a visual language all your own. As a innovative projects in close collaboration with scenographer you will operate at the intersec- students from a whole range of disciplines. tion of art and theatre, visualising and shaping And the facilities at your disposal are truly theatrical reality. You will realise your creative excellent: you can realise your designs at full ideas by working in collaboration with artists scale in our main theatre. from other disciplines, including the directors, actors, musicians, composers, writers, video The study programme artists, digital designers and curators. 1st and 2nd year: the foundations of your craft Scenography hinges on the power of the • You will explore a broad curriculum imagination. Your project-oriented course based on the three pillars of scenography: will nurture your creativity and enrich your visual space, costume design and imagination. How do you create a completely materiality. You will attend numerous new world that has the capacity to amaze; that plays and other stage productions and prompts important questions? We will nourish visit set and costume design studios your inspiration and technical understand- to get a better understanding of the ing of the craft. You will go on study trips to workings of these crafts. international capitals of culture such as New • You will build up the artistic and York, Hamburg and Istanbul. theoretical foundations of your craft by This course is unique in the Netherlands. studying subjects such as art history, art Your creative ambitions are at the heart of this criticism, philosophy, theatre history and course, and we keep the study groups small. dramaturgy. This is the only scenography course in the • You will work through ten demanding

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Graduation performance Meet me in Lomark, scenography: Geartsje van der Zee

design blocks under leading designers, Theatre and Dance. You may also create concluding each block with a full-sized a project or theatrical installation of your presentation of your work – no scale own. In addition, you will present your models but actual-size sets. This is how work in a museum environment outside you’ll learn to think in terms of producing the academy. real sets, equipping to make your creative ideas real. Career perspectives Our graduates work as designers of theatrical 3rd and 4th year: your individual ambitions space in the broadest sense. They design sets, • The second phase of the programme costumes, theatrical installations, as well as is completely devoted to your personal spaces for exhibitions and events. development: what are your artistic aspirations and what do you need to Admission and selection realize them? You must have a rich imagination and an • In your third year, you will gain practical active interest in art. You must also have good experience as an assistant designer communication skills and enjoy working with at a theatre or dance company. You people from other disciplines. Please visit will also work with fellow students to our website for more information about the mount theatre productions of your own selection process. at Melkweg Theater in Amsterdam, for instance, or on location at Oerol Festival. ‘Theatre is a primarily visual art in which • In your fourth year, you will be the sole set designers build a bridge between what scenographer on graduate productions can be said and what must be shown.’ made by creative teams of students from other disciplines at the Academy of Bart Visser, artistic director of the Scenography study programme

25 Technical Theatre Arts Design & Technology in Events and Performing Arts

Are you an adventurous and creative ‘inventor’? Our Technical Theatre Arts study programme will equip you

Academy of Theatre and Dance to become a key member of the creative team at festivals, in theatres, and on multimedia projects and exhibitions. Your role: lighting designer, sound designer, multimedia specialist, video designer or technical producer.

What will you learn? closely and intensively with students from other On the Technical Theatre Arts study pro- disciplines on highly individual projects and gramme you’ll learn everything you need to productions. You will also do internships at well- make the technical side of a creative dream established professional practices, so you’ll have come true. You might do this for big productions you years of practical experience before you – such as spectacular events and festivals, major even graduate! The department is excellently theatre productions and large concerts – or, on equipped. You will get work in a state-of-the-art a smaller scale for anything from innovative studio/lab for digital design and thoroughly exhibitions and conventions to alternative explore the latest digital and technological in- multimedia projects. You will learn how to novations, such as 360-degree video and virtual develop creative concepts using the tools of your and augmented reality. craft: lighting, sound and digital design. You’re going to be your team’s innovator and designer, The study programme so you’ll need to learn to think in terms of sound 1st year: the foundations of your craft and lighting – and have the technical know-how The first year lays the broad cultural and to create what you envisage. You’ll also learn to technical basis: operate well as part of creative teams, which • You’ll study cultural history, theatre will typically include a director, set designer, history, music history, dramaturgy, video, lighting and sound designers, a producer philosophy and more, as well as techni- and a technical producer. And you will learn to cal subjects including optics, mechanics offer input as a team member – right from the and electronics. concept stage. This course is the only one of its • You’ll learn to understand the makers’ kind in the Netherlands. It’s also very focussed world: How does the creative process on you as an individual, you will be taught in work? How do I work with people from small groups. And it’s very practice-oriented. other disciplines? You will work on a This is the only programme of its kind to be part variety of productions with people from of a faculty that trains students in every theatre other study programmes at the Academy and dance genre. That means you get to work of Theatre and Dance.

26 Academy of Theatre and Dance

Graduation performance Wildstraining, concept and video design: Hendrik Walther, sound design: Bauke Moerman

• You’ll develop your imagination, Career perspectives technical knowledge and creativity. The students now working as technical Short internships will expose you to producers, lighting designers and sound professional practice. designers all work at the highest level in their field. Many of them are working for top-tier 2nd to 4th year: your personal specialization festivals such as Lowlands and Awakenings, The second year is when you delve deeper or at major performing companies such as into your chosen specialisation: techni- Toneelgroep Amsterdam and the Dutch cal producer, lighting designer or sound National Opera. Others work with big-name designer. What you decide to do this year DJs like Armin van Buuren. Still others are on determines your course of study for the the technical team at innovative museums or remainder of the programme, when you will major events like 538Koningsdag, and at the focus on achieving your personal aims. leading creative technical production houses, You will receive excellent training from out- such as Sightline Productions, Silk Productions standing teachers and guest lecturers, all of and Rapenburg Plaza. whom work as professionals at the heart of the international industry. This ensures the Admission and selection rapid integration of the latest developments Please visit our website for more information into the curriculum. The technical advanc- about the selection process. es in your field are happening at breakneck speed, in areas such as digital design, online and offline multimedia installations, and motion and light sensors. And our ‘Our study programme is now regarded so study programme leads the way, setting highly by the profession that we can almost the trends. The internships you do as part guarantee our students a job on completion.‘ of the programme, along with every other Eddy Westerbeek, artistic director of the Technical aspect of your training here, will transform Theatre Arts study programme you into a specialist professional.

