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We are DOCH, the School of Dance and Circus
Our education and research combine high quality and critical reflection with scope for innovation. Our objective is to educate independent artists and educators, making them well equipped to embark on their future careers and drive the development of dance and circus as art forms.
As a student at DOCH you meet a diverse range of teaching staff with visiting lecturers from all over the world. You train in modern circus and dance studios – often to live music. You study in an international environment characterised by knowledge, creativity and respect. At DOCH there are opportunities for international exchanges and a close connection to research and professional environments. During your studies you will gain deeper knowledge of the significance of art and its role for people and society. You will work on not only your own artistic processes but also those of others and will explore your own form of expression.
DOCH works together with the surrounding art and science worlds, nationally and internationally, and is a hub in the Swedish spheres of circus, dance and dance pedagogy. We offer several study programmes at first-cycle and second-cycle levels as well as courses and commissioned education. We conduct and develop artistic research in the fields of dance and circus. Dance pedagogy plays a part in dance as an artistic subject and another important part in pedagogy as a scientific subject, and we cooperate with research and education environments at other higher education institutions. Our professors, doctoral students and those of our teachers who also conduct research generate new knowledge within the research specialisation of choreography. About 55 permanently employed teachers and a very large number of visiting lecturers work at DOCH. We have about 200 students from more than 20 countries.
Contact details for DOCH staff
The Department of Circus encompasses all programmes and courses in circus
We work with and conduct research within various advanced circus techniques and develop the artistic traditions in order to achieve a high level of technical and artistic skill. The objective is for the students to gain knowledge about the many forms and expressions of circus and link this to the field of contemporary art, thereby contributing to an expansion of circus as an art form.
The Bachelor Programme in Circus. Photo: Einar Kling-Odencrants
The Department of Dance encompasses all programmes and courses in dance and choreography
We provide education and conduct research within contemporary dance and choreography. The objective is for the students to cultivate their ability to take part in developing the artistic practices and to critically assess them. This creates opportunities for the future dance artists to challenge existing practices and strive for expansion in the field.
The Bachelor Programme in Dance. Photo: Einar Kling-Odencrants
The Department of Dance Pedagogy encompasses all programmes and courses within the field of dance education
Through our research and education we develop the artistic and educational skills of dance pedagogues and dance teachers. The students deepen their knowledge of dance, choreography and artistic processes from a contemporary didactic, aesthetic and socio-cultural perspective, which contributes to the development of new methods and contexts for creating, presenting and teaching dance.
The Bachelor Programme in Dance Pedagogy. Photo: Tove Hellkvist
Music Section
At DOCH we emphasise the importance of musical education. We therefore bring in musicians to teach music and play to our classes, examination assignments and artistic productions. The Music Section is responsible for providing relevant knowledge, developing courses and events, and supporting and developing the representative role of music in our activities in close dialogue with heads of departments and teachers.
The Music Section photo: Håkan Larsson
History
1963 The Institute of Choreography, “Koreografiska institutet” opens, offering a one-year programme in Choreography. The premises were located in the Blanche Gallery (now Sweden House) in Stockholm.
1964 A programme in Dance Pedagogy is established, later moved to Blasieholmstorg 8.
1965 The Choreography Programme and the Programme in Dance Pedagogy are extended to three years.
1966 The Mime Programme begins on a trial basis, made into an official educational programme in 1977, with Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts taking over in 1993.
1970 The school begins to be run by the state under the name The National School of Dance, “Statens dansskola” and moves to new premises in the Film House.
1978 The National School of Dance is reorganized as a university under a new name, the University Collage of Dance, “Danshögskolan”.
1985 The Board for Artistic Development, then known as the KU board, is established.
1987 The Education in Folk Dance is established.
1990 The University College of Dance moves to Sehlstedtsgatan 4.
1992 The first artistic professorship is established.
1993 The Education in Dance Therapy is established.
1994 Education for dancers starts in the form of a two-year further-training programme.
2001 The first PhD Candidate is admitted, in cooperation with the Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University.
2005 A Contemporary Circus Programme on the first-cycle level begins on premises in Alby outside Stockholm.
2006 The English name is changed to "University of Dance" in connection with the move to Brinellvägen 58 at the campus of the Royal Institute of Technology, and a Dancer’s Programme on the first-cycle level is established.
2008 The Master Programme in Choreography is established.
2008 A PhD Programme in Choreography begins, in cooperation with the Royal Institute of Technology and DOCH's two first PhD Candidates are admitted.
2010 The University of Dance changes its name to DOCH, the University of Dance and Circus, "Dans och Cirkushögskolan".
2011 A Master Programme in New Performative Practices, NPP, is established.
2011 A Teacher Education in Dance for Upper Secondary Education is established.
2012 A new circus hall is inaugurated on the campus to house the circus department.
2013 A Master Programme in Contemporary Dance Didactics is established.
2013 The first doctoral thesis by a PhD Candidate from DOCH and Stockholm University is defended.
2014 DOCH enters into Stockholm University of the Arts and the English name is changed to “School of Dance and Circus”.
2016 The Master Programme in Contemporary Circus Practices is established.
Number of students
1963: 10
1970: 60
1980: 60
1990: 80
2000:150
2010: 200
Dean
2014–present Petra Frank
Vice-Chancellors
2006–2013 Efva Lilja
1996–2005 Kari Sylwan
1976–1996 Lena Malmsjö
1971–1976 Lilian Runestam
1963–1971 Bengt Häger
1963 Birgit Cullberg
Professors
2016–present Jon-Paul Zaccarini, Circus
2011–present Chrysa Parkinson, Dance
2009–present Lena Hammergren, Dance Theory
2008–present Cecilia Roos, Dance Interpretation
2008–2013 Cristina Caprioli, Choreographic Composition
2003–2007 Jens Graff, Dance Interpretation
2003–2006 Efva Lilja, Choreographic Composition
1993–2004 Erna Grönlund, Dance Pedagogy
1993–1995 Anne Wigert, Dance for Children
1992–2002 Margaretha Åsberg, Choreographic Composition
Visiting Professors
2016 Max Scheja, Pedagogy
2013 Maria Lind, Curatorial Practices
2013 Sue Stinton, Dance pedagogy
2013 Linda Kapetanea, Dance
2013 Nicole Peisl, Dance
2010–2011 Daniel Gulko, Circus
2010–2011 Amanda Steggel, Choreography
2010–2012 Johan Widén, Art
2010 Irena Purschke Bronett, Circus
2007–2009 John-Paul Zaccarini, Contemporary Circus
2007–2012 Birgitta Sandström, Pedagogy
2006–2014 Ana Sanchez Colberg, Choreography
2005–2010 Tilde Björfors, Contemporary Circus
2004–2009 Lena Hammergren, Dance Theory
2000 Jacqueline Smith-Autard, Dance Pedagogy
1998–2005 Julian Moss, Contemporary Dance
1998 Jean Geddis, Dance Pedagogy
1995 Walter Nicks, Jazz Dance
1995 Karen Levy, Contemporary Dance
1990–1991 David Yoken, Music
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