(Master of Dance Teacher 2022, Artistic Master Class 2025)

Artistic Master Class 2025

My research work, which began in August 2023, focuses on dance pedagogy after having completed my master's degree in dance pedagogy in 2022 at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden. It is based on my experience of 10 years of dance teaching, my own questioning in terms of identity and development but also on an observation of my fellow classmates and colleagues concerning their personal analysis of being a dance teacher nowadays. 

I therefore decided to conduct an international survey, focusing on ballet and contemporary dance teachers, still active or not teaching anymore, whether they work in amateur settings, vocational schools or with professional dancers. 

In many cases, the question arises of whether to reproduce the teaching methods dance teachers received or to venture into new approaches that are better suited to current generations. I was also interested in the impacts (emotional, physical or sociological) that the practice of this profession can entail, as well as the importance of proper training for this profession. 

By giving them a voice, I was able to gather feedback from 168 dance teachers, who passionately shared their impressions of this profession, and could already draw conclusions on certain speci?c points (real choice towards this profession, mental load, physical impact, preparation for this profession). From this initial analysis, I have the opportunity to present my work to the dance pedagogy students (MADT 1 & 2) at the Palucca University of Dance and ?nish by creating a handbook for the University's student dance teachers, based on my research and the resulting discussions. 

I hope that the end of this study program offered by the Palucca University of Dance is in fact just the starting point for the creation of a larger project, promoting the development of this profession for the benefit of those who practise it, and indeed their students as well. 

I wish to express my gratitude to those who advised, supported, supervised and guided me throughout this project: first of all, Prof. Juliana Sabino Wilhelm, who encouraged me to apply for this program because she recognized my passion for this profession and my desire to help its development. Then, my advisors Dr. Anja Centeno Garcia and Véronique Jean who helped me in the first months to put together my ideas, as well as my successive mentors Prof. Jason Beechey then Prof. Fernando Coelho and of course, Prof. Rita Aozane Bilibio as program director of the Artistic Master Class, for her warm support. 

I would like to thank the Palucca 日博体育 für Tanz Dresden, which proposes this research program, and where the teachers are always willing to exchange ideas with me about this profession and where I always feel so warmly welcomed. 

Finally, I would also like to acknowledge the financial support of the S?chsische Landesstipendium, which has enabled me to devote myself fully to this research work.

Aurélie Lafaye