27 Technical Theatre Arts – Associate Degree Technical production manager / Head of creative engineering

Academy of Theatre and Dance Do you have an MBO (senior secondary vocational education) diploma in Stage and Event Engineering (PET) and would you like to become a manager in your field? Do you thrive on using technological tools to make creative ideas work? The two-year Technical Theatre Arts – Associate Degree will prepare you for a managerial position in the events industry or in theatre.

What will you learn? technicians. How do you guide the members You will have acquired a wealth of technical of your team through a creative concept? How knowledge and skills when you studied for do you communicate what you want – clearly your diploma in Stage and Event Engineer- and concisely? How do you motivate people ing (PET). This two-year associate degree and get them to work as a single-minded programme builds on what you learned to team? train you to manage other technicians. As the This associate degree allows you to fast-track head of creative engineering, you will be a key to the third year of our four-year bachelor’s member of the creative team, often developing degree programme, specialising as a technical concepts with the other team members from producer. scratch. On completing this programme you’ll be The study programme well-equipped to use your imagination more 1st year: the foundations of your craft broadly and creatively when answering The first year lays your broad cultural and questions such as: How do you implement a technical foundation. creative concept in technical form? Which new • You already know a lot about lighting and digital techniques would be relevant for the sound engineering, so in this course we job at hand? What technical solutions would spend less time on these subjects than do justice to the director or artist’s artistic we do on our Technical Theatre Arts ambitions? We’ll challenge you to deepen your bachelor degree programme. Instead we theoretical, creative and artistic knowledge, focus on more thorough theoretical un- and intensify your curiosity and imagination. derstanding of art, communication and You will also learn how to manage a team of management. In addition to the technical

28 Academy of Theatre and Dance

Technical production manager at work

subjects you will study areas such as Career perspectives cultural history, theatre history, music Upon graduation, you will be ready to work history, dramaturgy and philosophy. in a managerial capacity, for instance as • You will learn to understand the direc- the head of creative engineering or stage tors’ world: How does the creative manager in the events industry or the theatre. process work? How do I work with people from other disciplines? You will work on Admission and selection a variety of productions with people from Prospective candidates must be curious and other courses at the Academy of Theatre creative by nature, have an active interest in and Dance. art and culture, and love all the challenges • You will develop your imagination, and innovation that technology brings. Please technical knowledge and creativity. Short visit our website for more information about internships will expose you to actual the selection process. professional practice.

2nd year: in-depth study of specific subjects The second year focuses on deepening ‘We have an international network of light- your understanding of communication, ing designers, sound designers and compa- digital design, finance, engineering nies that organise the technical aspects of and management. You also gain further major events and theatre productions.’ exposure to the professional practice of your discipline through meetings, tours Eddy Westerbeek, artistic director of the Technical Theatre Arts study programme and a three-month internship.

29 Academy of Theatre and Dance

Graduation performance Die Fledermaus scenography: Hannah Krauß costumes: Brenda van Geffen production: Sophie Kroese

30 Academy of Theatre and Dance

31 Dream team: the success of a graduation performance The Wild Duck soars

In 2015, a graduating team from the Academy of

Academy of Theatre and Dance Theatre and Dance concluded their studies with the theatre performance The Wild Duck. Their production garnered awards and rave reviews. We met theatre director Liliane Brakema and production manager Vera Andeweg to discuss the dream team behind the show, taking the initiative, and the endless cups of coffee.

32 Academy of Theatre and Dance

The genesis

Where did you get the idea for your as though the characters had been trying graduation performance? to bond for five thousand years. There’s also Liliane: ‘I was at a museum and saw two the key question of why they keep failing. mummies from the Atacama Desert in Chile It’s often because they’re trying to present a with their arms wrapped around each other. better but inauthentic image of themselves, I was deeply touched by this. The image and that means they become alienated from had been frozen in time for five thousand themselves. That’s the reason they can’t years, and it was timeless. I saw in these connect.’ figures our endless quest to bond with another, and I wanted my work to embody Why did you choose the modern text? and articulate that timelessness.’ Liliane: ‘As soon as I read Simon Stone’s modern adaptation of The Wild Duck I knew What do these mummies have to do I had to direct it. I could tell it would let with The Wild Duck? me say exactly what I wanted to say. I was Liliane: ‘In a nutshell, The Wild Duck is struck by the way the scenes were struc- about five adults trying to keep a big secret tured: very cinematic, almost like a soap from a fourteen-year-old girl and from each opera. I felt I could use it to make something other. My concept consists of 24 scenes in poetic. It thrilled me that the essence of the which people are trying to bond. I wanted to play was so clear that it offered me the free- create a timeless image, to make it seem dom to express it with intense physicality.’

‘You only need to open your eyes, ears and heart to be deeply moved.’

Nomination committee of the National Dutch Theatre Festival, 2016

33 The dream team

How did you form the team that would Why were so many of the team mem- create your dream performance? bers from the academy? Liliane: ‘We had lots of coffees together! Vera: ‘That was one of the great things That’s how you find out whether you and about it, I realise now that I’m working in whoever click in a creative and personal the industry. Our school produces the best way. The team is almost entirely made up practitioners for creative teamwork. You Academy of Theatre and Dance of fellow students and past graduates from graduate with a network of students and for- the academy. There was an immediate mer students from all the programmes. And click with production manager Dyan and you already know who they are, or you’ve the sound designer Bauke. Bauke and I seen their work. If I need technicians for a both prefer things not to be too literal, to project, I prefer to choose former students be abstract. That’s why the sound is quite from our school; it practically guarantees ‘illogical’, not what you’d expect. It’s a bit that you get smooth-running collaborative like unpredictable weather, in that it makes partnerships.’ you wonder what on earth is going on.’

