The first year of study on the PERA Dance B.A. has a strong emphasis on the development of
fundamental technical competences through ballet and contemporary dance. Focusing on reinforcing
whole body awareness, strength, stamina, coordination, alignment, articulation of the body, the use
of weight and developing floor work abilities. Technical classes aim to strengthen the physical
potential of the students while acquiring fundamental tools for precise work with the body,
musicality and movement in space. Alongside technical training, students also dive into fields of
improvisation, partnering, composition as well as theoretical classes such as Anatomy, Dance
History, Introduction to Critical Studies and Interpretation. In addition, students get the
opportunity to work with a variety of exceptional guest teachers/artists throughout the academic
year and are involved in numerous performance projects.
In the second year of study on the PERA Dance B.A., the students continue to develop and expand
their range of technical skills whilst deepening their creative and performative skills. In
addition, the second year encourages the students to start thinking about their own creative ideas
and movement language by expanding on the improvisation skills, partnering and compositional tools
and methodologies introduced in the first year in their own independent work. During this year,
classes in Musical Analysis, Interdisciplinary Performance Practices, and Forms of Physical Theatre
are also introduced to expose students to a wider landscape of knowledge, expertize and artistic
possibilities. In addition, students get the opportunity to work with a variety of exceptional guest
teachers/artists throughout the academic year and are involved in numerous performance projects.
Alongside advanced technical training, the third year continues to develop the students’ creative,
artistic and performance skills. In addition, students explore working across various
industry-related modes including Media Exploration where they are encouraged to produce a dance
film. Furthermore, through focusing on several methodologies and materials handed over to them by
guest artists/ choreographers, students are expected to utilize the given creative tools and
strategies in the form of a practice-led research project. Students build on this process by
experimenting and searching for an individual working method, ideas, concepts, form and content.
During this year, the focus is to delve deeper into the compositional methods of specific dance
artists, not only to develop the students’ own creative practice but also to strengthen their
ability to work collaboratively to develop their work. At the final performance event of PERA, a
range of selected student works that were developed as part of their compositional exploration and
research projects, are presented.
The fourth year continues to focus on advanced technical, creative and performance skills. The
fourth year builds on the ability of the students to work independently by encouraging them to
experiment with an area of research selected by themselves. The aim is to allow this process to
deepen their search for an individual working method, ideas, concepts, form and content. As part of
their research project, students can also build further on the achievements of their previous
exploration concerning the use of media in dance, to investigate the influence of new technologies
on choreographic development. Through nurturing individual and artistic development, the particular
emphasis of the final year is on supporting the students in becoming professional dance artists
where they are fully prepared for further education, training and employment opportunities in a
professional setting. Acting with this incentive, PERA targets to provide its students with
internship possibilities and successful career placements in the field of contemporary dance,
performing arts and other creative industries.
