Zurich Dance Academy (taZ) looks back on a busy and successful academic year 2010/11:

National and International Competition Successes
Benoît Favre (aged 17), our fourth-semester advanced student, was honoured as the “Best Swiss Dancer” at the 39th Prix de Lausanne in February and awarded the prize of the Fondation Leenaards, endowed with CHF 2,500.00. Jack Bertinshaw, our sixth-semester advanced student, reached the final.

Three of our sixth-semester advanced students won the highest awards at the 2011 Tanzolymp Berlin, held at the Russian House of Science and Culture in February. Caitlin Stawaruk earned a silver medal in the Classical Dance category. Daisuke Sogawa won a gold medal for her performance in her age group’s classical section and a silver medal in the modern section. Andrei Cozlac was awarded a gold medal for his classical performance.

At the ”Youth America Grand Prix,“ one of the largest international dance and ballet competitions, held in New York in March 2011, Michael Grünecker (aged 18) reached the final, where he earned fourth place in the “Top 6 Men.”

Our introductory-level and advanced students carried off no less than six medals at the 16th Solothurn International Ballet Competition. The award-winning taZ students are: Yuiko Adachi, Lou Spichtig (gold), Laura Fernandez, Dominique Larose, Nastasia Vlahovic (silver), Roberta Inghilterra (bronze). Selina Peterhans, Fabienne Wäger, Julia Winnips, and Patrick Bruppacher reached the finals.

Giorgina Hauser and Benoît Favre were awarded the 2010 Migros Kulturprozent Study Award.

Presentations
On the occasion of the visit of the University of Applied Sciences Council in September, taZ students offered council members an insight into their pas de deux classes and a taste of their rehearsals of the modern choreographies “Ryu” and “Erdbeermund.”

In November, Jikkie van der Giessen and Samuel Wuersten, co-directors of Rotterdam’s Codarts University of the Arts, visited Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the taZ. Student presentations afforded our guests an insight into our introductory-level and advanced classes and the wide range of taZ programmes.

In March, taZ students performed a brief, mixed programme before members of the Supervisory Committee for Education and Health of the Cantonal Parliament of Zurich.

Events and School Performances
On the “Night of Dances,” held during the 2010 Kaiserball in December, taZ students performed various demanding classical and modern creations. The taZ Friends Association was responsible for organising the raffle ticket sales. With the help of students, faculty, parents, and association members, sales generated a handsome sum. Net proceeds went to the taZ Friends Association in support of its endeavour to promote young dance talents at the taZ.

At the Christmas Matinée, held on 18 December in the Media Campus Event Hall, student parents were treated to a mixed programme, featuring demonstrations of classical-academic dance, pas de deux, character dance, and modern dance.

Held on 16/17 April at the Schauspielhaus Zurich, the school gala performances marked the highlight of the 2010/11 academic year. Before two capacity audiences, the students presented a richly diverse programme of classical and modern choreographies. “Fussspuren VII” featured the performance of the challenging second act of the world-renowned ballet classic “Swan Lake,” in Lev Ivanov’s original choreography. The programme also included a wide range of new creations, including works by acclaimed national and international choreographers such as Kinsun Chan, Jochen Heckmann, Arlette Kunz, Raimondo Rebeck, and Marina Stocker-Diakova.

Training Weeks
During the autumn-, sports-, and spring holidays, our advanced students undertook intensive training under the supervision of taZ faculty and several international choreographers, including Nicole Siepert-Rzoska, Eldar Aliev, Ivan Dinev, Kelvin Hardy, Jochen Heckmann, and Harry Müller.

Young Talents
In March 2011, Zurich Dance Academy (taZ) hosted its public auditions outside Switzerland, in an attempt to recruit young talents. 80 young ballet enthusiasts aged 8 to 15 auditioned at the Scuola di Danza Classica e Moderna in La Spezia (Italy.

29 girls and boys aged 11 to 13 applied for admission to the aptitude test held on 5 March. Following the subsequent compulsory school entrance examination, 11 young dancers gained admission into our Introductory Studies 1

Our Open Day, held on 9 March, offered 78 visitors deeper insight into our wide range of courses.

We received 53 applications from children and youths aged 8 to 14 interested in attending our Taster Days from 2 to 5 March.

Since 2007, Zurich Dance Academy (taZ) has been a member of the Talent Advancement Programme run by the Zurich Sports Authority. 70 school children attending Grade 1 took part in the 6th “Talent Eye” Series. In November, 39 Grade 3 and 4 children participated in the 4th “Talent Zurich” Series, a “Talent Eye” follow-up programme. 

Graduates
In summer 2011, this year’s taZ graduates will be embarking on their careers as professional dancers, with engagements at highly reputable national and international theatres, such as the Ballet Company of Zurich’s Opera House, the National Ballet of Canada, Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Schwerin, and Ballet Bratislava; one graduate will be joining the Cinevox Junior Company.

Zurich, June 2011