The profound changes occurred both in the training and professional systems of contemporary dance in the last 20 years can be considered a “revolution” that still affects the entire sector. If by “modern dance” we can define the developments that, starting from the late XIX Century, led to a new way of conceiving the movement as opposed to the classical academic ballet, the role of several professional figures working in the field has even more changed in the contemporary era. On this basis, most professions involved in the sector must cope with new languages and methodologies that are often not fitting with their traditional training systems. This (r)evolution demands a re-definition of curricula and general update of training programs in accordance with the most recent trends. In fact, contemporary languages have become more and more important within the European dance scenario, thus modifying not only the culture connected to the dance in general, but even the systematic approaches to vocational training of professionals and technicians, who demand for an harmonized recognition of knowledge, competences and skills both at national and EU level in order to increase their employability and allow transferability within the EU training systems and labour market. According to these premises, the specific objectives of UP2DANCE are: • To outline the key professional profiles involved in the contemporary dance industry and boost a process for the recognition and validation of their knowledge, competences and skills according to EQF principles, including those acquired through non formal and informal learning; • To boost coordinated initiatives at EU level for the development of joint updated curricula and the harmonisation of vocational training courses in partners’ countries; • To strengthen cooperation and the exchange of good practices among partner organizations concerning vocational training in the field of contemporary dance. UP2DANCE aims support the modernisation of education and training systems, in particular through a better use of EU transparency and recognition tools and the exchange of good practices concerning the dance industry at European level, in order to boost the process of harmonisation and update of curricula of the professional profiles according to the requirements of the contemporary scenario. Some key professional figures to be addressed throughout the project have already been identified by the Coordinator and surely include the following: • ballet maitre • choreographer • dramaturg • dance teacher • dancer • digital set designer • technicians Through cooperation among partners, the implementation of the project envisages the following results: A cycle of national round tables, each of them dedicated to a specific professional figure in the dance industry will lead to the production of a comparative analysis of professional profiles and corresponding educational paths in partners’ countries and recommendations to address the mismatches between qualification frameworks and contemporary professional figures. Four Peer Learning Workshops for the exchange of good practices in training among the staff of partner organisations will result in a manual of innovative methods and practices identified at national level. A Memorandum of understanding among partner organisations aimed at fostering long-term cooperation for the promotion of joint initiatives and the exchange of experiences, resources and opportunities. UP2DANCE is expected to generate a positive impact on the following target groups: • partner organisations and their staff (around 35 people involved in project management and implementation); • Dance teachers, trainers and other professionals in the dance industry; • Representatives of the dance sector; • Policy-makers; • External Stakeholders: artists and professionals from private companies, public bodies, organizations working in the dance sector, small and medium VET providers and professional schools, universities. The project end will be celebrated in Rome with an original final event titled “One day every day”, hosted by the University Theatre La Sapienza, representing a typical day of work of a dance company. The final event will include several dance performances and a conference targeted to stakeholders to present the main project outputs.
UP2DANCE aims to support the modernization of education and training systems, in particular through the exchange of good practices concerning the dance industry at European level and a better use of EU transparency and recognition tools, in order to boost the process of harmonization and update of curricula of the professional profiles according to the requirements of the contemporary scenario. In detail, the project intends to achieve the following objectives: • To outline the key professional profiles involved in the contemporary dance industry (dancer, dance teacher, repetiteur and choreographer) and boost a process for the recognition and validation of their knowledge, competences and skills; • To strengthen cooperation and the exchange of good practices among partner organizations concerning vocational training in the field of contemporary dance; • To boost coordinated initiatives at EU level for the development of joint updated curricula and the harmonisation of vocational training courses in partners’ Countries.
“UP2DANCE – Updating professional profiles towards contemporary dance” project seeks to investigate the profound changes occurred in the system of contemporary dance in the last 20 years as opposed to the classic academic ballet, that can be considered a “revolution” that still affects the entire world of dance. Dance companies willing to differentiate their offer face numerous challenges, amongst which: • The need of a re-definition of curricula and general update of training programs in accordance with the most recent trends; • professional working in the field must cope with new languages and methodologies that are often not fitting with their traditional training; • the situation in Europe is not homogeneous at all: Northern EU countries have almost fully embraced contemporaneity and are now drawing the change, in South-eastern Europe these new languages and approaches still lack a proper diffusion in the vocational training programs and have not led to the definition of new curricula yet; • vocational training courses are still based on obsolete programs and models designed for other sectors. As a result, the recognition of professional figures is still scarce and fragmented, with negative consequences for professionals’ employability.