ARCHIVE

Rest & recharge: Our retreats provide a sanctuary for you to step away from the demands of everyday life. Experience deep rest, nurturing your body, mind, and spirit in an environment designed to help you recharge.
Playground for exploration: Dive into an open, creative space where you’re encouraged to explore new ideas, creative practices, and untapped parts of yourself. This is a playground for curiosity, where no question or path is off-limits.
Connection to nature: Nestled in a serene natural setting, our retreats foster a deep connection with the land and the water, providing a unique backdrop for reflection, inspiration, and artistic growth.
Creative freedom: This is a space free from judgment, expectations, or performance. Whether you come to experiment with new forms of expression or simply to be, you will find the support to evolve at your own pace.

COLLECTIVE PRACTICES
(June 23-26)

This four-day camp from June 23-26 (2025), focuses on the art of creating and facilitating transformative spaces. Participants will explore theoretical frameworks and practical tools for creating safe, brave, and immersive environments that support individual growth, collective experiences within the frame of community art. Morning sessions feature lectures and discussions, while afternoons are dedicated to hands-on workshops, guiding participants through the process of crafting impactful, inclusive spaces for artistic, educative, and healing practices.

Drawing from over two decades of experience in alternative pedagogy, non-formal education, community models, collaboration practices, empowerment, self-exploration, and activism, I will share methods, knowledge, techniques, and tools that have inspired my practice. Participants will be introduced to the three main components of the "School of Disobedience" method:

somatic practices
performance art
community art

Throughout the four days, we will explore various aspects, including:

building safety,
setting and respecting boundaries,
maintaining a judgment-free environment,
fostering creativity and spontaneity,
promoting self-acceptance and empowerment,
facilitating feedback and group discussion,
crafting creativity and grounding exercises,
handling sensitive situations with calmness and preparedness,
discussing issues of copyright and ownership,
imagining immersive multi-sensory experiences,
creating and holding spaces,
and building communities around events and workshops.

2025 retreats

This year, we launch three summer retreats and two autumn retreats.

TEXT & VOICE (June 9-12)

Join our 4-day retreat from June 9-12 (2025) specializing in Text & Voice.

ORGANIZATION
Each day commences with rejuvenating activities like meditation, yoga, or a refreshing swim in Lake Balaton. Mornings are dedicated to delving into creative writing. In the afternoons, you will translate your text into sound poetry or lecture performance. You will explore and work with lighting, costumes, and scenography, and finish the day with an evening presentation.
Recognizing the importance of rest and rejuvenation, the retreat offers an experience that balances activity with moments of relaxation and introspection.

CREATIVE WRITING
In this retreat, the focus will be both on somatic writing and voicing your text-based art. You can choose to write in your mother tongue or English. Through diverse topics, you will explore different types of poetry and prose styles, responding to quotes, immersive experiences, audio-visual material, and archives.

PERFORMING TEXT & VOICE
Throughout the retreat, you'll regularly present your texts and craft lecture performances or sound poetry pieces, either individually or collaboratively. If you play an instrument, don't hesitate to bring with you, it can definitely enrich your stay.

SOLO (June 16-19)

This 4-day retreat from June 16-19 (2025) is for those who want to create their own solo performance from the first idea to a final sharing. You’ll choose your topic. You’ll have time and space to research, move, write, build, and shape your material. You can explore movement, text, voice, sound, body, visual and spatial elements, and work with lighting, props, and costume if needed.

Each day begins slowly, with meditation, yoga, running, or a swim in the lake. Mornings are dedicated to inspiration and creative prompts. This is a hands-on, practice-based retreat. You’ll be gently accompanied through your own creative process, supported, but never pushed.

Afternoons are for making. You’ll begin to give form to your performance. You’ll explore voice, movement, sound, light, and space. You’ll experiment and weave together the different layers of your solo. You’ll receive feedback that truly feeds. You’ll be challenged, but never questioned. Here, art is not an exact science. There are no right or wrong answers. Just time to test, reflect, refine, and grow.

Each evening we come together to share what’s been developed: short presentations, works-in-progress, or simply something you want to try out in front of others.