‘A moving and intelligently directed, sensorial and contem- porary piece.’ ‘By magnifying the psychological loneliness and inner desolation of her characters … Liliane captures the very essence of social alienation in our time.’

The jury of the André Veltkamp Grant, 20155

34 The graduation

How did the development and rehearsal And then: the excitement of the premiere process go? Liliane: ‘Well, even after pulling all the bits Liliane: ‘We began by getting the whole crea- together, we still had to tighten a few screws. tive team together three times to discuss the That was a tricky stage, because as the entire concept in detail. I needed everyone to director you sometimes have to be firm. You know exactly what I had in mind. It was also say something like, ‘Sorry, but the lighting’s Academy of Theatre and Dance important to make sure everyone felt free to not quite right,’ and that could mean someone give their critical input and offer their own having to spend the entire night redoing it. ideas. They all brought along film clips and Fortunately, everyone on the team felt the play pictures. It was a very open discussion about was important, and everything fell into place questions like: What do you or don’t you find just before the premiere. The best moment beautiful? How do you picture this concept? was when it dawned on us that we had a It was the foundation for the exceptional level hit on our hands: all five performances were of teamwork we managed to achieve.’ packed. After that week suddenly everyone was wanting to have coffee with me!’

‘It was amazing to see the various elements and our ideas for The Wild Duck gel into something capable of moving the audience. My sound design for the show was an element with a will of its own. The music was a kind of sketchy line, subtly steering the audience’s emotions.’

Sound designer Bauke Moerman, who graduated from Technical Theatre Arts in 2015

The André Veltkamp Grant

Did the success of your graduation Lucky you didn’t sell the stools. open doors? Liliane: ‘That’s right: we won the André Liliane: ‘I got lots of theatres asking if I’d Veltkamp Grant for the school’s best produc- like to do something with them. But unfor- tion. The purpose of the grant is to extend tunately no one said: here’s a contract and a the life of a selected graduation production. pot of money, let’s get to work. We were on We used the 1000 euro grant – and the the verge of going online to sell off the stools very valuable production support from the we’d used in the play when a colleague said, school – to ultimately stage the play for the ‘No! Don’t do that. You might get a chance general public in Amsterdam, Utrecht and to mount the production again. How much The Hague.’ do you expect to get for the stools? I’ll buy them off you if you want.’

35 ‘Exceptionally intelligent how Brakema manoeuvres the characters in this cold, dark tragedy.’

Kester Freriks in de Theaterkrant

On tour Academy of Theatre and Dance Can you actually tour a theatre produc- How did the school support you? tion for so little money? Vera: ‘The school gave us outstanding Vera: ‘No, it’s a bit more complicated than production support. They helped Liliane and that. It was around this time that I joined me to raise additional funds. The business the team. I got a call from Dyan, the original aspect was quite a puzzle. I suddenly had to production manager. Former classmates are consider things like the possibility of a fire in always providing each other with small jobs. our truck carrying the set and all our expen- I was really up for it. It was only supposed to sive equipment – that’s the sort of magnitude be a small job: three days of production work. of risk you have to insure yourself against, It turned into a three-month, full-time job!’ and for which I was now solely responsible. It was a really instructive experience for a newbie production manager.’

36 ‘What I found remarkable about working on The Wild Duck was the freedom the director, Liliane, gave me to offer my input right from

the start. It meant I contributed to the actual Academy of Theatre and Dance piece itself. Lighting became a character in its own right, merging organically with everything else happening on stage like some sort of supernatural force working on the actors, the action and the audience.’

Lighting designer Henry Walther, who graduated from Technical Theatre Arts in 2015

The National Dutch A ‘firm’ of your own Theatre Festival Now that The Wild Duck has flown the And then, the icing on the cake: your coop, what’s your next goal? ‘Duck’ was picked for the prestigious Liliane: ‘I got a call in May 2016 asking me National Dutch Theatre Festival as one what I’d do if I had a year and the money to of the eleven best productions of the do whatever I wanted. So I wrote a plan – season – it was the first time a gradua- and it was approved. I get a year’s worth of tion performance had been selected. support and guidance from the Compagnie- Liliane: ‘Yes, that was absolutely fantastic, theater, Theater Bellevue and the Academy of course. The team couldn’t have been of Theatre and Dance. I was euphoric. more delighted.’ I called Vera straight away.’ Vera: ‘From cups of coffee to champagne!’ Vera: ‘I was over the moon. Like, wow. It Liliane: ‘We actually did sell the stools after meant we could continue working together! that: we’d reached the peak and we knew it I’d been worried about losing Liliane to a big was the last time we’d perform it.’ theatre company. We’ve set up our own foun- dation, Firma Ducks, which should make it easier to raise funds for our next project.’

37 A new beginning

So, what’s your next play going to be? Will you be working with another Liliane: ‘Face to Face by Ingmar Bergman. dream team from the academy? It’s about a highly successful woman who Vera: ‘Of course, probably with most of the commits suicide, just out of the blue. She same colleagues from The Wild Duck. It does it because she’s totally preoccupied would be wonderful to work together again.’ with what others think of her; she dances for Academy of Theatre and Dance other people, not for herself. It’s a very topical Well-paid this time? subject. Some of my friends have the same Vera: ‘Who knows? I’m currently in the problem, because everyone’s working so process of selling the piece to theatres. I’ve hard, but for what, actually, and for whom? already closed a few deals. And the good news is we’ve just secured our first 10,000 euros. It’s from a private donor who often ‘A highly individual statement funds projects by promising young artists. She was really moved by The Wild Duck and from a director determined to said the new project sounded very promi- follow her own path’ sing, and she’d like to be involved.

