Update from 09.01.2024
Administrative investigation completed, report published
Full report of the administrative investigation
Summary from the report (English)
Comparison of the recommendations and the measures taken
The law firm Rudin Cantieni Rechtsanwälte AG presents the report concerning the administrative investigation into ballet education at Zurich Dance Academy (taZ). The investigation concludes that the school has largely fulfilled its duty of care towards its students. Only in cases concerning the handling of body weight and psychological integrity did taZ partially fail to fulfil its duty of care. As a result of the events, taZ has already decided on extensive measures and implemented most of them.
Measures
The measures that have already been decided upon and largely implemented are as follows:
Interim management team taZ
Since August 2022, the interim management team ensures the quality and continuity of the dance education for taZ students. It will remain in office until further notice. The interim management team is dedicated to the goal of establishing ballet education at taZ in line with contemporary pedagogical, artistic and health-promoting practices in the field of dance. This is reflected in holistic support and a teaching culture that places the individual at the centre and cultivates a positive and encouraging relationship with the students.
The interim management team also focuses on a leadership culture of participation and lives a transparent communication culture – thanks to the committed involvement of students, lecturers, parents, and boarding school staff.
Pedagogy and further training
In recurring training sessions, the pedagogical heritage of ballet education is scrutinised and teaching methods are evaluated. Since the autumn semester of 2022, regular professional development courses and workshops have been held with lecturers as well as the taZ interim management team on topics such as communication/feedback, dance psychology, working in an intercultural and multi-professional environment and the «Health, Excellence and Career Development» (HEC) health concept. In this way, lecturers and their supervisors are sensitised and shown alternative methods of action.
In addition, workshops are also offered for students (mainly in the main study programme) on topics such as health, contact points within ZHdK and dance psychology.
In the autumn semester 2023, the rotation of lecturers was introduced so that several lecturers teach a class in rotation during a school year.
The dance repertoire has also been expanded, and both the entrance examinations (two-day audition workshop in classical, contemporary and improvisation) and the content and grading of the semester examinations (experience from the entire semester is taken into account) have been adapted.
Health
Since autumn 2022, taZ has been in the process of implementing the new health concept «Health, Excellence and Career Development» (HEC) for taZ.
The Health Coordination Office has been in place at taZ since November 2022 and is on site every day. Students can contact the Health Coordination Centre directly with any questions regarding their physical or mental health. Depending on the topic, students are referred to appropriate specialists: functiomed doctors (contractual cooperation), physiotherapist, psychologist, contact person DDK/ZHdK etc.
Since August 2023, there has been an in-house physiotherapist (who is also available to Bachelor Contemporary Dance students) who is present every day. The physiotherapist is responsible for general prevention and individual rehabilitation programmes following injuries on site. In addition, regular training sessions are held for students and lecturers on various health topics. Since January 2023, taZ has also been working with a leading manufacturer of professional dance shoes, which enables a customised fit of pointe shoes and reduces the risk of injury.
In the 2023/24 school year, a 5-day week was introduced for taZ students. Previously, lessons were also held on Saturdays. As of this school year, Saturday is free, serving as a day of rest for recovery.
Since June 2022, taZ students have regularly been informed about who they can turn to in case of complaints. Six internal representatives and one external representative office are available for all ZHdK staff and students to contact. Both the internal representatives and the external representative office offer maximum protection and discretion. The Equal Opportunities & Diversity Office of ZHdK is also available to taZ students. Boarding school students can also turn to their reference persons at the boarding school, the social pedagogues.
Weight
Since June 2022, there have been no more weight checks at taZ, the BMI requirement for students in the main study programme has been abolished since the 2022/2023 school year and has been deleted from the regulations of the Zurich Dance Academy’s school guide.
In addition, as stated in the taZ Code of Conduct, there are no longer any measurement regulations or negative assessments of body image and weight. In the event of health or nutritional issues, the health coordinator will seek dialogue with the student. Depending on the course of events, additional specialists may be consulted in a further step.
Participation
The creation of active participation in the form of a student and parent council was initiated by the interim management team: A student council has been in place since autumn 2022 and a parents’ council since autumn 2023. The involvement of taZ employees has also been strengthened. This includes a weekly meeting between the teaching staff and the taZ interim management team as well as regular meetings between the entire taZ team and the interim management team.