There’s space to rest. To walk. To be alone. This retreat doesn’t push for finished results. It holds space for process, depth, intuition, and transformation.

No prior performance experience is needed; just your desire to create and the courage to begin. Bring what you have. Start where you are.

CREATING SPACES, EXPERIENCES, COMMUNITIES
(June 23-26)

somatic practices
performance art
community art

Throughout the four days, we will explore various aspects, including:

building safety,
setting and respecting boundaries,
maintaining a judgment-free environment,
fostering creativity and spontaneity,
promoting self-acceptance and empowerment,
facilitating feedback and group discussion,
crafting creativity and grounding exercises,
handling sensitive situations with calmness and preparedness,
discussing issues of copyright and ownership,
imagining immersive multi-sensory experiences,
creating and holding spaces,
and building communities around events and workshops.

ART & TEXT (September 4-7)

Join our 4-day retreat from September 4-7 (2025) specializing in Art & Text. Explore our immersive, somatic, and authentic creative writing methods, and discover new inspirations, tools, techniques, and processes.

ORGANIZATION
Each day commences with rejuvenating activities like meditation, yoga, or a refreshing swim in Lake Balaton. Mornings are dedicated to delving into creative writing. In the afternoons, you will edit your text following different creative techniques and prompts. Each evening we come together to share what’s been developed—short lecture performances, works-in-progress, or simply something you want to read out in front of others.
Recognizing the importance of rest and rejuvenation, the retreat offers an experience that balances activity with moments of relaxation and introspection.

CREATIVE WRITING
In this retreat, the focus will be on immersive, somatic, and authentic writing practices. You can choose to write in your mother tongue or English. Through diverse topics, you will explore different types of poetry and prose styles, responding to quotes, creative instructions, audio-visual material, and archives.

SHARING YOUR TEXTS
Throughout the retreat, you'll regularly present your texts. If you play an instrument, don't hesitate to bring with you, it can definitely enrich your stay.

ART & NATURE (September 11-14)

This is a retreat from September 11-14 (2025) for listening. A retreat for touching the earth and letting it touch you back.

Over four days, you are invited to explore the space where art and nature meet. Not just to observe nature, but to be with it. To respond to it. To create with it as a collaborator. You’ll walk gently. You’ll listen closely. You’ll gather what’s offered (fragments, rhythms, textures, silences...) and shape them into poetic, fragile, and hybrid forms.

All our work will happen outdoors. In the garden, in the field, in the forest, by the lake. Under trees, with the wind, in shifting light. You will collect materials (physical, symbolic, sonic...). You’ll create from what you find, what you already hold, what wants to emerge. Some days you’ll give. Some days you’ll receive.

You will be ecologically conscious: not just in what you make, but in how you make. This retreat invites you to recycle gestures, ideas, half-forgotten dreams. Bring with you old objects, abandoned images, discarded movements, notes from past notebooks, anything you feel might deserve a second life. You’ll find ways to weave them anew.

Together, we’ll reflect on land art, challenge mainstream ecological narratives, and explore what sustainability might mean as an artistic method. We’ll ask how the cycles of composting, decay, regeneration can become part of your process. We’ll look at how art can be not only about nature, but in dialogue with it. Not imposing. Just being. Responding.

There will be time to be alone, to move slowly, to rest in the grass. Time to create and time to pause. You will leave with something small, maybe something delicate. A gesture, a practice, a shift in how you see and how you make.
You are warmly welcome.

DETAILS

PERFORMANCE, TEXT & VOICE

In this Masterclass (Oct. 6-31, 2025 ), you'll focus on the musical, acoustic, and performative potential of your own texts, exploring the layered relationship between body and language, voice and movement.

Through a blend of poetry writing, storytelling, and performance techniques, emphasis will be placed on mixing vocal expression, gesture, text, and movement. Utilizing sound, emotion, rhythm, intonation, dance, and dramatic presentation, you will breathe life into your written words, crafting sound poetries and lecture performances.