Loek Zonneveld in De Groene Amsterdammer

38 Academy of Theatre and Dance

Flight path of The Wild Duck compelling graduation production that For their graduation perfomance in merits a longer production run. 2015, a creative team comprising The grant and co-production assistance Liliane Brakema (from the Theatre from the academy allowed Liliane and Direction study programme), Hendrik her team to bring back the production Walther (Technical Theatre Arts), Bauke for a 2016 tour taking in Amsterdam, Moerman (Technical Theatre Arts) and Utrecht and The Hague. While on tour, Dyan Jakupovic (Production and Stage the production was spotted and selected Management) staged The Wild Duck. It by the nomination committee of the won Liliane the André Veltkamp Grant, National Dutch Theatre Festival – it’s awarded by the Academy of Theatre the first time this has happened with a and Dance to a creative, original and graduation performance.

39 Dance study programmes An exceptional talent for dance Academy of Theatre and Dance

Are you a future dance virtuoso? Dance teacher in the performing arts The dance study programmes at the Our Dance in Education study programme Academy of Theatre and Dance focus on focuses on making dance pieces with producing exceptional dancers. We maintain amateur performers. The programme close ties with leading professionals and also places great emphasis on developing companies in the dance field, enabling us to students’ mastery of craft and teaching skills. gear your training as a dancer, choreographer Dance teachers work with pupils at primary or dance teacher to the future. Our students and secondary schools, dance and theatre work hard to hone the skills of their craft, schools, and with amateur companies. They master the pure language of movement put together educational and community and understand the creative process. They projects and work with youngsters from emerge from the study programme as flexible, different cultures and all layers of society. curious and self-reliant dancers with a distinct stage presence.

40 Study Programmes

National Ballet Academy Modern Theatre Dance Urban Contemporary (JMD) School for New Dance Development (SNDO) Dance in Education

5 O’Clock Class Academy of Theatre and Dance

4 years full-time

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education

senior secondary vocational education (mbo-4), senior general secondary education (havo), pre-university education (vwo), diploma and selections procedure

41 National Ballet Academy

The National Ballet Academy (NBA) is the premier programme for classical dance in the Netherlands. The professional ballet school trains talented young Academy of Theatre and Dance dancers at the highest level, bringing their skills up to the professional standards required by the world’s leading dance companies.

Some of NBA’s guest students come from Patron and Artistic Advisor of the National international schools such as l’École de Danse Ballet Academy. de l’Opéra National de Paris, the English NBA students participate in some of the Dutch National Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School, National Ballet’s major productions, such as San Francisco Ballet School, Canada’s National Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, The Ballet School and La Scala Ballet School of Nutcracker, Don Quixote and Romeo and Milan. Juliet. NBA’s end of the year performance, Some of NBA’s latest alumni have joined Dansers van Morgen, takes place at the companies such as Mariinsky Ballet, Nationale Opera & Ballet, home of the Dutch Finnish Ballet, Zurich Ballet, Scottish Ballet, National Ballet and its Junior Company. Bavarian Ballet, Béjart Ballet Lausanne and of course Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Introdans, The Training programmes Nederlands Dans Theater. Many of the Junior NBA welcomes about 150 national and Company dancers come from NBA and alumni international students and comprises: and international star dancer Igone de Jongh • The Pre-NBA Programme – A two-year is one of the Dutch treasures of the Dutch programme for children age 8 to 10 offering National Ballet. ballet and folk dance once or twice a week. • Preliminary course – Our preparatory A unique partnership with the Dutch training begins in Group 7 of the primary National Ballet school education, after which it runs parallel NBA, under the artistic direction of Jean- to secondary school education, with a Yves Esquerre, is the only ballet school in the curriculum that combines dance training Netherlands affiliated to the internationally with a secondary school education. Some acclaimed Dutch National Ballet. Hans van international students follow an online Manen, one of the world’s most influential academic programme in their country of choreographers and Ted Brandsen, artistic origin. director of the Dutch National Ballet, • Bachelor of Arts programme – Our four- respectively hold the positions of Honorary year Bachelor of Arts programme (with the

42 Academy of Theatre and Dance

Students National Ballet Academy

possibility of dispensation of one or two as the Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet and the years) for ten selected students. Graduates Vaganova Institute of St Petersburg, The gain an internationally recognised BA National Ballet of Canada and its school, degree. At our Bachelor of Arts programme the Royal Ballet School of London, to name we welcome international guest students a few. age 16 and above. Students will perfect their Jean-Yves Esquerre is also the Director technique in order to dance with leading of the Dutch National Summer School, a national or international ballet companies. co-production with the Dutch National Students will be taught ballet and modern Ballet. This three-week course welcomes dance and participate in workshops devoted about 120 international students around to a variety of dance styles. an exclusive Bournonville Week taught by • The Junior Company – A programme shared Danish master-teachers, followed by a Two- with the Dutch National Ballet and run by Week Intensive taught by a faculty of NBA Artistic Coordinator Ernst Meisner. The and Dutch National Ballet pedagogues. Junior Company is a group of 12 top dancers performing throughout the Netherlands and Admission and selection abroad. Please visit www.nationaleballetacademie.nl for information about the selection process and The study programme auditions. NBA’s syllabus is based on a synthesis of Italian, French and Russian training ‘My most treasured memories of my time techniques. Implemented and supervised at the National Ballet Academy were the by Jean-Yves Esquerre the training occasions I was allowed to take part in is taught by a faculty of exceptional productions by the Dutch National Ballet. pedagogues. Most of them, former Performing in Swan Lake was a very special international star dancers, are invited experience.’ on a regular basis to teach other world- acclaimed companies and schools such Igone de Jongh, former student and principal dancer with the Dutch National Ballet

43 Academy of Theatre and Dance

MTD-students in end of year performance Bold in Motion

Modern Theatre Dance

The Modern Theatre Dance study programme trains you to be a versatile dancer with a distinctive style. It equips you to actively participate in the creative process and collaborate with the choreographer. You will gain ownership of a contemporary dance repertory and a dance vocabulary that will enable you to participate in productions of contemporary dance companies at home and abroad.

