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DOCH, School of Dance and Circus

Innovative and experimental

Here, new artistry is developed that will change our ideas of what we think we know.

DOCH provides a high level of education for circus artists, dancers, dance pedagogues, dance teachers and choreographers. We also provide professional artists and educators the opportunity for further education and training.

Do you want to become a student at DOCH, School of Dance and Circus?
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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.

Cirkusföreställning med Kandidatprogrammet i cirkus foto Einar Kling-Odencrants
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.

Dansföreställning med Kandidatprogrammet i dans foto Einar Kling-Odencrants
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.

Repetition Kandidatprogrammet i danspedagogik foto Tove Hellkvist
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.

Musiker på cirkushallsinvigningen foto Håkan Larsson
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

Vice-Chancellors 

2014– Paula Crabtree
2006–2013 Efva Lilja
1996–2005 Kari Sylwan
1976–1996 Lena Malmsjö
1971–1976 Lilian Runestam
1963–1971 Bengt Häger
1963 Birgit Cullberg

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Our premises

DOCH is located on the KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) campus in Stockholm. Most of the activities and administration moved to the address Brinellvägen 58 in 2006, and the premises at Brinellvägen 34, which house the Department of Circus and DOCH’s circus hall, were inaugurated in the spring of 2012.

Brinellvägen 58

The building at Brinellvägen 58 was constructed in 1966 for Mechanical Engineering at the KTH. The building also contained Energy Engineering, which has since moved to the neighbouring building at the address Brinellvägen 68. The architect was Gunnar Henriksson, who also designed the former premises of the KTH School of Architecture. What was then the University of Dance moved into the building in 2006, and the premises cover an area of about 8000 m².

Våra_lokaler_B58_Håkan_Larsson_1500x1000.jpg
Brinellvägen 58. Photo: Håkan Larsson


In total, the building at Brinellvägen 58 has 14 dance studios, including four large ones (each of which measure 200 m² and have a ceiling height of 9 m), four medium-sized studios (approx. 100–120 m²) and six smaller ones (60–80 m²). All dance studios and the stage have underfloor heating. The stage (measuring about 350 m²) is flexible with moveable raked seating, that enables the performance space to be changed as required.

Våra_lokaler_B58_Jasmine_Attie_1500x1000.jpg
Brinellvägen 58. Photo: Jasmine Attié
 

Brinellvägen 34, the Circus Hall

The building was originally constructed in 1972 for Land and Water Resources Engineering at KTH and it was designed by Gunnar Henriksson. The Circus programme moved into the building in 2012 following a renovation.

Våra_lokaler_B34_Ben_Hopper_1500x1000.jpg
Brinellvägen 34. Photo: Ben Hopper
 

DOCH’s premises at Brinellvägen 34 comprise a total area of 1910 m², of which the Circus Hall occupies about 325 m². The properties are owned by Akademiska Hus, which was also responsible for the rebuilding projects.

DOCH cirkushall Brinellvägen 34
Brinellvägen 34. Photo: Einar Kling-Odencrants
 

Our sign

The letters D O C H are made out of shiny stainless steel. The design is the result of a collaboration between Johanna Möller at Strax Design, and landscape architect Pia Englund at Nyréns arkitekter. The sign won the major sign prize awarded by the Swedish Sign Association in 2011.

Accessibility

Brinellvägen 58

Car parking: Car parking spaces for vehicles with a disability parking permit are available next to the main entrance.

Entrance: The main entrance at Brinellvägen 58 is on ground floor level and is equipped with an automatic door opener.

Lift: The lift features a push button for automatic door opening. All floors used for our activities are wheelchair accessible.

Disabled toilets: All floors used for our activities except the basement include a toilet adapted for users with disabilities.

Brinellvägen 34

The objective when designing the premises at Brinellvägen 34 was to have a high level of adaptations for accessibility, i.e. to comply with Building Regulation BBR08 issued by Boverket (the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning) and Riv Hindren, a brochure of guidelines on accessibility issued by the Swedish Agency for Participation.

Car parking: A car parking space for vehicles with a disability parking permit is available next to the entrance at Brinellvägen 34.

Entrance: The entrance at Brinellvägen 34 is on ground floor level and is equipped with an automatic door opener.

Lift: All floors used for our activities are wheelchair accessible.

Disabled toilets: All floors include a toilet that is adapted for users with disabilities and that is equipped with an alarm that users can activate if they require assistance. The relaxation rooms and disabled toilets all feature assistance alarms that users can activate using red push buttons marked with the text nödsignal (emergency).

Temporary evacuation points in case of fire

In case of fire, there are tillfälliga utrymningsplatser (temporary evacuation points), where wheelchair users can wait for help with evacuation from the building. The evacuation points are located on all floors next to the stairwell at Brinellvägen 34. Follow the evacuation signs displaying a wheelchair symbol.

Venue hire

DOCH receives many enquiries about the possibility of hiring our venues – from both alumni and other people and organisations. DOCH strives to accommodate these enquiries without neglecting the needs or safety of our activities. The following guidelines govern venue hire:

DOCH’s studios must primarily be used for the school’s teaching and research. Premises may also be hired by employees, students or people outside the school, provided that this does not cause any disruption to the school’s activities.

Fredrik Heimdahl, property and safety manager at FAS/DOCH, manages venue hire at DOCH.

Phone: +46 8 494 00 306
fredrik.heimdahl@uniarts.se

Find us

DOCH's main building is located at Brinellvägen 58 on KTH Campus in Stockholm. The Circus Hall is located at Brinellvägen 34.

With subway/underground please use the red line and get off at Tekniska högskolan. 

Buses Many buses, among them lines 4, 6 and 72, stop at Tekniska högskolan. From Tekniska högskolan there is a 10-minute walk (about 900 m) to the DOCH premises.

Telephone

Telephone, switchboard: +46 8 49 400 000

Postal address

DOCH, School of Dance and Circus
Box 24045
104 50 Stockholm

Visiting address

Brinellvägen 58
114 28

Opening Hours: The entrance at Brinellvägen 58 is open on weekdays from 8.00 to 16.00, the back office is open 8.00–9.00, 12.00–13.00 and 15.00–16.00

Email

For general information

Email: info.doch@uniarts.se.

For information about the education

Email: studieinfo@uniarts.se

Invoice address:

Stockholms konstnärliga högskola
FE 775
838 74 Frösön

Registration number: 202100-6560

VAT: SE202100656001