WEEK 1:
INTRODUCTION / INSPIRATION
The Introduction Week aims to inspire and enrich your experience with us. Activities include:

Singing techniques for resonance and projection
Voice training: breath control, range expansion, and articulation
Simple musical composition: playing with structures, harmonies, and rhythms
Sound exploration: unconventional vocal techniques and sonic textures
Rhythm exercises and body percussion
Improvisational vocal games and collective singing
Breathwork for vocal control and presence
Spoken word and text-based sound experiments
Collaborative soundscapes and group compositions
Exploring the relationship between movement and voice
Using everyday objects as instruments
Site-specific sound interactions
Guided sonic meditations and resonance work
Layering voices and harmonization techniques
Experimenting with silence, pauses, and negative space in sound
Emotional and storytelling approaches to vocal expression
Building a collective sound archive through field recordings
Live sound looping and electronic manipulation

WEEK 2:
CREATION

Creative Writing: Explore fragmentation, metafiction, and intertextuality to inspire your writing skills.
Performance & Text: Select one of your texts, and bring it to life with sound, voice, and movement.

WEEK 3:
PRESENTATION
In the third week, you will present your text- and sound-based work to an audience.

WEEK 4:
PROCESSING, ARCHIVING, NETWORKING
This final week, conducted online with daily prompts, offers five days of guidance for self-discovery, reflection, and connection. Update your portfolio with recent work, solidify your experiences, and meet artists, curators, to present your project and expand your professional network.

Three interconnected forces drive us:

Art Education —from modulable month-long masterclasses to an 8-month study program in English & French, where knowledge is fluid, experimental, and alive.
Empowerment—offered both online and offline, because art is power, and power belongs to those who dare.
Transformation—through 4-day immersive retreats, where artists don’t just create, they become.

Format: In person
Duration: 3 days during summer 2025
Location: Napmajor Farm

The final phase is your opportunity to put everything you’ve learned into practice. Over three days at the Napmajor Arts & Healing Farm, you will organize and execute your retreat. This serves as your final assessment, with all income generated going directly to you. Successfully completing this retreat earns you a certificate, marking your achievement and readiness to step into the world as a qualified facilitator.

WHAT LEVEL 3 OFFERS YOU...

Retreat planning and design:

Concept development: Create a compelling theme and structure for your retreat.
Logistics and coordination: Manage the practical aspects, including scheduling, venue setup, and participant communication.
Budgeting and resource allocation: Plan and allocate resources effectively to ensure a smooth operation.

Facilitation practice:

Live facilitation: Lead sessions and activities, putting into practice your facilitation skills.
Participant engagement: Use techniques to engage participants, foster community, and create a supportive environment.
Adaptability: Respond to unforeseen challenges and adjust plans as needed to maintain the flow of the retreat.

Evaluation and certification:

Confidence in facilitation: Develop the confidence to independently plan and lead successful retreats.
Advanced facilitation skills: Hone your ability to engage and support participants in a transformative retreat setting.

Professional certification: Obtain a certification that validates your expertise and prepares you for professional opportunities in facilitation.

Embrace your inner rebel
Our unconventional coaching is deeply rooted in the core values of the School of Disobedience: authenticity, empowerment, and creative freedom. We outright reject the conventional pathways that keep artists dependent on external validation and gatekeepers, as well as financially dependent on funding and open calls. Applying for funding is a temporary pittance, not a real solution. Teaching you how to apply would only reinforce your dependency on the system and others. Instead, we champion self-sufficiency and radical independence.

Create your own opportunities
We will teach you how to create your own opportunities. This unconventional coaching shifts your mindset from one of asking and seeking permission to one of offering and initiating. You'll learn to stop waiting for opportunities to come to you and start making them happen on your own terms.

Transformative mindset shift
Our non-conventional coaching is designed to break away from outdated models and equip you with a new perspective as a creator of not only art but also opportunities. This mindset shift will transform how you see yourself and your potential. You'll move from being a passive participant in the art world to an active creator of your own destiny.

Invent your own model
After this transformative shift, we will guide you pragmatically to invent a model that fits your practice, values, size, goals, and most importantly, your personality. This is a model that feels good, allowing you to manage both mentally, creatively, and strategically. You’ll learn to build a sustainable practice that aligns with who you are and what you stand for.