44 Artistic development & Jos Baker, Itamar Serussi, Guy Nader & special collaboration Maria Campos, Roser López Espinosa, This programme offers plenty of opportunities Guilherme Miotto, Julio César Iglesias to invest in your personal artistic development, Ungo, Dario Tortorelli and Loïc Perela. within the daily programme, the collaborations In your fourth year you will do an with external programmes and the offered internship with a professional dance workshops in the first three study years. project for a minimum of three months. You will immerse yourself in the work of Emio You will also audition for a variety of Academy of Theatre and Dance Greco |PC Double Skin/Double Mind, in dance companies and choreographers in Drumming by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker preparation for your career. and in Gaga and repertory by Ohad Naharin. Career perspectives The study programme After graduation you are ready to join 1st and 2nd year: the foundations of your national or international dance companies craft or projects. Former students went on to • You will expand your dance vocabulary work with renowned dance companies and in practices of contemporary dance choreographers, such as Club Guy & Roni and classical ballet, improvisation, (Michael de Haan), LeineRoebana (Audrey composition, partnering work, contact Apers, Mark Christoph Klee), ICK Amsterdam improvisation, movement research, (Ivan Ugrin, Kim Amankwaa), Ann Van den repertory, movement analysis, physical Broek (Nik Rajšek), Troubleyn/Jan Fabre theatre, drama, music, dance history, (Moreno Perna), Boris Charmatz (Or Avishai), philosophy, dance-related health, the Hofesh Shechter (Merel Lammers), Batsheva Alexander Technique and Feldenkreis. Company (Robin Nimanong) and Cullberg • You will learn relevant dance Ballet (Unn Faleide, Daria Hlynkina). techniques, and acquire strong performance and creative skills. Admission and selection • You will create new work with guest We admit thirteen applicants to the choreographers. programme each year. Please visit our website for more information about the 3rd and 4th year: artistic development in selection process. dance practice During your third year you will be ‘“It’s so wonderful to see real people on working with different guest teachers stage, rather than puppets.” This is a and choreographers from the professional compliment I often get about our dancers. dance field. This will expose you to We teach them to stand on their own two more specific dance languages and the feet, literally. When you allow dancers to skills they demand. In the last years, discover who they are, they gain freedom. students of this level have worked with And when this happens, their natural pres- choreographers such as Leine Roebana, ence as human beings shines through.’ Lucinda Childs, Trisha Brown, Liat Waysbort, Ann Van den Broek, Angela Linssen,artistic director of Modern Theatre Dance

45 Academy of Theatre and Dance

Urban Contemporary (JMD)-students in End of Year Performance Urban Contemporary (JMD) Are you dreaming of an exciting future as a professional performing artist who combines dance, singing and acting? Our Urban Contemporary (JMD) programme is the only one of its kind in Europe. We’ll teach you to master a variety of dance techniques – from classical ballet to hip hop. Our competence-focused teaching will help you discover your distinctive stage identity. As well as training your dancing, singing and acting skills, we pay close attention to the creativity and quality of your performance as you develop your ability to collaborate, take initiative and reflect on your own work.

What will you learn? The professional practice of musical theatre, This programme is all about dance, and we contemporary dance and urban jazz is take your creative development as a distinctive constantly evolving, and we tune your training performer as our starting point. We challenge to the latest developments. Your tutor will you to develop your unique talent. In daily help you define some of your personal training classes we’ll hone your dancing, singing objectives, using learning and development and acting skills to a professional level. You’ll guidelines. And with us you will blossom into develop your creativity and expressiveness, a distinctive theatre performer, ready to carve and learn to collaborate, take initiative, co- out your own unique space within the field of create and reflect on your own development. performing arts.

46 The study programme Dance Company, Danstheater AYA, 1st, 2nd and 3rd year: the foundations of Ultima Vez, LeineRoebana, and on your craft musical theatre productions and • Mornings are devoted to technical musicals such as The Bodyguard, training in dance (jazz and urban Grease, Urinetown, Spring Awakening, styles, contemporary, classical and Dogfight, Snow White & de 7 breakers floorwork), physical theatre, singing, and Rent. acting, improvisation, co-creation and • Where possible, you will spend part of Academy of Theatre and Dance composition. your fourth year of study abroad. • Afternoons are for you and your fellow students to collaborate on your own Career perspectives productions. Specialist teachers will be Upon graduation, you will be equipped to work on hand to provide the coaching to suit as a performing and co-creating artist in a your needs. This setup ensures that you broad range of capacities within the current have enough freedom to develop your and future professional field of urban dance unique qualities in dancing, singing theatre and musical theatre. and/or acting. • Lots of stage experience: we run Admission and selection three teaching blocks a year, and Please visit our website for information about conclude each one with a production the selection process. (in December, April and June). The December and April productions include a choreography or musical created by you and your fellow students. You will work with renowned guest choreographers for the final production in June. • You learn about the theoretical basis of ‘I felt really insecure at the start of the your craft. Your studies in anatomy, the course, but then I slowly began to develop. history of dance and performance theory I’ve become much more self-assured will be linked to your practical training. because of the training. I know who I am • The third year is for specialisation. You now. I’m aware of my qualities as a human also apply for internships and attend being and as a performer and I know what I auditions. have to offer as a creator of productions. I enrolled as a boy and came out a man.’ 4th year: work experience! Sedrig Verwoert, graduated in 2015. Winner of the • In the fourth year you get to do an Eurovision Young Dancers in 2013. Dancer at Kibbutz internship and/or put together your Contemporary Dance Company (2016) graduation show. Students from this programme have done work experience at dance companies such as Club Guy & Roni, Conny Janssen Danst, Nanine Linning, ISH, Kibbutz Contemporary

47 Academy of Theatre and Dance

SNDO-student Tiana Hemlock-Yensen in Welcome to the Gild

School for New Dance Development (SNDO)

Dance as an art form is exposing us to an ever- growing array of perspectives. In bringing their often personal stories to life, choreographers often draw inspiration from a wide range of sources, styles of movement and performance resources. The School for New Dance Development (SNDO) trains students to be choreographers who contribute in a meaningful way to the international development of dance.

