Although they are interrelated, we can distinguish two types of objectives in the present Erasmus+ project: development objectives for our educational organization and learning objectives for the students. Among the most important European development goals for the RCPD Mariemma are: — to increase the quality of our teaching, providing a European dimension to dance education given at the center; — to guarantee the qualification of future dance professionals trained in our center; — to broaden the horizons of our students; — to connect with stakeholders; — to promote the international projection of our conservatory; — to transmit our artistic heritage in dance in Europe. Student learning objectives: — development of their linguistic competence in a foreign language; — development of their cultural competence (knowledge about other styles of dance, other learning methods different from the usual ones, access to the European artistic-cultural heritage...); — personal balance and social insertion and performance objectives: motivation, solving practical questions derived from participating in a study abroad activity, proactive integration with a good attitude in a foreign center and in Belgian social and cultural life.
In our days, general and dance education process is carried out within a global and changing context; the European environment being our immediate scope of reference. In this situation, the Royal Professional Conservatory of Dance Mariemma faces a series of important needs and challenges that can improve both our educational organization and benefit our students. The most important needs and challenges are the following: 1) To expand our learning environment, overcoming the borders of the conservatory and integrating European educational projects in the educational project of our center on a stable basis, taking advantage of the effects of the environment to enhance the learning of our students and favor the exchange of educational ideas. 2) To preserve, promote and disseminate our dancing intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in Europe. 3) To highlight and raise our center and our educational work in the field of dance internationally. 4) Comparative pedagogy: the comparative analysis of the teaching-learning procedures carried out in different countries as a source of knowledge and improvement of dance education in our center (comparison of curricula, didactic methods, schools and artistic styles of dance, and so on).