Values-driven strategy
Our coaching is not about fitting you into pre-existing molds. It’s about empowering you to craft a path that is uniquely yours. You'll develop a strategy that respects your individuality and artistic integrity, ensuring that your business model is as original and fresh as your creative work.

Empower yourself
By the end of our coaching, you will be equipped with the tools, mindset, and confidence to navigate the art world on your own terms. You will have a clear, actionable plan to achieve financial autonomy and creative independence, all while staying true to your values and artistic vision.

Join us at the School of Disobedience and take the first step towards becoming the empowered, self-sufficient artist you were always meant to be.

The School of Disobedience challenges traditional academic art education by rethinking the very concept of learning. Combining learning with unlearning, it empowers students not only as creators but as inventors of unique methods and provocateurs of their own opportunities. Here, they amplify critical and subversive voices, showcase radical and experimental visions, and transform ideas into projects and dreams into reality.

Founded by Anna Ádám, the School of Disobedience is a disruptive, progressive, and positive space that nurtures individuals to become the singular artists they are meant to be. It integrates three interconnected activities:

Art Education (available in English or in French)
Empowerment
Transformation

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

Experiment with various leadership roles, practice how to manage people and projects. Take up space, amplify your voice, and discover your leadership style—one that feels both authentic and effective.

The School of Disobedience Creative Leadership Program is designed to address the unique challenges faced by artists and creatives in today’s fast-paced and competitive art world. Here’s how it fills the gaps often left by traditional art schools and academies:

Overcoming stereotypes: Transform your mindset to see yourself not just as an artist, but as an entrepreneur capable of turning creative pursuits into viable career paths.
Financial independence: Learn financial management, pricing, and budgeting for economic stability and artistic independence.
Entrepreneurial mindset: Gain skills to create your own opportunities and market your work effectively.
Leadership development: Build leadership skills to lead projects and influence change in the art world.
Practical skills and competencies: Master essential skills like project management and strategic planning.
Navigating the art world: Understand power dynamics, network authentically, and forget market trends.
Authentic self-expression: Develop your unique artistic voice, fostering creativity free from industry pressures and expectations.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Workshops & Seminars: Engage in interactive workshops and seminars that cover a range of topics related to creative leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Mentorship programs: Gain insights from experienced mentors who provide personalized guidance and support.
Individual project: Transform your dream into reality.
Collaborative projects: Participate in group projects that encourage teamwork and the application of learned skills in real-world scenarios.

MAIN LEARNING OUTCOMES

The School of Disobedience Creative Leadership Program aims to transform artists into leaders who are not only creators of art but also catalysts for change, capable of inspiring and influencing the world around them.

Facilitation methods:

Interactive techniques: Engaging activities and exercises to encourage participation.
Adaptability: Ability to adjust facilitation style based on group needs.
Feedback and evaluation: Collecting and using feedback to improve future sessions.

Personal development:

Confidence building: Enhancing self-assurance in leading groups.
Leadership skills: Developing leadership qualities and styles.
Self-awareness: Understanding personal strengths and areas for growth.

Practical experience:

Hands-on practice: Opportunities to practice facilitating in a supportive environment.
Real-world scenarios: Simulations and role-playing exercises.
School of Disobedience's Method: philosophy, exercises, toolbox

Somatic practices and bodywork:

Techniques to deepen self-awareness, release tension, and cultivate presence.
Experiential exercises, movement explorations, and body-centered grounding scores.
Modalities include dance, play fight, creative writing, and multidisciplinary performance.

Critical pedagogy:

Alternative and critical pedagogical approaches to challenge traditional teaching.
Concepts such as learner-centered education, decolonizing the curriculum, and fostering critical consciousness.
Strategies for creating inclusive, empowering learning environments.

Group facilitation and community rituals:

Designing and facilitating transformative group experiences and community rituals.
Principles of participatory design, group dynamics, and ceremonial practices.
Skills in group facilitation, conflict resolution, and creating meaningful rituals.

mentoring objectives

My journey has been arduous and fraught with challenges. I encountered closed doors, unfulfilled promises, and a pervasive lack of trust. Despite the prevailing discourse in the artistic world that celebrates care, empathy, and inclusion while promoting originality, I found a disheartening conformity and aversion to risk-taking.
Dissatisfied with the institutional environment, I chose to carve out a parallel reality governed by my own rules, beliefs, values, and desires. Today, I no longer rely on open calls or institutions for support; instead, I revel in my autonomy to create and act freely. I aim to share with you how I achieved financial autonomy and artistic independence alongside the institutional world.
If you're interested in creating an ethical economic model to sustain your artistic endeavors, I invite you to join me!