48 Internationally oriented • Theory and concept – you will immerse Dance is a constantly evolving art form. The yourself in dance history and concept boundaries between dance, theatre and visual development, and reflect on the function arts are blurring, and the physical, artistic of art in society, the role of the artist and performance capacities of dancers are and the dialogue between art, artist getting more refined. The SNDO challenges and audience. You will also participate you to examine and enrich your existing ideas in workshops engaging with topical about dance, choreography and performance. themes, such as gender. Academy of Theatre and Dance You will be exposed to the latest international developments in dance and choreography – to Career perspectives help you develop as a choreographer with a Our programme produces versatile clearly defined personal artistic vision, and choreographers who work all over the world to equip you to contribute to pioneering in a variety of disciplines and media. Some developments in dance across the globe. We have set up their own dance companies, while have designed the curriculum to support your others work as independent artists. Others personal development as a choreographer. This organise dance festivals or run dance centres. course is for self-reliant and self-motivated Many of our graduates have won national students, people who will be comfortable and international choreography awards. working with an international group of talented These include Giulio D’Anna (the 2013 Dutch fellow students and teachers to create an Dance Festival prize, Maastricht), Florentina inspiring environment. Your guest lecturers will Holzinger (Prix Jardin d’Europe 2012), Simon be internationally renowned choreographers. Tanguy (Théâtre de la Ville’s Prix Danse Right from your very first year of study you Élargie 2010), William Collins, Alma Söderberg will receive feedback from professional and Chris Leuenberger (ITs Choreography programmers and presenters, all of whom work Award) and Samira Elagoz (Bloom Awards at major theatres, venues and festivals such as 2014 and André Veltkamp Grant 2016). Veem House for Performance, SPRING Festival, Dokumenta, Buda Kortrijk, Frascati Theater or Admission and selection Santarcangelo dei Teatri Festival. A maximum of ten candidates are accepted onto the course each year. All instruction is The study programme in English. Please visit our website for more This programme focuses in particular on information about the selection process. the following areas: • Dance itself – you will learn a variety of ‘The course has been running for forty dance techniques and engage in lots of years and it is at the forefront of advances movement research. in dance and performance. We motivate • Creation – each year you will be required students to develop an interest in other to create at least one dance production disciplines, to be critical and self-critical that will be performed in the academy’s explorers, and to make clearly articulated studio or theatre. In the fourth year you artistic choices.’ will mount your productions in profes- sional theatres in Amsterdam and Berlin. Bojana Mladenovic´ , artistic director of the School for New Dance Development (SNDO)

49 Dance in Education

Do you believe in the unifying power of dance? Would you like to create dance productions with people of all ages, from different cultures and Academy of Theatre and Dance all walks of life? Learn how to do exactly that on our Dance in Education study programme. You will become a versatile, inspiring teacher/ dancer/creator with a comprehensive teaching qualification (Bachelor of Education).

Teaching skills and artistic development your career as a dance teacher, with a focus Dance connects people. It has the power to on instruction, teaching methods and artistic bridge cultural differences. There’s a good development. Your own artistic development reason for the rise in the number of schools of- will form the core of your training. fering dance classes in recent years: it’s where a mix of youth cultures can come together in a Strong focus on experiential learning fusion of contemporary dance forms. Amateur The programme is strongly oriented towards dance festivals, talent development projects practical learning. You, your fellow students and community dance projects are also on the and amateur dancers will work together in rise. order to organise, make and perform your Dance teachers make dance pieces working own projects (community practice) and together for instance with dance lovers in productions (artistic practice). One of the the theatre, with fathers and sons in church, above named is the production we stage each with grandmothers and grandchildren in year in our dance theatre. You’ll do teaching community centres, with gifted people both internships from your very first year of study, young and old at schools or in living rooms. so you can practice your teaching skills. And They make and perform shows in neighbour- you’ll work with a diverse range of youth hood theatres, on the street, in prisons and groups, helping them to broaden their skills as hospitals and as projects in the community performers. and with senior citizens. A transcultural approach is key to our course. The Dance in Education study programme How do you keep yourself open to working takes an active role in all these activities with others as a professional dancer? How do and distils them into the curriculum. You you bridge cultures and facilitate the cross- receive up-to-date basic training founded on fertilisation of ideas? It’s to address challenges a rhythmic-dynamic fusion of dance forms. like these that our course is structurally linked You will develop all the qualities you’ll need in with L’Ecole des Sables in Senegal.

