THE STUDIOS PROGRAM IS AIMED AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS’ ARTISTIC VISION AND CREATIVE SKILLS. THIS HAPPENS IN A COLLECTIVE ENVIRONMENT: STUDENTS DEVELOP A RANGE OF PROJECTS DURING THE COURSE, IN COLLABORATION WITH PEERS AND IN RESPONSE TO THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM.
STUDIOS IS A FULL TIME PROGRAM. EACH YEAR CONSISTS OF APPROX. 1800 WORKING HOURS, OF WHICH 30% (IN THE 1ST YEAR) AND 20% (IN THE 2ND YEAR) ARE COLLECTIVE TAUGHT CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS.
THE PROGRAM DEVELOPS ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES.
YOU CAN CHECK THE NAMES OF TEACHERS HERE.
MOVEMENT RESEARCH
Movement research encompasses a series of collective workshops, classes and individual practice sessions in which the students get in touch with a wide range of (dance) techniques, visions on movement and strategies for generating, building and writing movement. This way the students get to develop a movement practice that embodies their artistic vision, guided by a coach.
CHOREOGRAPHY & COMPOSITION
Through masterclasses the students get immersed in the creative world of choreographers with a distinct artistic practice, get a first-hand insight into their artistic methodologies and are provided with tools that nurture their artistic work and put it into perspective.
THEORY
In a series of seminars on art theory, abstract thinking and sociology, students discuss, reflect and write on theoretical topics. The program encourages students to position themselves in relation to discursively relevant developments in the field of performing arts and societal issues. Part of the program is dedicated to the preparation of Master Project II (Reflection and Documentation). Next to the collective seminars students can opt for an individual theory line in which they deepen their knowledge on a certain topic with guidance from a theory coach.
STUDIOS PRACTICE & SELF-DIRECTED STUDIO PRACTICE
Students gradually develop a studio practice in which they conceptualize, develop and create their own research and creation, either individually or in a collaborative setting. Students can opt for Self-directed Studio Practice or take part in the projects of others and take up different roles in the process (performer, co-author, dramaturge, outside eye, production assistant, ...) The process is accompanied by a mentor. The students are encouraged to carry out projects outside the school walls and to involve professional partners.
CROSS-CULTURAL THINKING
Throughout the STUDIOS program a great deal of attention is paid to cross-cultural thinking. It is a point of interest that is not themed in one subject, but is interwoven throughout the entire program to create a greater awareness. First and foremost, there is a very diverse influx of nationalities at PARTS and the STUDIOS program creates space to work actively with this given. The program is not only approached from a Western perspective but creates space for content from other parts of the globe, both through the invited artists and thinkers and the themes that are addressed. We deem it important that students, while developing their own (artistic) identity, engage themselves within the complex reality of the world today and become aware of the power relations and privileges that come along with it. Therefore the school sets up and takes part in exchange projects outside of the European continent in which the students get to engage themselves actively with different teaching and training methods and get confronted with other perspectives on the meaning and role of art in society.
In this context, a special partner is Ecole de Sables in Senegal, where the STUDIOS students did a 5-week exchange project in January 2020, with the participation of 10 young African performers and makers, and a host of experienced African dance teachers and choreographers (see Extra Muros) . A similar exchange project will happen again in 2023.
FIELD WORK
Students can propose internships with professional artists or organizations in the frame of the course for a maximum of 5 weeks per year. STUDIOS is a residential program but creates active bridges to the professional work field. A lot of attention is given to tailor-made accompaniment in order to create a relevant and sustainable network for each student within the performing arts field and beyond.
GRADUATION WORK
The two year trajectory culminates in the graduation work that consists of two parts: Master Project I (creation and performance) and Master Project II (reflection and documentation).
In Master Project I students outline their personal research questions and trajectory to create an autonomously developed graduation project, supervised by a coach. The graduation work starts from a research question in dance and choreography, but can take a hybrid or multidisciplinary form. The student works towards a live performance and can opt for various audience constellations (participatory performance, installation, work in public space, ...), which will be brought together in a festival format at the end of the trajectory (see festival 2021).
In Master Project II the student delivers a written document and documentation that shares insight into the research questions, the artistic methodology and the artistic vision of the graduation work. Also here a coach supports the student.
CONTEXTUAL LABS
Students acquire practical knowledge relevant for artistic research and production through a series of sessions with experts: feedback procedures, documentation strategies, modes of collaboration and co-imagination, basic technical skills, administration, career management, employment, art policy & fair practice, author rights, communication, etc.