Evaluation
In addition to the annual survey of all students completing their training since 2017 (analogous to the final survey of the entire ZHdK), there will be an annual anonymised teaching survey from 2023. A pilot survey was conducted in June 2023. Both results reports will be discussed with the taZ interim management team and the Director of the Department of Performing Arts and Film.
New organisational structure and realignment of ballet education
The organisational structure of the new Department of Dance with Jason Beechey as designated Head of Dance (see media release dated 25.10.2023) is intended to strengthen the synergy between ballet education and the Bachelor's and Master's programmes in Contemporary Dance.
The reorganisation of ballet education at ZHdK is based on the concept of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in dance. The focus is on the versatility of the dancers, the broad and strong technical basis, the integration into relevant (inter)national networks, the connection with a variety of partner organisations and individual artists and teachers as well as the connection to the working world.
Of great importance for the reorientation of ballet education is also the exchange with other ballet education programmes that are also working on a progressive reform of education. Examples include the international network Assemblée Internationale, initiated by Canada’s National Ballet School, and the aDvANCE network, initiated by the Royal Ballet School London.
Report of the administrative enquiry
To ensure transparency, ZHdK has decided to publish the report in full. For reasons of personal privacy, the names of those involved and passages that allow conclusions to be drawn about students and staff have been anonymised.
Update from 23 March 2023
No results yet from the administrative investigation at the Zurich Dance Academy
In late May 2022, an external tip-off prompted the then President of ZHdK, Thomas D. Meier, to set up an administrative investigation into ballet training at the University. The law firm Rudin Cantieni Rechtsanwälte AG was commissioned to conduct it.
Procedural aspects have now delayed the prospective conclusion of this administrative investigation. Regrettably, the duration of this delay cannot be predicted at the present time. The interim management team at the Zurich Dance Academy is currently ensuring the quality of dance education at ZHdK and safeguarding the integrity of both students and staff.
The Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) is continuing to do everything it can to clarify the allegations swiftly and completely and will not tolerate any humiliating, discriminatory or racist behaviour on the part of its staff or students. No more detailed information may be given on the matter under investigation until the administrative investigation has been completed.
Update from 6 July 2022
Interim management team confirmed
An interim management team will take over the operations of Zurich Dance Academy (taZ) during the ongoing administrative investigation Besides the operations manager Sandra Nussberger, prof. Jason Beechey, Rector of the Palucca University of Dance in Dresden, and Samuel Wuersten, Artistic Head of Contemporary Dance at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), will be part of the team. The teachers’ representative and Kristina Trolle, the quality manager, will join the interim management team as well.
The new management team will prepare and distribute the upcoming tasks during the summer break and then actively enter taZ operations at the start of the school year in mid-August 2022.
Update from 22 June 2022
Directors of Zurich Dance Academy resign from offices
Oliver Matz and Steffi Scherzer are temporarily resigning from their positions at Zurich Dance Academy. This is their reaction to the ongoing administrative investigation and the resulting pressure on all members of the taZ. The step was taken in agreement with the University Board of ZHdK and is intended to ensure the smooth continued operation of the taZ for the students.
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Update from 16 June 2022
The President of ZHdK has commissioned the law firm Rudin Cantieni Rechtsanwälte AG with the administrative investigation. The fully documented results are expected at the end of the first quarter of 2023.
Persons who would like to provide information for the administrative investigation can contact the law firm Rudin Cantieni Rechtsanwälte AG (untersuchung (at) rudincantieni.ch, +41 44 200 30 30) or Patricia Felber Rufer, Head of Equality & Diversity at ZHdK.
Update from 1 June 2022
Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) opened an administrative investigation into the ballet education after an external indication was received. Former students of the Zurich Dance Academy (taZ) raised allegations, which concern the teaching methods and the handling of body weight at the taZ.
For Zurich University of the Arts the psychological and physical integrity of its students is of utmost importance. ZHdK is committed to providing a safe space for its students and takes its responsibility towards them very seriously. Out of this responsibility, the President decided on 31 May 2022 to initiate an administrative investigation. This administrative investigation, conducted by external experts, intends to assess the facts in greater depth. The aim is to complete the evaluation by the end of 2022. No detailed information on the subject of the investigation can be given before the administrative investigation is completed.
No humiliating, discriminatory or racist behaviour is tolerated at ZHdK. The Anti-Discrimination Regulations designate internal and external trusted contacts and define the processes available to all members of the university who feel affected by such behaviour.