Choreography in Schools
Development of a curriculum concept for university study and continuing education
Funded by: Tanzplan Deutschland, an initiative of the German Federal Cultural Foundation
Project Director: Professor Gabriele Klein
Research Assistant: Heike Lüken, Dipl.-Kulturwiss.
Project term: 8/2009 – 2/2011
Research objective
This project aims to develop a modular concept entitled “Choreography in Schools” to promote the development of dance and choreography in schools. This concept is to be integrated into the University of Hamburg’s teacher training and continuing education curricula. It is designed to facilitate implementation of curriculum guidelines for Darstellendes Spiel (drama and performance), a subject that is widely available in Hamburg’s school system. Synergy effects and the permanent establishment of a Dance and Choreography curriculum module at university-level research and teaching institutions in Hamburg are being pursued through close cooperation with the BMBF-funded “Choreographic Toolbox” research project conducted at the Centre for Performance Studies.
Research process
The modular Choreography in Schools concept is being developed over the course of an 18-month research phase, drawing upon contemporary choreography and artistic movement and dance research to enhance the teaching of choreography specifically within a school context. The concept content and curriculum is developed by evaluating choreography projects previously conducted in schools. Interviews with experts and international artists provide a link to contemporary dance-artistry practice. In parallel, ways to integrate this concept into teacher training and continuing education are analysed and outlined.
Implementation
The curriculum concept is being integrated into continuing teacher education with partial funding from the Hamburg Schools and Vocational Training Authority (BSB). The continuing education concept is designed around the insight that the teaching of choreography must be intimately bound up with choreography in artistic practice. Experienced instructors and internationally renowned artists and choreographers conduct the continuing education courses. The first one-year, 120-hour continuing education programme was conducted in the 2011/12 academic year; the second one is upcoming in 2012/13.