Choreography (B0215A310024)

Programme objectives

The Bachelor’s programme in Choreography is focused on providing the basic elements of a future choreographer’s education. This education includes familiarisation with the basic principles and possibilities of the choreographic craft, and their application in independent creative work on compositions of a smaller scale and with a smaller number of performers (including organisational matters and technical means). Students will showcase their choreographic knowledge and skills publicly during class-year performances, and above all in their Bachelor’s thesis project. In addition, the programme of study includes education in theory, which provides students with a background for understanding the principles of the art of dance and its specifics in relation to other artistic fields. Another essential component of the curriculum is an overview of the history of dance and its placement in the wider artistic context. The historical and theoretical education underpins the conception of the written Bachelor’s thesis. Students also develop their movement experience in such a way so that they have rich movement material for composition work, as well as knowledge of the principles of individual techniques, methods and styles.

The programme emphasises the understanding and mastery of choreographic procedures in the areas of ballet d'action and abstract dance. Students are able to work with a musical template and express the relationship between the dance structure and the musical structure, including working with a musical score and collaborating with a musician or composer, as well as a music or sound director.

Students are able to create a libretto on the basis of which they develop a script and gain experience working in a creative team. Emphasis is placed on working with the performer, acquiring an understanding of and facility with the movement dictionaries of various techniques and styles, and on understanding individual genres.

Profile of a programme graduate

A graduate of the Bachelor’s programme of study in Choreography has mastered the ability to create choreographic compositions in line with various criteria of his or her future choreographic practice based on a musical or dramatic assignment and applying the basics of arrangement with mainly a chamber interpretive composition. He or she is well oriented in choreographic approaches based on modern and traditional dance techniques, and is able to create movement compositions on the basis of experience from practical lessons.

The graduate has also acquired an overview of the history and theory of dance, especially in its artistic form. He or she has a notion of the contemporary conception of the art of dance and dance composition, both domestically and abroad, and is familiar with the main currents, creators and works of the past and present. He or she is equipped with movement and dance skills, and has an overview of dance styles and their principles. The graduate has mastered the principles of choreographic composition and is able to independently apply them in his or her own work, freely or on an assigned topic, and which is showcased in the graduate choreographic work. When creating a choreographic composition, the graduate is able to independently seek out sources of inspiration, and to arrange and design a choreographic production in cooperation with specialists for its individual components. He or she has mastered the organisational procedures and technological tools for choreographic work.

Programme graduates possess broad knowledge of the history, theory, concepts and methods of the art of dance and the selected field, and they know how to apply this knowledge in artistic/creative dance practice. They know how to seek out, classify and interpret information or sources of inspiration relevant for addressing a specific problem or for creating an artistic rendition on an assigned topic. They know how to use dance terminology and the basic technology of the given field, as well as how to execute a public artistic performance organisationally as well as with respect to copyright and technical considerations at a level appropriate for the field. Graduates are able, within their field and according to the general task and allocated resources, to coordinate the activities of a creative team in the production of an artistic work of a smaller scale and simpler nature, and to be responsible for its results. They are able to take into consideration the ethical dimensions that may be involved in addressing certain problems. They are able to communicate information concerning the nature of specialist issues in the area of dance and non-verbal theatre, as well as their own opinions on how to address such issues, to experts and laymen alike and in a comprehensible and convincing manner. Graduates are able to cooperate efficiently and harmoniously on collaborative projects in a team and to coherently summarise the opinions of other team members. They are able to transact within the scope of their specialist knowledge and skills in at least one foreign language. They are able to independently acquire additional specialist knowledge, skills and competencies, mainly based on their practical experience but also by independently studying the theoretical findings of the field.

Students also have the opportunity at any time during their studies to sit for a state examination in pedagogical competency. A prerequisite for taking this state examination is completion of the relevant optional subjects: Pedagogy, Pedagogical Psychology and Didactics / Teaching Practical in Dance.

General information about admission process

The admission requirements are a completed secondary education, choreographic talent, knowledge of dance techniques preferably at a professional level, interest in the field documented by previous creative experience, knowledge of music theory, musicality, an overview of the history of dance and ballet, of music and theatre, and general cultural knowledge.

The admissions proceeding shall consist of 3 eliminative rounds; points earned in individual rounds are not added together.

The student shall submit at least 2 video sharing confirmations as a printed annex to the application, and shall also send them as a machine-readable PDF document to sekretariat.k107@hamu.cz.

Round 1 by correspondence

• video recordings of at least two complete choreographies (not fragments) of different character, composition or number of dancers (there can be at most one solo) of at least 3 minutes in length or longer. The applicant is not limited by dance style, however. Any brief characteristics of the work or accompanying texts (4-5 sentences) are welcome, e.g. what was the inspiration for the choreography’s inception, how did the author proceed in creating the choreography, what is the choreography’s relationship to the musical template, was the choreography assigned or consulted with someone, etc. The choreographies will be evaluated based on their work with music, work with space, the uniqueness of their movement material, their dramaturgical structure, and their creative and/or interpretive concept, as the case may be.

Round 2 in person

1. a written test on general cultural maturity, the history of dance and ballet, and the history and theory of music
2. a practical examination in dance techniques (classical, modern, folk)
3. a practical performance of another of the applicant’s own choreographic works (i.e. not one of the two submitted in Round 1) of 3–6 minutes in length, executed either by the applicant or through performers. The choreographic work must differ from the compositions sent in Round 1.

Round 3 in person

1. creation of two choreographies of 3 - 6 minutes on site within a specified time limit (approx. 3 hours). One of the choreographies will be based on assigned music; the other will have choice of music from several options.
2. an interview on the contemporary art of choreography, current theatrical events, and the history of dance, music and theatre

The requirements of the admissions proceeding, including a designation of the method by which points are awarded, their range and the admissions target, are defined for each academic year by a relevant Decree of the Dean, which is subject to approval by the academic senate of the faculty.

If not enough applicants receive the required number of points, the admissions target will not be met.

Foreigners who are applying for the standard Czech-language programme (costless tuition mode) must submit a confirmation of Czech language proficiency at the B1 level according to CEFR from an accredited institution.