50 Academy of Theatre and Dance

Amateur dancers in graduation performance Dance in Education You’ve got to do something

The study programme Career perspectives The aim of this course is to maximise your Upon graduation, you will be fully equipped talents and skills as a dance maker and to teach at schools or to work as an teacher. To this end you will attend classes independent dance professional and cultural and workshops in movement research and entrepreneur. You may take up a teaching performance research, and your theoretical position at a dance school, at a primary or studies include movement analysis, dance secondary school, or at a youth centre. Or and cultural history, and didactics and perhaps you will take a role at an arts centre teaching theory. These components will all or in the teaching department of a dance link directly to the dance practice. company, or as part of a community dance We pay close attention to developing your project – an increasingly popular field. competence as a dance teacher work- ing in schools. You will teach dance and movement classes at a primary school from ‘The Dance in Education study programme your very first year of training. And in your prepares you for the field of work like nothing second year you will teach classes and run else. You learn a lot about yourself through workshops at a secondary school. the internships because you’re working You will also supervise educational dance with so many different audiences, cultures, projects outside the school to refine your perspectives and sources of dance. I learned instructional and pedagogical skills. This to dare to think in an entrepreneurial way may take place in regular schools or dance and to think big. My internships actually schools in the Netherlands or abroad. became my real places of work, which Countries in which our students have goes to show just how relevant the study undertaken internships include the UK, programme is to this dynamic field of work.’ Spain, Brazil, the US (New York), Cuba, Suriname, Senegal and Indonesia. Ingeborg Nijboer, graduated in 2015

51 Academy of Theatre and Dance

End performance with pupils of 5 O’Clock Class

5 O’Clock Class Preliminary training in contemporary dance Are you a talented young dancer aged 11 or above? Is dancing your true passion? Whichever dance style is closest to your heart, the 5 O’Clock Class will help you explore and develop your talent and ability as a dancer. You will take a comprehensive programme of dance classes and workshops, and perform in professional productions. And the won- derful thing is: it all happens outside school time! 52 Varied and comprehensive training The study programme The 5 O’Clock Class is the only course of its One of the hallmarks of this study kind in the Netherlands. It’s the most varied programme is the high level of personal and comprehensive preliminary training support and monitoring we offer, on programme for contemporary dance. Our both individual and group level. We have goal is to improve your dancing skills to the carefully structured the lessons to ensure level you need to audition for an HBO-level that you learn the basics of the various vocational dance study programme in the dance styles while also developing your Academy of Theatre and Dance Netherlands or abroad on completion of your individual talent and your ideas about secondary school education. We work closely dance. with several professional dance companies, There are three levels available – the such as the leading modern dance company level you join or move on to will depend Nederlands Dans Theater, and with the two on your age and ability. Each course runs most important festivals in the international from September to June. urban-dance scene: Summerdance Forever • Junior Performance Programme and Juste Debout. Age group: 11-13 approx. Classes on Saturdays. What will you learn? • Teen Performance Programme Our curriculum is really diverse. You will Age group: 14-16 approx. get classes in modern dance, jazz, urban Classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and classical ballet, as well as tap dance, Fridays and Saturdays. show dance, African dance, and singing • Peer Performance Programme and performing technique. On Wednesdays Age group: 17-21 approx. we have special classes for boys where we Classes on Monday to Saturday. focus on strength training and the lifting techniques used in partnerwork. Admission and selection Would you like to join the 5 O’Clock Class? You will get training from excellent dance You’ll need to audition first, so please go to teachers, all of them either performing arts our website for more information about the professionals themselves or instructors on selection process. the HBO vocational dance programme at the Academy of Theatre and Dance. They include Percy Kruythoff, Rahana Oemed, ‘This programme builds strength and John Agesilas, Faizah Grootens, Dian self-confidence, and your individuality is Knigge-IJkhout and Peter Koppers. Classes always respected. We’re so proud when are held in the academy’s professional someone who began here as a junior is studios. We’ve also got studios at accepted by the Urban Contemporary (JMD), NoLIMIT and at the Bijlmer Parktheater in Fontys, Codarts or ArtEZ. We see young Amsterdam South-East. people making their dreams come true – every single year.’

Percy Kruythoff and Rahana Oemed, 5 O’Clock Class coordinators

53 Academy of Theatre and Dance

SNDO 2 Movement Research workshop with Aleksandra Janeva-Imfeld

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55 Academy of Theatre and Dance

Master’s Degree Programmes DAS Graduate School: international appeal

56 Study programmes

DAS Theatre DAS Choreography

2 years full-time

Master of Arts Academy of Theatre and Dance

Bachelor degree and/or several years of experience

Would you like to acquire a Master of Research Arts degree? Responding to the demand from the The Academy of Theatre and Dance offers professional field DAS Graduate School has DAS Theatre and DAS Choreography mas- developed a supplementary master’s degree ter’s degree programmes. You can apply for programme and is facilitating research and admission to either of these internationally doctoral studies. renowned courses after earning your bachelor degree and/or acquiring several years of A former laboratory on the north bank of professional experience. the IJ DAS Theatre and DAS Choreography are both DAS Graduate School finds its home in a two-year, English-language programmes. newly renovated building, the heart of which They are designed to support students in has been transformed into an open and the development of their individual artistic welcoming locale for gatherings and meetings aspirations. We place equal emphasis on between the arts, science, education and experimentation and reflection. The two society. master’s degree programmes are part of the DAS Graduate School, which also includes DAS Research, the Academy of Theatre and Dance’s research group.

57 DAS Theatre

Are you a graduate in the performing arts, creative production, curating or programming with some practical theatre experience? Then DAS Theatre is where to hone your artistic vision and expand your professional network. Our two-year master’s degree programme is primarily demand driven, so it’s tailored to your individual needs and focused on the practical realities of your profession.

58 ‘While I was studying at DAS Theatre I met and interacted with people from an incredible range of backgrounds. The international nature of the group amplified the dynamics. There was no Academy of Theatre and Dance hierarchy within our group, and advice and feedback were offered and received in the spirit of equality. The programme gave me the chance to grow and further my exploration on my own terms.’

Emke Idema, graduated in 2014 at DAS Theatre

Stones by Agustina Muñoz - DAS Theatre

Experimentation and reflection The study programme DAS Theatre (formerly DasArts – Master of Students define their own goals and, Theatre) offers a curriculum of group modules over time, identify the research methods and individual study tracks based on your that match their needs for artistic artistic ambitions and personal goals. You’ll development. And while the programme study in a challenging environment in which focuses on your personal development, experimentation and reflection are closely the curriculum includes several modules connected. that use personal interaction as their DAS Theatre students welcome responsibility, main educational strategy. These are eager to share and discuss their work with modules include feedback sessions, others, and are open to unforeseen experiences seminars, practice labs and a ten-week and differing perspectives. In addition to your thematic ‘Block’ programme. Your individual development, there are plenty of master’s degree concludes with a Master opportunities for artistic exchange within your Proof presentation of your individual international group of fellow students. research.

