Dance Education Biennial

Dance colleges and academies are providing students with a solid education in classical and contemporary dance in Germany today. Yet what many future dance artists lack is a deeper understanding of the connections to dance science and choreographic praxis. The "Dance Plan Educational Projects" has addressed this problem with a five-year programme (from 2005 to 2010) to initiate and coordinate innovative educational measures for dancers, teachers and choreographers to be implemented at various times during the programme.

The Dance Plan Germany initiated regular meetings between representatives from state-run educational institutions to discuss future dance educational projects. At their third session on February 6, 2007, the representatives established a national dance educational consortium, which organized the "1. Dance Education Biennial" in Berlin. Like the Theatertreffen for acting schools, the "Dance Education Biennial" serves as a platform for students to present their projects and works to a large audience and encourage the creative exchange between educational institutions. The "1. Dance Education Biennial" took place in Berlin in spring 2008, the second will take place in Essen in 2010 as part of the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010.