Students, autumn semester 2014

  • I was born and raised in Basel. Apparently, as a child I just couldn’t keep still, so I started attending the children’s dance classes at my mother’s school at a very young age. When I was 13, I switched to the Theater Basel ballet school, where I graduated from the Arts and Sports School programme. While studying towards the school-leaving certificate qualifying to attend university (Matura), I was allowed to design my own curriculum. I attended professional dance lessons, mainly in Basel and Berlin. After obtianing my school-leaving certificate qualifying to attend university in 2013, I immediately enrolled at the Advanced College of Contemporary and Urban Dance in Zurich. In spring 2015 I passed the audition for the Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance at ZHdK, and started my comprehensive degree programme with direct entry into the third semester.

  • I was born and raised in Martigny in the Romandie. My early training in dance was at the Cantonal Conservatorium of Valais, where I also attended the Saint-Maurice upper secondary school. In spring 2014 I did my dance audition for the Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance programme, and, to my delight, I was accepted! My dream is to become a versatile stage dancer, and to work for as many choreographers as I can, across the widest possible variety of productions.

    Chloé Granges

  • I grew up in Winterthur, and ever since I can remember I have loved performing on stage. I attended the Art and Sports School at Rämibühl upper secondary school, which gave me the opportunity to complete the introductory course at the Zurich Opera ballet school – mainly in classical academic dance and modern dance. My dream is to perform on stage as a professional dancer, as part of a company or in a musical production. My training at the ZHdK in the Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance degree programme gives me the opportunity to keep developing as a dancer, to further refine my technique, and to prepare myself for the future. I don’t mind what that future is, as long as I am dancing.

    Naomi Kamihigashi

  • I come from the Netherlands, where I completed seven years at of dance training at Codarts: one year in the preliminary programme, five years at upper secondary level, and one year of the Bachelor degree programme in dance teaching. I am now delighted to be in the Bachelor in Contemporary Dance degree programme at the ZHdK, which I hope will bring me closer to realizing my dream of becoming a professional dancer.

    Lara Kleinrensink

  • I was born and raised in Delémont. I learned my first dancing steps at our local school, from Ines Meury-Bertaiola. I completed my upper secondary education at Lycée Cantonal de Porrentruy, while at the same time attending the Dance Academy, in classes with Galina Gladkova Hoffmann. I decided to enrol for the ZHdK, Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance degree programme because of its comprehensive coverage of dance techniques, and because it will equip me to take up what will hopefully be a professional career.

    Laetitia Kohler

  • I was born and raised in Naples, where I completed my school education. At the local ballet school, Balletteatroscuola Rossella Rossi, I acquired the basic skills I needed to apply for a place in the Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance programme at the ZHdK. I am delighted to be completing my training in Zurich, and my one hope for the future is to become a professional dancer.

  • I am from Sweden, where I lived and attended school until 2013. When I was ten, I started training at the Royal Swedish Ballet School, where I graduated in spring 2014. I then decided to continue my study at the ZHdK, to improve my knowledge of dance and learn different techniques, so that I can better express the things that move and excite me.

    Clara Olausson

  • I am from Holland, where I grew up in the small town of Wijk bij Duurstede. I started training and dancing at the Royal Academy of Dance when I was just six years old. Over the last five years, I have attended the Pre-Education Programme at Codarts in Rotterdam. I am really looking forward to studying in the Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance programme at the ZHdK, and am curious to see what the lecturers will be like, and what techniques they teach at the ZHdK. My aim is to get the very best out of myself.

    Lisette Robijn

  • I was born and raised in Italy. In Florence, I received a comprehensive training in classical academic dance, and also discovered the world of contemporary dance. I have already performed in some projects by Italian choreographers. To get better acquainted with the international world of dance and seek further input, I made the decision to leave Italy and enrol in the programme at the ZHdK. I am looking to find new paths for further developing my own dance language.

  • I was born and raised in Cremona, a small town near Milan. While Cremona may not be the ideal starting point for a future dancer,  I was able to get a training in musical theatre. When I had exhausted all my local opportunities, I moved to Milan, where I received my first ballet lessons, and came into contact with contemporary dance. The release technique was the aspect of contemporary dance that I was most interested in. I decided to audition for various schools, and ended up in Zurich at the ZHdK. I want to dance, because for me it’s like some sort of drug. I immediately feel great as soon as I walk into a dance studio. My dream is to become a skilled dancer, and to be able to communicate my innermost, secret world to others.
     

    Luca Tomasoni

  • I am from Holland, where I grew up in Zwolle, a small town in the northeast of the country. I completed my upper secondary education there, and attended dance lessons at the local DIFF Dance Centre. I was going to classes several evenings a week. Over the last two years, I have progressed to the Pre-Education Programme at the Fontys Dance Academy in Tillburg. I applied to Codarts, and was granted a place to study in Zurich – the auditions were actually for both institutions. I was over the moon, and see this as the start of my journey towards performing on stage as a dancer. This chance to complete a degree abroad is a wonderful opportunity for me.
     

    Evi Van Wieren

Photos by Caroline Minjolle