Extensive network Admission and selection The programme is run by a small group of Visit www.dasgraduateschool.nl/dastheatre permanent staff with close ties to a large for the digital application form and for network of professionals from the international information about the selection process. arts scene – some of whom will contribute to your training as tutors, guest teachers and mentors.

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I come into a room by Günther Wilhelm - DAS Choreography

DAS Choreography

A choreographer continues to develop artistically throughout his or her career. This process is nourished by an unwavering sense of curiosity and a continuous deepening of knowledge and honing of skills. DAS Choreography – a two-year, English-language master’s programme – offers young choreographers with professional experience the opportunity to conduct their own research and advance their development.

60 ‘The body does it all. There’s enormous energy and strength in the body, and it takes years of dedication, effort and study to discover that. People come from far and wide to study in the Netherlands, to create dance productions and explore new ways of doing things. Every year is exciting, unpredictable and surprising.’

Jeroen Fabius, artistic director of DAS Choreography Academy of Theatre and Dance

Self-directed learning We design the seminars to match your DAS Choreography combines theory and research plans and those of your fellow practice in a unique way. The personalised students. The programme involves both programme takes each student’s artistic practice and theory: you will research practice as its starting point, so your movement and present your findings professional practice is central to the in the studio; you will read theoretical development of the research methods and papers and write essays and reports. skills. You will be expected to propose your Your fellow students play an important own professional projects and design your role: peer-to-peer reviews provide own research. The programme is restricted opportunities for debate and reflection to six to eight students to ensure a high level that complement your personalised of personal guidance and support. activities. You will create two DAS Choreography (formerly known as productions, write three research reports Amsterdam Master of Choreography and and conclude your study with a public before that Dance Unlimited) has developed presentation of your research. an international reputation for excellence that goes back to its very beginnings in Career perspectives 2002. It attracts students from all over the Graduates of DAS Choreography present world. We work closely with Veem House for their work internationally, at venues and Performance, Frascati, Dansmakers, SPRING festival such as Rencontres Chorégraphique performing arts festival Utrecht and training Paris, Impulstanz Wien, Plateaux Festival programmes abroad such as HZT in Berlin Frankfurt, Dansspace Project New York, (Germany), CuP in Giessen (Germany), Tanzfabrik Berlin, Cinedans and the CNDC Angers (France), KHIO Oslo (Norway). Nederlandse Dansdagen.

The study programme Admission and selection The programme is comprised of We admit four new students each year. Visit seminars, lectures and individual www.dasgraduateschool.nl/daschoreography mentoring by staff members and for more information about our selection internationally renowned guest teachers. process.

61 Amsterdam University of the Arts Academy of Theatre and Dance

The study programmes of the Amsterdam University of the Arts (AHK) encourage the development of your personal style, creativity and vision. Come into contact with the full spectrum of your field of study and immerse yourself in the current artistic and cultural world with a study programme at the AHK.

Our teachers often have one foot in the professional practice, as a result of which your network will quickly grow. Amsterdam, the centre of culture and media, naturally contributes to this: Amsterdam offers a wealth of inspiration and opportunities for building up experiences and contacts. Moreover, all the study programmes have contact with sister institutions worldwide and they will help you arrange a study programme or internship abroad. For more information visit our website or an open day! www.english.ahk.nl

62 Take a look at our website or visit a presentation with the graduation work of the current students, such as during the Keep an Eye Film Academy Festival! You can visit concerts, theatre and dance

performances throughout the Academy of Theatre and Dance year. Keep an eye on the upcoming events!

Theatre Master Bachelor Bachelor Architecture Classical Music Drama & Contemporary Music Theatre Urbanism Early Music Mime School Landscape Architecture Jazz Theatre in Education Pop Music Theatre in Education Abbreviated Music in Education Theatre Directing Master Production and Stage Management Classical Music Scenography Bachelor Early Music Technical Theatre Arts Fine Art in Jazz Technical Theatre Arts – Associate Education National Master of Music in Degree Orchestral Conducting Master NedPho/CvA Orchestra Academy DAS Theatre String Quartet Dutch National Opera Academy Dance Bachelor Live electronics Preliminary course Cultural Heritage Profile Contemporary Music 5 O’Clock Class Master Composing for Film Preliminary Course National Ballet Museology Academy Bachelor National Ballet Academy Modern Theatre Dance Bachelor Urban Contemporary (JMD) Interdisciplinary Masters Directing Fiction School for New Dance Development Education in Arts Directing Documentary (SNDO) Artistic Research Production Dance in Education Composing for Film Screenwriting Master Theatre singer/Singer-performer Cinematography DAS Choreography Immersive media/Visual effects Production design Sound design Editing Master Film Composing for Film

63 Colofon

Academy of Theatre and Dance Corporate design Jodenbreestraat 3 Thonik 1011 NG Amsterdam Academy of Theatre and Dance Design Dance Education Office FROM THE HILL 020 527 76 67 [email protected] Text and interviews Buro Vonkstof - Petra Boers Theatre Education Office 020 527 78 37 Photography [email protected] Eddi de Bie Nellie de Boer Scenography, Technical Theatre Coco Duivenvoorde Arts, Production and Stage Bart Grietens Management Education Office Teun Hermsen 020 527 76 20 Tim Hillege [email protected] Thomas Lenden www.atd.amsterdam Robert van der Ree Cornelie Tollens Published by Olivier Wecxsteen Amsterdam University of the Arts, 2016 Printed by Hub. Tonnaer B.V.

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