undergraduate
professional training
in contemporary dance
SEAD’s undergraduate program Artist in Process consists of four years: six sessions of four to six weeks each per year. Successful completion of the four years earns a diploma in either choreography or performance.
SEAD’s orientation is on practice and the organization of the curriculum reflect this. There are many classes and workshops in place that are intended to support and augment the daily physical practice in areas that are theoretical, reflective and otherwise related to future goals for the professional dance artist. All elements of the four year curriculum are meant to complement each other to advance the student toward reaching their their goals.The program strengthens and refines the dancer as preparation for a professional career in dance. Practical necessities for making and presenting work, are an integral part of the education as well.All students participate in all aspects of our monthly productions,on as dance interpreters and behind the stage as stage managers, lighting assistants etc.
structure of a session
Classes and workshops with full time teachers and guest teachers 5 days a week; additional extra workshops are included often on Saturdays.
Guest teachers come for all or part of each 4 – 6 week session.
Projects of all sorts are a part of every session. At any given time, students are engaged in performances and events; from small self informal showings to school wide events that engage the whole student body.
Seminars in specific subjects involving invited artists from different areas of the field are invited to share knowledge for an intensive period of time.
Structure of a day
- contemporary and ballet daily
- yoga several times per week
- classes in pilates, gyrokinesis, somatic practices and alternative techniques
- workshops in choreography, improvisation, theater, movement research, contact improvisation, partnering
- dance analysis and history, repertory, anatomy, production – in the form of weekly classes and/or workshops
- rehearsals for school sponsored and independent choreographies, sometimes extending into the evening
structure of a year
- 6 sessions of 4 – 6 weeks each
- a one week break between sessions
- a 3 week break at Christmas
- a 1-2 week break at Easter
curriculum
As every year has a unique focus, each student will be placed into the year the faculty determines to be the most appropriate at this point in the student’s education.
Grounding
1st year
In the Grounding Year, students are expected to receive information with an open mind and body to build their knowledge of contemporary dance techniques with preparations for performance and choreography.
Basis: Yoga, Ballet, Contemporary
Focus of the school year: theatre, introduction to choreography and compo-sition, repertory, movement research, improvisation, creation, music, anato-my, artistic research, partnering, dance history and different workshops.
Locating
2nd year
Students in the Locating Year work with a deepening sense of the informa-tion provided by their teachers and mentors and begin to establish them-selves as performers and choreographers. Students choose their major, performance or choreography, by the end of the school year.
Basis: Yoga, Ballet, Contemporary
Focus of the school year: movement research, improvisation, artistic re-search, partnering, composition, creation, anatomy, dance history, music and different workshops.
Refining
3 year
Refining Year students begin to take more responsibility for themselves in determining their strengths and weaknesses while clarifying individual inter-est and working towards a definition of what it means to be an artist.
Basis: Yoga, Ballet, Contemporary
Focus of the school year: choreography concentration, improvisation, com-position, dance theory, creations and different workshops.
Going on
4 year
Going On Year students should be highly self-motivated, directing their per-sonal interest within the range of performance and choreographic opportu-nities, and on becoming a professional dancer.
Basis: Ballet, Contemporary
Yoga class optional for all Going On year students
Focus of the school year: Solo project, improvisation, partnering, movement research/composition, theatre, repertory, creations and different theory and performance based workshops.
audition
SEAD holds auditions annually for entrance into the four-year undergraduate professional dance program, the postgraduate I.C.E. program, and the one-year intensive FIRE program. The first round auditions take place in numerous different cities around the world.
exchange
SEAD is connected with international and European partners and provides a clear image of Salzburg to the world as an innovative, contemporary city of art and culture. Auditions take place in more than 15 international cities yearly.
New York University Tisch School of the arts
In 1998, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts dance department and SEAD began a collaborative project. Every year, students from SEAD spend six weeks in New York to broaden their horizons and enrich their dance practice.
admission & tuition fees
Our programs combine annual tuition fees with a tiered administration fee, which varies by course and year of entry. Full details can be found on the Tuition Fees page.