—Anna Ádám
Founder of the School of Disobedience

1. Encouraging autonomy: Empowering you to make your own decisions and take control of your artistic paths.
2. Fostering independence: Helping you become self-reliant and less dependent on external open calls or institutions.
3. Promoting authenticity: Guiding you to stay true to your unique vision and voice.
4. Cultivating self-awareness: Encouraging you to understand your strengths and values.
5. Developing strategic thinking: Teaching you to plan and execute strategies that align with your ethics, goals and values.
6. Creating an adapted economic model: Assisting you in designing financial frameworks that support your artistic endeavors.
7. Emphasizing self-reflection: Encouraging you to regularly assess your progress, challenges, and growth.
8. Supporting community building: Helping you establish networks and communities that align with your values and goals.
9. Encouraging innovation: Inspiring you to think outside the box and explore unconventional approaches to your artistic practices.
10. Cultivating leadership skills: Equipping you with the tools and mindset necessary to lead yourself and potentially others in the art world.

INDIVIDUAL MENTORING:

Module 1: Rejecting dependence: Breaking free from gatekeepers

Understand the limitations of relying on external validation and gatekeepers.
Learn how to identify and circumvent traditional barriers in the art world.
Unlearn stereotypes and harmful myths about artists and entrepreneurship.
Relearn to see yourself as capable and confident.

Module 2: Creating your own opportunities

Shift from a passive to a proactive mindset.
Learn how to generate opportunities and build your own platforms.

Module 3: Discovering unique value

Identify and articulate your unique artistic vision.
Define your "offer" and create a compelling narrative.

Module 4: Self-sufficiency and radical independence: Designing ethical economic models

Develop strategies to achieve financial and artistic independence.
Create an economic model that aligns with your values.
Explore ways to sustain your practice without relying on funding and open calls.

Module 5: Personal branding and authentic communication

Develop an authentic brand that reflects your true self.
Replace conventional communication with genuine dialogue.
Craft honest and compelling narratives to engage your audience.

Module 6: Community building and engagement

Identify and reach your target audience.
Create and nurture a supportive community around your work.
Learn techniques for meaningful engagement and audience development.

Module 7: Mastering social media: Use it, don't be used by it

Develop a sustainable social media strategy that supports your goals without overwhelming your creative process.
Create authentic and impactful content and manage your online presence effectively.

Module 8: Innovative networking

Explore non-conventional ways to build partnerships and expand your network.
Develop authentic and mutually beneficial relationships.
Focus on shared values.

Module 9: Leveraging media for visibility and credibility

Master the art of gaining media coverage without traditional PR routes.
Learn how to present yourself effectively in interviews and public appearances.
Learn to craft compelling press releases and pitch your story effectively.

Module 10: Learning from experience

Avoid common pitfalls in your entrepreneurial path.
Gain insights from my 20 years of experience in the arts and business.

Welcome to the Art and Business Masterclass, where we invite you to embark on a transformative journey of unlearning and relearning. Here, we challenge ingrained stereotypes and myths that have long held back artists from embracing their full entrepreneurial potential. It's time to trust in yourself, to step up and assume the role of boss in your artistic career.

Throughout this program, you will discover and refine your own leadership style and management aesthetic. We believe in practical, hands-on learning that takes you from dreaming to doing, from concept to execution—A to Z, step by step. Our goal is to empower you to achieve financial autonomy and independence through your artistic endeavors, enabling you to sustainably live from your creativity.

By the end of this masterclass, you will have a solid foundation in both the creative and business aspects of your project. You'll gain concrete tools and practical knowledge essential for succeeding in entrepreneurial ventures while remaining true to yourself and your artistic vision.

Join us in this journey to unleash your potential, cultivate leadership skills, and build a business that authentically aligns with who you are.

