Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen Institute for Applied Theatre Studies

MA Choreography and Performance (CUP)

The Institute for Applied Theatre Studies, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen in cooperation with the Contemporary and Classical Dance Department of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt/Main, is offering a Masters degree in “Choreography and Performance” (CUP) for the first time.

It is a reaction to the fact that the job description of the choreographer has changed dramatically. Just as it is not sufficient to be able to dance well in the contemporary dance field, but that they have to be trained as choreographically thinking performers, the art of choreography is no longer in deciding on steps and their specification. Future choreographers must be converse with knowledge of the body in movement and should use this productively. Furthermore, all varieties of means at a stages’ disposal, at least since dance theatre of the 1970s, are utilised. Space concepts, independent use of light and the use of language naturally belong to the repertoire of the dance artform. Even public spaces are increasingly incorporated in aesthetic perspectives and their practices.

As a result of this development an interest in academic work and knowledge in scholarly working methods concerning the field of dance, theatre, and performance is desirable. This double qualification enables artists who work in those fields to critically reflect on their own practice and to develop and communicate independent approaches, which have to hold their ground in social and artistic surroundings. In order to enable such a comprehensive way of thinking, the communication of historical and theoretical basics are as indispensable as bodily practice during the degree in various forms of training, research into movement and body consciousness methods.

The new Masters degree in Choreography and Performance is a considerable component of the whole concept of „Tanzlabor_21/ein projekt von Tanzplan Deutschland“, initiated by Prof. Heiner Goebbels und Prof. Dieter Heitkamp in collaboration with the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt/Main. Prof. Dr. Gerald Siegmund is the director of MA CUP.

The Concept of the MA in „Choreography and Performance”
The MA in „Choreography and Performance“ aims at students who have both an interest in scholarly academic work and who have intensively dealt with the fields of dance, body, movement, choreography, and performance in their studies and artistic processes.

The degree has been developed as a consecutive MA degree and builds on a first professional qualifying university degree of Applied Theatre Studies, dance or adequate completed training plus possible professional experience, spanning over several years, leading to a further professional artistic qualifying degree. The goal is to train artistic personalities, who are prepared for the complexity of the demands of contemporary performing art in the field of dance and performance theoretically and practically.

The professional use of competence gained during the degree is very extensive and depends highly on the individual students, their talent, previous training and the individually-chosen focal points. The capabilities and knowledge attained during the degree can lead to an independent artistic career, eg. In the fields of choreography, performance art, installations or video dance. Further professional fields are dance dramaturgy (town theatre, production or festival dramaturgy), for concept and organisation in the areas of culture (eg. Management of dance festivals and competitions) and for journalistic and editorial capabilities (above all print media). Also in the fields of “Dance in schools”/”Community dance”/”education projects” will open new professional fields to graduates.

Study process
The MA has been designed to expand on, deepen and reflect theoretically in seminars as well as in practical courses on dance-scientific, dance-practical and theatre-scientific content and sample one’s own work artistically and practically. The degree is completed with a successful completion of all modules, the thesis consists of one’s own artistic practical work.

The following modules are completed in the two year Masters degree in Choreography and Performance (in total 120 CP):

1. Year of Study

• Dance history and dance theory
• Contemporary aesthetics and performance
• Choreography/artistic practice
• Dance practice, body formation, movement research
• Art and music
• Management and organisation
• Formation of profile

2. Year of Study

• Body staging
• Specialisation module
• Assistance module
• Artistic MA thesis

Admission approval conditions for the Masters degree in Choreography and Performance
The artistic entrance examination enables, as one of the admission conditions, the choice of students, who are predestined for this degree, according to their aptitude and talent. The low number of students (3-5 per year) enables the teachers to support individual students systematically.

Formal Conditions
For admission to the Masters degree in “Choreography and Performance”, the following conditions are in place:

• BA in Applied Theatre Studies at the JLU Giessen (Minimum mark: 2 or better) or:

BA (or equivalent degree) in a theatre-relevant degree with focus on dance and/or performance (Minimum mark: 2 or better)

• And artistic entrance examination (artistic portfolio, BA thesis or equivalent scientific work, oral examination).

An additional condition is a basic knowledge of German and English. (Full particulars found in the “Spezielle Ordnung”).

Only those who show special knowledge and capabilities which possibly enable a successful completion of the Masters degree “Choreography and Performance” also from an aesthetic and artistic viewpoint can be admitted. The necessary aesthetic power of judgement and artistic aptitude is determined within the framework of an entrance examination.

Applicants for the upcoming cycle (winter term 2010):
Deadline online registration: 4-1-2010
Receipt of the portfolio: 5-15-2010
Oral examination: 6-25-2010