Dance performance, master

Why study here?

The master’s programme in dance performance consists of two years of full-time studies that develop your skills as a performer and as an independent and reflective artist. After graduating, you will be ready to work in the diverse and changing contexts of dance art. You will develop as a solo performer and as an active member of an artistic team.

Content and objective of the programme

The core of the studies is learning the versatile practices of a performer in the context of dance art and other similar art forms. You will complete studies and artistic projects in dance art. The contextual studies will give you some background to contemporary performance and a dancer’s work. You may also choose some individual studies. The thesis project consists of an artistic and a written component.

As a student, you will develop as a solo performer and as an active, reflective member of an artistic team. The studies will help you grow into an artist and a performer with a personal voice in relation to society and the changing views of art and humanity.

New curriculum to be launched

Our curriculum is currently being updated. Teaching according to the new curriculum will start in autumn 2024. Please keep this in mind when browsing the current curriculum.

Collaborations and traineeships

The Master’s Programme in Dance Performance collaborates with other degree programmes at the Theatre Academy as well as with the Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke). You have a lot of freedom in your curriculum, allowing you to complete a traineeship in the professional dance sector, pursue optional studies, or carry out personal projects. 

Teachers

Our teachers are experienced experts in their field. In addition to the permanent teaching staff, the programme welcomes top professionals from both Finland and abroad as guests on a regular basis.

Visiting teachers and artists in the degree programme in 2015–2017

Maryam Abdulkarim, Annette Arlander, Isabel Gonzalez, Niko Hallikainen, Kirsi Heimonen, Karin Jameson, Tuuja Jänicke, Outi Järvinen, Ami Karvonen, Jaamil Olawale Kosoko, Mari Kätkä, Jennifer Lacey, Benoît Lachambre, Sonya Lindfors, Miika Luoto, Anne Makkonen, Jukka Miettinen, Mirva Mäkinen, Fornier Ortiz, Anne Pajunen, Jeroen Peeters, Elina Pirinen, Pilvi Porkola, Mary Prestige, Mimmu Rankanen, Päivi Saraste, Jaakko Simola, Katri Soini, Harriet Sevelius, Jarko Taivasmaa, Jukka Tarvainen, Kirsi Törmi, Emmi Venna, Raisa Vennamo, Heidi Väätänen, Jeremy Wade.

Applying to the programme

The Master’s Programme in Dance Performance admits new students every two years.

Our University is one of the most sought-after places to study in Finland. Browse the admissions statistics from previous years.

Doctoral studies

A master’s degree allows you to complete, for example, a Doctor of Arts (Dance) degree as a third-cycle degree. Doctoral studies in dance are offered by the Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke).

Find out more

The degree programmes in dance (dance, dance performance, choreography) organise open lectures for the public, and the video recordings of the lectures are available online. Some of the works published as part of the Theatre Academy’s Kinesis publication series can be read online. Many of the dissertations are also available online as part of the Acta Scenica publication series. The publications are available for purchase at Unigrafia’s online store. The dance programmes also publish newsletters for their stakeholder groups and for anyone who is interested in dance.

Further reading: dance studies programmes’ joint blog (some of the texts are in English).