ART & BUSINESS MASTERCLASS

Dear dancers, choreographers, makers, performers, artists! Are you tired of struggling to make a living from your creativity? Welcome to a unique, artist-to-artist business training that offers real solutions, not empty words or unrealistic advice. This masterclass is designed to be practical and doable, based on my own experience of living from my art. No more open calls, no more looking for funding—instead, you'll learn how to create opportunities on your own.

This masterclass will teach you how to take proactive steps, develop a mindset that aligns with your true self, and make a sustainable living from your creativity. It's not about theory and concepts; it's about experience and practice. By shifting our mentality and mindset, we can bring about real change and become both the artists and the entrepreneurs we are meant to be.

The process:

Unlearn stereotypes and harmful myths: Challenge the preconceived notions that hold you back as an artist and entrepreneur.
Relearn to see yourself as capable: Open up to new visions, perspectives, and mindsets.
Empower yourself: Equip yourself with new skills, competencies, and processes to make things happen. Give yourself the chance to succeed.

Join us and take the first step towards financial autonomy and creative independence. This masterclass is your solution to turning your artistic vision into a sustainable business. Let's make your creative dreams a reality!

personal development

Cease apologizing unnecessarily.
Reduce concern for others' opinions.
Master the ability to firmly decline or refuse, while understanding and respecting personal limits and boundaries.
Embrace authenticity: challenge self-doubt, boldly pursue one's own path, and exude self-confidence.

creativity

Explore the convergence of dance performance with image, object, text, space, and sound, unlocking boundless creative possibilities.
Experiment with various materials, objects, images, and tools.
Explore transdisciplinary and experimental working methodologies.
Integrate diverse artistic forms and expressions, including performance, dance, acting, puppet theater, creative writing (such as poetry, manifestos, comics, diaries), drawing, collage, video, photography, installation art, and multimedia art.
Gain insight into community art, creating and curating spaces, designing artistic experiences, and fostering meaningful communities.

theory

Think and act freely and critically.
Defend your ideas by resisting, defying, and protesting.
Enhance interpersonal communication skills and question the obvious.

project

Foster your creativity, invention, and innovation capabilities.
Don't wait any longer; get started!
Accentuate your uniqueness.
Make your dream come true: develop your own method, make your artistic voice heard, and let your personal aesthetic be seen.

your learning outcomes
facilitators training

1. Enhanced self-awareness through somatic practices and reflective inquiry.
2. Proficiency in designing and facilitating transformative spaces, workshops and retreats.
3. Deepened understanding of critical pedagogy principles and their application in educational settings.
4. Cultivation of inclusive and empowering learning environments that honor diverse voices and experiences.
5. Development of effective communication and facilitation skills for guiding group processes.
6. Ability to create and maintain safe, respectful, and judgment-free spaces for personal exploration.
7. Skillful integration of ritual and ceremonial elements to enhance group cohesion and meaning-making.
8. Increased confidence in holding space for vulnerability, creativity, and authentic expression.
9. Expanded toolkit of experiential exercises, grounding techniques, and creative practices for personal and collective growth.
10. Strengthened capacity to navigate challenges, conflicts, and ethical considerations inherent in facilitation roles.

context

"There comes a time when we must draw our knives. It's a fact. Purely technical. (...) The knife is the only means to define oneself as oppressed. The sole form of audible communication. It doesn't matter the character, the personality, the motives of the oppressed. This is the first step out of the circle. It's necessary.”
(Christiane Rochefort: Definition of the oppressed)

The School of Disobedience is our blade, a tool for confrontation, protest, opposition, and revolt. It's our voice, bold and resounding, our gaze that challenges, our weapon of manifestation, our body in combat. This school serves as our blade, fortifying us, instilling courage, and fostering hope in the possibility of collective action. The time is now, and we stand prepared.

healing

Through workshops, unique experiences, rituals, collaboration, individualized mentorship, multidisciplinary research, performance opportunities, and responsible fieldwork, our summer retreats combines artistic and healing processes and experiences to reflect on ourselves and on the world, here we empower participants to dare to dream big. Our multidisciplinary curriculum invites people to get unstuck in their creative process, handle pressure and expectations, gain motivation, new inspirations, insights and perspectives. Participants acquire producing and leadership skills as well that foster social change and sustainability. They receive a set of knowledge, experience, tools, techniques, and methods so they can dig deep into their artistic curiosity to explore and create new aesthetics, forms, experiences, spaces, and communities. Instead of seeing things as they are, participants are constantly encouraged to formulate out-of-the-box proposals, build the world as it ought to be.

