DANCE CENTER PRAGUE

Dance Center Prague is the first educational and artistic institution which brought modern and jazz techniques to the Czech culture and constantly connects them with classical ballet and other fields of contemporary dance theatre. Its tradition dates back to 1961 when the first underground endeavors appeared, and later, a dance center comes to life under the patronage of Charles University and with the help of many foreign experts. Nowadays the center includes an eight-year dance conservatoire, the Ballet Prague Junior dance company and an agency which provides courses of dance teaching and import and export of choreographers, teachers and companies. One of the most important aims of the center is a support of general and special education of dancers, their confident and quality integration in managements of artistic and social organizations and development of Czech culture. (See the educational concept for more information.) The center has a seat on the premises of Charles University called Větrník in Prague 6. In the last twenty years this place has become a mecca of Czech contemporary dance. The building is gradually being rebuilt into one of the biggest grounds of dance education and esthetic movement education in the Czech Republic.

Several hundreds of dancers have undergone the Dance Center Prague education. Some of them dance in Czech companies (e.g. Prague Chamber Ballet, the Ballet of the National Theatre Prague, the Magic Lantern and others), others work abroad (Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Haag, Barcelona, Lisbon, Pécs and others) or have graduated from universities (Charles University, Academy of Music, Drama and Dance). "People from Větrník" hold important posts in Czech artistic, educational and social organizations.

1. DANCE CONSERVATOIRE
It is an eight-year secondary school providing full secondary education ("maturita" examination - similar to A-levels) and higher secondary education ("absolutorium" examination). Students have to be at least 12 years old. The main characteristics of the school are:
- Eclectic education of classical, contemporary and jazz dance, including their balanced use in stage practice and choreography. Optional practical subjects include tap, hip hop, folk dances, choreography, dance teaching (which enables students to enter the career as a dancer as well as a teacher).
- Teaching of general subjects is based on educational curriculum of eight-year grammar schools. Optional theoretical subjects are focused on humanities, aesthetic subjects and languages mainly. There are also seminars of artistic subjects, humanities, teaching and medical subjects. This enables students to continue studying at universities.
- Compensative activities and sports are developed during the whole years of study, attention is paid to rehabilitation, health care, prevention, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle while keeping demanding and attractive educational plan.
- Stage experience of students is consistently encouraged in school dance companies called "Ballet Prague Junior" (higher grades) and "Baby Ballet Prague" (lower grades) as well as at co-operating theatres (the National Theatre in Prague, Na Fidlovačce Theatre, Komedie Theatre), commercial and promotional events, film and TV projects etc.
- Foreign contacts are being thoroughly developed: approximately 20 per cent of dance lessons and 50 per cent of choreographic works are led by foreign lecturers and choreographers. Students are motivated to constant activity in this direction.
- Thanks to the quality and compatibility of theoretical subjects of the school, students do not have problems with transferring to other secondary schools in case they have had health problems or other difficulties.

2. AGENCY - METHODOLOGICAL CENTER
"How to create a dancer" - educational performances for schools (since1996) using the repertory of school companies and stage experiences (full-lengths evening program about 30 times a year in 15 towns in the Czech Republic)

Children's studio - preparation department, (since 1984) basic dance education - basis of dance techniques, acrobatics, tap, dance sports (hip-hop, funky etc.), selection and preparation of students of primary schools for further dance study, also teaching practice for students of the Dance Center Prague (2 classes - 26 pupils aged 6 -15).

Information center, (gradually since 1980) library, video archive, archive of the center, management of the website of the center: "www. tanecnicentrum.cz" and the information server "www.balet-tanec.cz", co-operation with Czech and foreign universities and colleges, research and grant projects of artistic and educational character.

Methodological department (gradually since1980) includes professional collaboration with dance companies and schools, auditions, artistic projects of the center, building of teaching staff, coordination of the board of advisers and artistic board, production and distribution of methodological materials (audio and video), obtaining Czech and foreign teachers and dance experts.

Extramural study of dance teaching (since 1994) - further education for teachers -an educational program accredited by the Ministry of Education. This course is for teachers, artistic directors, trainers and applicants for further intensive dance study (3 grades - 60 students). A project of higher secondary dance school is being negotiated.

