Interview with our first year Student, Thea Malfertheiner

One of our most dedicated students, Thea, 23 years old, is on our 1st year. Her story is very interesting, as she took the TAB course for 3 times, and then decided to join our 3 years dance education, as she felt super prepared to start her studies. We had a very nice chat with this great student:

Q: So you came from South Tyrol to Berlin! Can you tell us more about you, your age, what kind of dancing you like the most, and what was your main goal when you came and how did you get into studying dance?

A: Yes, I’m 23 years old and come from a very small village in the mountains of northern Italy. Unfortunately dancing is not a very common thing there. When I was a child I always wanted to dance, but my parents didn’t have the time and money to bring me to a dance school in the nearest city. So I was dancing around in my bedroom instead, or creating little choreographies with my friends for fun.
When I was 20, I was travelling by myself, because I was not sure what to do with my future. During my travels I got to see many different little dance performances in different countries and locations. Every time when I saw those people dance, I was touched by it in my heart and sometimes even moved to tears. I felt, that this dream to dance was still very strong inside me. So I was on a 22 hour bus ride in the middle of nowhere and had a lot of time to think about my dreams and future. I wrote down all my thoughts in my diary and that is when I decided that I really wanted to start dancing. Two weeks later I was in Sri Lanka, searching on the internet for dance programs where I could dance every day, without having to audition. That is how I found the TAB course in DANCEWORKS berlin. And 2 months later I was here taking my very first dance class in the TAB program at the age of 21. The kind of dance I enjoy the most is contemporary dance. When I started I didn’t think that it would be possible for someone starting that late, to ever get into a professional dance education. So my main goal was to finally give myself a chance to follow my passion.

Q: Wow, this is impressive! You have done the TAB for 3 times before getting in our first year Ausbildung. That is hard work and persistence! Can you maybe tell us what it felt like, how did that help you and how do you see yourself now, compared to when you started your TAB journey?

A: After the first term of the TAB program, to stop dancing was not an option for me. Even though I was working 8 hours a day, I renounced my lunch break in order to come to the studios in time. It just made me so happy every day and I could not imagine to give up.
So I continued with the TAB and in the end I made it to train with a more advanced group. At that point my teachers encouraged me a lot to keep going and to audition for the full time professional education, which went well. In the pre education I gained the basics that are necessary to continue. During TAB I noticed, that for some dancers in my class it was more about dancing as a hobby, now as I’m in the full time education, the students are more focused and ambitious, and so am I. Still now, it is hard for me to keep up with my classmates, who mostly have more experience in dance. But I have already learned so much and I am very thankful for all the support that comes from the teachers and other students.

Q: Certainly you are very dedicated and a strong dancer, as we have noticed on your work daily on the studios. Anyways, what is your plan for the next 2,5 years of dance education in Danceworks?

A: Throughout this education I want to work hard and pull out the best dancer I can find inside myself. It will take a lot of dedication, patience and emotional strength, but I know that it’s worth the work. Already now, I reached a point, where I never thought I could be. And of course I did not come this far to only come this far. This is a chapter of my life, that just feels really good and makes me happy every day. So my plan is, to keep on working on this new me and turn myself into a confident and proud dancer.

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We wish Thea all the best and we are proud to have her among our students!

The New TAB starts in September, and you can already apply here: https://www.danceworks.berlin/en/pre-education/

Congratulations on the Performance for our 3rd years' students, performing "About Time", in TIPI Am Kanzleramt, in Berlin, for Babylon Europa!
On last Sunday, May 5th, our beautiful dancers performed in this great event for a massive audience, and it was a blast! The piece, named About Time, was created by our third years' students, facilitated by the Composition Docent Anna-Lise Hearn, with costumes by the fashion designer Selina Hirsch, and performed by Aseel Qupty, Frederikke Schultz, Giuliana Corsi, Jacob Borchert, Julia Köster and Kyra Van Biljon. Well Done!

INTERVIEW WITH GIAN MARCO MEIER

Graduated in 2018 in Danceworks Berlin

Photo: Olga Kuzminskaya

Q: How was it for you to get the job offer in Munster Theater immediately as you graduated? How do you see it now and what is the future looking like for you, in the company?

A: I was lucky to be invited for a private audition, so I didn't have the pressure of trying to draw the attention. I took the company class in the morning, which was classical training.
Afterwards I joined the rehearsal and one of the company members taught me an excerpt from a solo, which I then had to perform as well as adding some personal improvisation to it.
Now, that I've been in the company for some time I think it had a great impact on my dancing. Being surrounded by so many experienced and talented dancers from all over the world is giving me so much inspiration to approach dance in a new and different way. I'm very lucky to announce that I was offered a beginners contract with the company, so I will be dancing with the company full-time for 6 months starting in the end of October this year.

Q: That is amazing! Congratulations! And how is the training routine for your job, how different is it from when you were a student?

A: The training is as follows: In the morning we have company class, afterwards we go straight to rehearsals. Depending on how involved you are in the rehearsal of that day, you could have a short day and be home early, other days you will stay in the studio for 8 hours. The biggest difference to my dance training is, the morning class is supposed to be a warm-up for the rest of the day, as well as an opportunity to continuously work on your technique and improve as a dancer. The rehearsals afterwards are all about the artistic process of learning a new piece and bringing it on stage.

Q: Seems exciting. And what are your plans for the future?

A: My plans for the future are to keep on improving, gathering as much experience as possible and grow, through working with different choreographers.

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We, from Danceworks, wish Gian the best and a lot of sucess on his career!

Am 31. Januar und 1. Februar 2019

Öffnen wir wieder unsere Studios für 2 Performance-Abende!
Die Tickets sind schnell ausverkauft!

Photo credit slider © Olga Kuzminskaya

6. Oktober 2018: RED ROOM - A CLAUSTROPHOBIC DANCE DRAMA

Am 6.10. zeigten Studenten unserer Exzellenzklasse in den Nordischen Botschaften in Berlin RED ROOM - A CLAUSTROPHOBIC DANCE DRAMA, Choreographie Sigge Modigh.

Photo credit: Olga Kuzminskaya

Donnerstag, 08.03.2018, 15:30 Uhr

Open Showing "900 Minuten"

Choreographie: Mata Sakka, Dozentin professionelle Berufsausbildung DANCEWORKS berlin, Choreographin & Performerin bei Sasha Waltz & Guests

Tänzer: 1. Klasse der professionellen Berufsausbildung Zeitgenössischer Tanz DANCEWORKS berlin

Musik: Mata Sakka

Ort: DANCEWORKS berlin, Oudenarder Straße 16-20, 2. Etage, 13347 Berlin

EINTRITT FREI

© Philippe Rives / www.berlin-event-fotografie.com