RETREAT 1: june 3-6 - FULL!

DAY 1, June 3 - Topic: Exploring Love and Desire Through Avant-Garde Writing Techniques

Optional: Morning gym / Running / Swimming
Introduction to Avant-Garde Literature, focusing on its experimental nature and innovative approaches to storytelling.
Analysis of Monique Wittig's "The Guerilleres": Explore how Wittig's avant-garde narrative techniques challenge traditional notions of love, desire, and relationships. Discuss the use of fragmented narrative, nonlinear structure, and linguistic experimentation.
Writing Exercises
Sharing (Reading Group / Lecture Performances)

DAY 2, June 4 - Topic: Deconstructing Relationship Dynamics Through Structuralist Analysis

Optional: Morning gym / Running / Swimming
Introduction to Structuralism, focusing on Roland Barthes's theories of narrative structure and sign systems.
Analysis of Roland Barthes's "A Lover's Discourse: Fragments": Examine how Barthes deconstructs the language of love and relationships through fragmented narrative and semiotic analysis. Discuss how he challenges traditional narratives of romance and explores the underlying power dynamics in relationships.
Writing Exercises
Sharing (Reading Group / Lecture Performances)

DAY 3, June 5 - Topic: Separation and Loss in Postmodern Literature

Optional: Morning gym / Running / Swimming
Introduction to Postmodernism, focusing on its skepticism towards grand narratives and its exploration of fragmented identities.
Analysis of Marguerite Duras's "The Lover": Explore how Duras's novel portrays themes of separation and loss within the context of a forbidden love affair. Discuss her use of fragmented memory, nonlinear narrative, and lyrical prose to evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia.
Writing Exercises
Sharing (Reading Group / Lecture Performances)

DAY 4, June 6 - Topic: Grounding & Processing

Optional: Morning gym / Running / Swimming
On this final day of our autumn retreat, we dedicate our time to feedback, grounding, and reflection. Through thoughtful questions and prompts, you'll explore your thoughts and emotions, fostering self-discovery and clarity. Take this opportunity to reconnect with yourself and engage in meaningful reflection.

RETREAT 2: september 9-12

RETREAT 3: SEPTEMBER 16-19

This program is composed of three levels:

Level 1: preparation (ONLINE / 6 MONTHS)
Level 2: practice (BUDAPEST / 1 MONTH)
Level 3: implementation (NAPMAJOR FARM / 3 DAYS)

Each level is designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience, equipping participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in their creative and entrepreneurial endeavors.

LEVEL I - PREPARATION PHASE: 2024 November > 2025 April
This phase extends over six months and includes monthly online meetings. Participants receive individualized guidance to launch their own practices, such as workshops, jams, research laboratories, creative circles, or healing spaces. The preparation phase of the program includes:

Individual mentoring: Personalized support to help participants develop their unique offerings.
Entrepreneurship and business planning: Workshops on creating business plans, developing economic models, and setting financial goals.
Content creation: Guidance on designing engaging and effective content for workshops and other activities.
Marketing and communication: Practical tools and strategies for marketing, including branding, social media management, and digital content creation.
Event management: Training on organizing and managing events, with a requirement to hold at least one event or activity each month.

