Education & Training
On this page you will find information on education and training within the performing arts in Denmark; both on the practical and the theoretical level; divided into the following two categories: Theatre and Dance (both specified below)The practical and theoretical approaches to Theatre and Dance Studies are two separate things in Denmark.
Practical education takes place in four public educational institutions and a number of private schools. The state schools are: The Danish National School of Theatre, which also includes The Danish National School of Contemporary Dance, The Aarhus Theatre Drama School (Skuespillerskolen v/Aarhus Teater) and The Odense Theatre Drama School (Skuespillerskolen v/ Odense Teater).
Theoretical education within theatre and dance is primarily the preserve of the universities: Theatre Studies at the University of Copenhagen, Dance Studies at the University of Copenhagen, and Dramaturgy at the University of Aarhus.
The Danish National School of Theatre, Copenhagen
This is the only school in Denmark that trains actors, directors, set designers, lighting technicians, sound technicians, production technicians and stage managers.
The most important and distinctive feature of the Danish National School of Theatre is the extensive professional coordination among the training programmes. In all courses of training, the instruction alternates between theoretical subjects, profession-specific basic subjects, and practical work on the stage with fellow students or professionals from outside the school. It is a 4-year programme and is free of charge. Approximately 100 students attend the school.
Aarhus Theatre Drama School
Aarhus Theatre has three specialist schools for actors, dramatists and technicians. The purpose of the Drama School is to establish a cutting-edge educational programme that takes into consideration the classical requirements for the art of acting and is still open to ever new types of stagecraft and kindred art forms. The focus is on fundamental acting techniques and artistic consciousness. The education is geared toward established institutions within theatre, film, TV and radio.
This is a 4-year programme and is free of charge.
Dramatist School at Aarhus Theatre
This specialist school for dramatists and playwrights was established in 1993 at Aarhus Theatre. It is a three year course with an intake of 6 students every third year. The training includes: the writing process, theatre history, dramaturgy and a great number of hands-on workshops in collaboration with actors and directors.
Theatre Technician Training at Aarhus Theatre
This four year course is run in collaboration with The Aarhus Technical College.
Odense Theatre Drama School
This school only trains actors. The emphasis of the education is to train actors to work in the theatre as well as in film and television. In theatre, the training is aimed at working in both established professional theatre and innovative, experimental theatre. The focus is on the student’s own personality, imagination and individual potential. This is a 4-year programme and is free of charge.
Odsherred Theatre School
Over the past 10 years, the school has been a continuing education and development centre with a special focus on theatre for children and young people. This school also manages, in cooperation with Childrens' Theatre Union, The Dramatists' Greenhouse that offers training for dramatists of childrens' theatre.
Private Theatre Schools
School of Stage Arts (SOSA)
SOSA is the only school for performance art in Denmark. The overall objective of the school is to train a creative actor, an actor who considers all space as potential theatre space and masters its theatrical possibilities. The school is an independent unit of the regional theatre, Cantabile 2.
The Commedia School
The Commedia School is a two-year, full-time actor training program. The course of study is based on the educational methods of Carlo Mazzone-Clementi and Jacques Lecoq.
Holberg Film/Theatre School (Film/Teaterskolen Holberg)
The school offers a 3-year education in “method acting” for theatre, film and television. The school has three major fields of study: method acting (training for film and theatre), practical acting (film/theatre practical experience and production) and film directing (directing actors and story development).
University Studies - Theatre and Performing Arts
Theatre Studies / University of Copenhagen
Theatre studies comprehends theatre as an art form and as a social phenomenon. The field of study includes practical, analytical work with theatre in all its aspects from production and performance to communication and audience impact, from dramaturgy to stagecraft, from live theatre to electronic media. The education offers both a BA and an MA degree.
Dramaturgy / University of Aarhus
Dramaturgy studies the staging of everyday life and the framework, forms of communication and quality of experience that is connected with theatre. Research and teaching comprehend the subject’s many areas, including theatre’s social aspects and the functions of the dramaturge in the fields of culture and education. The education offers both a BA and an MA degree.
The Danish National School for Contemporary Dance, Copenhagen. The school trains actors, directors, scenographers, stage managers, production managers, sound and lighting technicians, contemporary dancers, choreographers and dance pedagogues/danseformidlere. It also offers supplementary training to professional theatre and dance artists. The dance-pedagogue training is a one-year programme while the other programmes last four years. The continuing education consists of short courses, workshops and seminars.
The Danish Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus
The conservatory offers a 4-year education in rhythmic music and movement. The education specializes in song, dance and acting, exploring ways of merging all three.
Rytmisk Musikkonservatoriumhttp://www.danishperformingarts.info/3310033 (The Rhythmic Music Conservatory), Copenhagen
A 3-year teacher education program in music and movement, offering a bachelor’s degree with the opportunity to obtain an additional 2-year advanced degree. The goal of the education is to qualify the graduate both as a practicing musician and as a music and movement instructor.
LABAN (Dance-Movement Studies)
This Laban-based education is a degree-awarding course of study. It is a 1-year programme concentrating on expressive movement and dance.
Dansestudiet (The Dance Studio)
The school is based in Århus, providing a 1-year basic programme in dance and a 2½-year advanced education in dance. A wide array of dance genres is offered (from classical ballet and jazz dance to contemporary dance).
Danmarks Show- og Teaterskole (The Show and Theatre School of Denmark)
The school offers a 1-year programme in show dance, dance instruction, and instruction and choreography.
The Danish Academy of Musical Theatre – Fredericia
The school offers a 3-year programme (eligible for student subsidies), whose purpose is to give students a thorough knowledge of the various genres of musical/musical theatre and to train them to a professional level in singing, dance and acting.
Sceneindgangen Dance Studio (The Stage Entrance Dance Studio)
Sceneindgangen Dance Studio is an independent studio which offers a 1-year fulltime preparatory dance education in modern dance, jazz, ballet and musical theatre.
Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School
Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School offers a 1 year fulltime Preparatory Course in Contemporary Dance. From 2008 Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School offers a 3 years Professional Dance Education as well.
University Studies - Dance
Dance Studies / University of Copenhagen
The Aesthetics and History of Dance is a subject that is developing in close collaboration with dance studies in the other Scandinavian countries. The subject was established in 1989 at the Department of Nordic Philology but is located today in the Department of Arts and Cultural Studies. The Aesthetics and History of Dance has today firmly planted itself in international Dance Studies.