International Dance Week (since 1987)
This event includes a festival, seminars and workshops with foreign and Czech choreographers, teachers and companies (more than 30 companies and 60 teachers from 16 countries have taken part since 1987, seminars are attended by more than 120 students and teachers from the whole Czech Republic every year).

Summer Dance School (since 1988) provides lessons of dance techniques, workshops, lectures, video projections, participation of foreign teachers and experts (since 1988 the participants have been including students, teachers and enthusiasts from the whole Czech Republic - more than 100 participants a year).

Summer Dance Workshop (since 1994) is a three-week intensive choreographic workshop for a group of young Czech and foreign dancers (chosen in an audition) with 3 choreographers (Czech and foreign), which leads into full-length premiere performances that also become a part of the main repertory of Ballet Prague Junior.

Christmas Dance Scene (since 1995) is a program composed of choreographic pieces, stage studies and music with pastoral and Christmas themes performed by school companies and guests of the center. These performances are shown in attractive places such as the Ballroom of Prague Castle, Na Fidlovačce Theatre, Goja Music Hall etc.

The premises of the TCP (DCP) "Na Větrníku" are situated at Prague 6 - Petřiny. The building is being rebuilt and renewed to become top artistic and educational grounds. The project is coordinated with the Municipal House of Prague 6, PE Department of Charles University and artistic organizations.

3. "BALLET PRAGUE JUNIOR"
Ballet Prague Junior (founded in 2000 and based on the first Czech modern dance company called VUS - TCUK) is a school chamber company composed of the 14 best students of higher grades of the
Dance Center Prague - Conservatoire, an ensemble of young dancers similar to those in Haag, Paris and Barcelona. Present name of the company came into being as an honor to the famous Ballet Prague and the generation of choreographers who brought contemporary dance onto Czech stages in the 1960s. The repertory is born mainly during workshops before significant festivals and tours to Prague, Nyon, London, Paris, Aberdeen, Tropea, New York, and last but not least Valtice. Program of the company contains about 40 performances per season including educational performances for schools called "How to create a dancer", foreign tours "from Tashkent to New York"and tours in most European countries, as well as festivals, competitions and scholarships abroad.
Several generations of dancers have undergone the company among them Jiří Kylián, Vlastimil Harapes, Petr Zuska, Jan Kodet, and many young artists from dance schools from Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Bratislava, Varšava, Lódz, Györ and Pécs, who in the last decade staged 16 choreographic pieces in the total length of 12.5 hours. Czech choreographers: Ivanka Kubicová, Petr Zuska, Jan Kodet, Pavla Königsmarková, Vlasta Schneiderová, Antonín Schneider and foreign choreographers: Bruce Taylor (France), Derek Williams (USA), Cesar Moniz (Portugal), Attila Egerházi (Hungary), Michael Popper (Great Britain), Rui Horta (Portugal). Music of main choreographic pieces also has a post-modern frame: from Johann Sebastian Bach to John Cage and Arvo Pärt.

A quality junior company supported by the enthusiasm of the youths and noticeable professional performances can make a very interesting and original dramaturgical line. It is also very convenient when traditional "theatres of stone" cannot afford this for different reasons. Lower costs, simpler production and technical conditions open a way to smaller regional theatres, cultural centers and even to schools. The ensemble is very mobile and can satisfy social and commercial demands outside theatre premises.

While in the 1960s - 1980s we were looking for help in Western Europe and America, we freely developed these ways of underground in the 1990s. The interest in dance art is gradually increasing and thus demands of authors rise as well. On the other hand, there are many commercial impulses and modern waves that often lower the quality and high demands of contemporary art. This is the reason why we should pay special attention to education of the new professional artistic generation, to promotion, marketing and enlightenment in the area of contemporary dance theater and general aesthetic movement education.
Auditions for external members of Ballet Prague Junior are held regularly before Summer Dance Workshops (in April for the August workshop or the next season). Please send your applications and CV either by post, fax or Email by 31 March.

"BABY BALLET PRAGUE"
Baby Ballet Prague (founded in 2003 is a school chamber company composed of the best 18 students of lower grades of the conservatoire. The repertory and program corresponds to the age and ability of the 2nd to 4th grades of the conservatoire of the Dance Center Prague.
Auditions for external members of Baby Ballet Prague are held at the same time as regular entry auditions (in April for the following season - application forms and CV are to be sent either by post, fax or Email by 15 April).