CONTEMPORARY DANCE (BA)

About the Study Program

The three-year undergraduate university program in Contemporary Dance at the Academy of Dramatic Art is the only accredited university-level contemporary dance program in Croatia and the only one in the region offered at a public university. With two specializations—Performance and Teaching—it provides a broad, comprehensive, and up-to-date dance education based on the most contemporary artistic, educational, theoretical, and somatic approaches, making it the leading program in the region. 

New students are admitted according to a model of two consecutive years of enrollment followed by a one-year break. 

Applicants must choose their specialization when applying for the entrance exam. 

Both specializations are available only for full-time students. General and theoretical courses are attended jointly by all students, while some specialized courses are conducted separately for each track.

Performance Strand

The Performance track is designed to equip students for an engaged and creative contribution to the contemporary dance scene and to prepare them for the challenges of a career in the dynamic, mostly non-institutional context of contemporary dance. 

Intensive practical training in the dance studio forms the core of the curriculum. Daily technique classes (Contemporary Dance Techniques and Ballet) refine technical and performance skills over three years, emphasizing bodily awareness and movement comprehension, which are further deepened through somatic practices. 

Personal creative development is encouraged through courses in Improvisation and Choreography, supported by a range of creative workshops. A mentoring approach fosters each student’s unique creative voice. Numerous public performances, student showcases, and intensive performance projects provide experience in the professional context of dance production. Additionally, performances—including reprises of exam productions—are organized outside the Academy at various site-specific locations, guest performances, and festivals.

 The program integrates practice and theory. Practical work is accompanied by continuous reflection, while contemporary dance and personal artistic practice are examined through the lens of contemporary theories in historical, cultural, and socio-political contexts. In the third year, an extensive Research Project under mentorship provides experience in independent project work within a student’s area of interest and prepares them for a professional career in contemporary dance. 

Upon completing the Performance track of the undergraduate Contemporary Dance program, students earn the title of University Bachelor of Contemporary Dance (univ. bacc. art.) and acquire competencies in contemporary dance performance. 

Successful alumni work as independent artists in dance ensembles and companies as choreographers, dancers, and collaborators on artistic projects in dance, theatre, visual arts, music, and multimedia. They also work as leaders of amateur dance workshops and courses, as teachers in contemporary dance schools, and as dance writers and independent project creators.

Teaching Strand

The Teaching track is designed to provide students with prior dance experience the essential competencies for high-quality, safe, methodologically sound, and creative work in contemporary dance education. 

Alongside fundamental practical courses in dance techniques, choreography, and somatic practices, the program focuses on dance pedagogy from the second year onwards. Theoretical concepts from methodology and pedagogical-psychological courses are applied in teaching practice, which takes place in dance schools, the Academy’s student workshop, and other educational contexts to develop practical teaching skills. These are supported by movement analysis, kinesiology knowledge, and continuous reflection. Through the lens of contemporary theories, dance and personal artistic and teaching practices are examined in historical, cultural, and socio-political contexts. 

Students may continue to deepen their artistic interests and dance skills by choosing practical dance courses from the Performance track. In the third year, an extensive Research Project under mentorship provides experience in independent project work within a student’s area of interest and prepares them for a teaching career or further academic study. 

Upon completing the Teaching track of the undergraduate Contemporary Dance program, students earn the title of University Bachelor of Contemporary Dance Education (univ. educ. bacc. art.) and acquire competencies for work in vocational education as well as in recreational and amateur contemporary dance education.

Successful alumni of the Teaching track work as teachers in contemporary dance schools, directors and leaders of national and independent dance ensembles, university lecturers, professional dance workshop and training instructors, leaders of recreational dance programs in cultural centers, amateur clubs, and general education institutions, as well as independent artists, choreographers, and dancers.