Top Year

• Have you followed relevant dance training and would you like to further explore the possibilities within the dance world and, above all, investigate what suits you?
• Do you sometimes doubt whether you want to make dance your profession?
• Do you want to work intensively on your technical and artistic skills and increase your overall level?
• Do you want to prepare well for auditions?
• Read more about what we can offer you during the Top Year!
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• In the final year, dancers are busy, while this is also the time to do auditions for further training. For many dancers this is (too) much to ask, especially if they also want to do auditions abroad.
• Some dancers also find it difficult to determine exactly what they want and to know what suits them during this busy year.
• Finally, dancers who follow their preparatory training at an extracurricular preparatory course, such as the Preparatory Course at Danshuis Haarlem, are often able to take fewer dance lessons per week than dancers with an in-school preparatory course, because they attend a normal secondary school in addition to their dance training. They can build up a backlog.
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• The Top Year provides a program that offers time and space to pay attention to all these facets, so that the transition to a professional dance training course for a performing dancer, choreographer or dance teacher can run more smoothly.
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• Together with the dancer we investigate his or her affinity and learning questions in order to create a suitable program. This phase takes place in the season preceding the Peak Year, namely in the period February, March and April.
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• We start with a joint meeting, where we discuss the options for organizing your unique Top Year. You will then work with a personal coach to explore your ideas, plans and wishes for your future with regard to dance. Based on this, you will make a plan for phase 2 of the program.

• Orientation and further training, for example at a training course or (international) dance school, following dance intensives or as an internship with a dance company. The emphasis will be on dancing yourself.
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• From September to December you will independently follow your own chosen program. This may mean that you are in a certain place for these 4 months, for example in a city abroad, such as Berlin or London. But you can also choose from a varied program in the Netherlands. The Danshuis has a collaboration with, for example, the Codarts Lyceum.
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• You can train in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Follow intensives during holidays, etc. Danshuis Haarlem offers lessons for advanced dancers and you could train or dance with Dansgroep Haarlem for a period. In addition, you can also orient yourself at the Danshuis on the profession of dance teacher and dance maker. Plenty of possibilities!
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• During this period you will have regular contact with your coach, who can assist you with advice or serve as a sounding board. You also talk to each other about which auditions you are going to sign up for.

• Preparing and conducting auditions.
• Start from January and then you will be back in the Netherlands for at least (a period of time).
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• These months are dedicated to preparing and conducting auditions at dance vocational training courses in the Netherlands and/or abroad. The auditions take place from February to April/May and can consist of several rounds. The first round often consists of submitting a number of videos, which you will make with the help of us and your fellow top students. Good planning is very important, especially if you want to do auditions for foreign dance academies.
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• We will organize a special lesson together for all top students on a number of occasions. This could, for example, be a dancing lesson, with a focus on appearance and self-confidence, but it could also be a more theoretical lesson about dance and your health. Naturally, you will continue to take intensive lessons during this period and you are already looking forward to possible possibilities for phase 4.

• Optional and consists of a stage presentation.
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• Phase 4 partly overlaps with phase 3, depending on where and with whom you will work on a performance or performance. Maybe you join a dance company, such as Dansgroep Haarlem or The Next Move of the Danshuis Haarlem Preparatory Course. Another option is that you create a dance yourself, possibly together with other top students. In any case, we aim for you to end your Top Year on a podium!
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Doing auditions is exciting and can sometimes, in the event of (repeated) rejection, also be demotivating, discouraging or sad. Your coach and fellow top students will help you stay focused and enthusiastic during this period. Or, if necessary, change your course. The approach of coaching is that you cannot always influence what happens, but you can influence how you deal with things and what lessons you learn from them.

Ultimately, it is important that you end up in a place in your life where you feel good and challenged and where your talent can flourish. Only then will you stay physically and mentally healthy, become good at your profession and therefore be able to earn a living from it!

Dancers who want to follow the Top Year must take the following into account:

• → you are 17 - 21 years old
• → you have completed secondary school or will do so during phase 1
• → you have completed extracurricular training (such as from Danshuis Haarlem) or will do so during phase 1 or
• → you have completed an in-school preliminary education (such as at the Codarts Lyceum) or will do so during phase 1 or
• → you have trained at a high level for at least 4 years
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• → Through personal coaching you can explore what really suits you and what your significance can be for the (dance) world.
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• → The Top Year gives you all the time and space to optimally prepare yourself physically, creatively and mentally for your further path in the dance world.
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• → The Danshuis employs very experienced teachers, makers and dancers who share their knowledge of the many professional options available in the dance world with you.
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• → Together with the teachers, your coach and your fellow top students, you prepare well for the auditions.
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• → Even if you are unsure whether you want to make dance your profession, the Top Year offers you a nice mix of (self) research, a lot of dance and a fun (foreign) 'gap year'.

• age 17 to 20 → € 1400.00
• age 21 → € 1695.00 (incl. VAT)
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• This amount includes:
• → personal coach for all 4 phases
• → weekly lessons that can be followed at the Danshuis (during phases 2, 3 and 4)
• → intensive audition guidance
• → the unlimited use of a dance studio of the Danshuis to work and prepare yourself
• → guidance and part organization of any stage presentation in phase 4
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• The amount does not include:
• → costs for the program part in phase 2
• → individual workshops and intensives at the Danshuis or other dance schools or institutions
• → travel abroad (travel costs, accommodation costs, costs for dance lessons, etc.)
• → insurance (accident, health and travel insurance)

Not every parent can afford ballet lessons. There are options for support for parents with little money. Start a request at Sam& for a contribution to the tuition! Sam& is a collaboration between Leergeld Nederland, Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur, Stichting Jarige Job and Kinderhulp. Sam& ensures that the application reaches the correct organization.

Apply for support →

• Admission is done by doing an audition. The audition consists of a week of training with the highest class of the Preparatory Course of Danshuis Haarlem.
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• Exceptions:
• → If you are following/have completed an in-school prior education, we would like to receive a recommendation from your study program and an audition is not necessary.
• → Dancers from the Preparatory Course of Danshuis Haarlem do not have to do a separate audition.
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• During the audition we test your entry level, both technically and artistically. We also look at a certain degree of independence and inner conviction.
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• After the audition, an exploratory meeting will take place. After a positive result you can immediately start phase 1.
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• The costs for the audition are € 50.00
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