LEVEL II - PRACTICE PHASE: 2025 May 5 > 23
The second phase takes place in Budapest and consists of three weeks of intensive studio work followed by one week of remote learning.
This second phase includes:

Somatic practices and bodywork: Participants will dive into techniques aimed at deepening self-awareness, releasing tension, and cultivating presence. Through experiential exercises, movement explorations, and body-centered meditations, they will learn to listen to their bodies, tap into inner wisdom, and develop greater sensitivity to physical sensations. Modalities include dance, play fight, creative writing, and multidisciplinary performance.
Critical pedagogy: Participants will engage with alternative and critical pedagogical approaches that challenge traditional notions of teaching and (un)learning. Through interactive lectures, group discussions, and experiential activities, they will explore concepts such as learner-centered education, decolonizing the curriculum, and fostering critical consciousness. Practical strategies for creating inclusive, empowering learning environments that honor diverse perspectives will be covered.
Group facilitation and community rituals: Participants will delve into designing and facilitating transformative group experiences and community rituals. Drawing from principles of participatory design, group dynamics, and ceremonial practices, they will learn how to cultivate belonging, connection, and shared purpose within groups. Skills in group facilitation, conflict resolution, and creating meaningful rituals will be developed through hands-on exercises, role-playing scenarios, and case studies.

LEVEL III - IMPLEMENTATION PHASE: 3 days in summer 2025
The final phase of this program involves designing and running a retreat (minimum of three days) at the Napmajor Arts & Healing Farm. This last phase of the program includes:

Retreat planning: Comprehensive support in planning all aspects of the retreat, from logistics to program design.
Financial management: Training on budgeting, pricing strategies, and financial sustainability.
Social media and digital marketing: Advanced strategies for promoting the retreat, including content creation, social media campaigns, and online advertising.
Execution and feedback: Practical experience in running the retreat, with ongoing support and feedback from mentors.

Participants' final assessment involves the successful organization of their retreat, with all income generated going directly to them as it serves as their final project. The program concludes with the organization of this retreat, and participants receive a certificate upon completion.

schedule

Through a blend of theory, method, and practice, participants will acquire tools, skills, and experiences for designing retreats/workshops, fostering safe spaces, facilitating group processes, and supporting individual growth.

Throughout the three phases of the program, we will explore various aspects, including:

building safety,
setting frames and respecting boundaries,
maintaining a judgment-free environment,
fostering creativity and spontaneity,
promoting self-acceptance and empowerment,
facilitating feedback and group discussion,
crafting personal toolbox, imagining creativity and grounding exercises,
handling sensitive situations with calmness and preparedness,
discussing issues of copyright and ownership,
imagining immersive multi-sensory experiences,
creating and holding spaces,
and building communities around shared values, practices, and interests.

LEVEL I - preparation phase

This phase extends over six months (2024 November to 2025 April) and includes monthly online meetings. Participants receive individualized guidance and training on organizing and managing events (workshops, jams, research laboratories, creative or healing circles...), with a requirement to hold at least one event or activity each month.

LEVEL II - practice phase

The second phase takes place in Budapest (May 5-23) and consists of three weeks of intensive studio work followed by one week of remote learning.
This second phase includes:

WEEK 1 - MAY 5-9: SOMATIC PRACTICE & BODYWORK

In this immersive week, participants will dive into somatic practices and bodywork techniques aimed at deepening self-awareness, releasing tension, and cultivating presence. Through a series of experiential exercises, movement explorations, and body-centered meditations, participants will learn to listen to their bodies, tap into their inner wisdom, and develop greater sensitivity to physical sensations. Drawing from modalities such as dance, play fight, creative writing, and mindfulness, this week will lay the foundation for embodied teaching and facilitation.

WEEK 2 - MAY 12-16: ALTERNATIVE AND CRITICAL PEDAGOGY

During this week, participants will engage with alternative and critical pedagogical approaches that challenge traditional notions of teaching and learning. Through interactive lectures, group discussions, and experiential activities, participants will explore concepts such as learner-centered education, decolonizing the curriculum, and fostering critical consciousness. Drawing from feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive frameworks, participants will learn practical strategies for creating inclusive, empowering learning environments that honor diverse perspectives and experiences.

WEEK 3 - MAY 19-23: GROUP EXPERIENCES & COMMUNITY RITUALS

In this dynamic week, participants will delve into the art of designing and facilitating transformative group experiences and community rituals. Drawing from principles of participatory design, group dynamics, and ceremonial practices, participants will learn how to cultivate a sense of belonging, connection, and shared purpose within groups. Through hands-on exercises, role-playing scenarios, and case studies, participants will develop skills in group facilitation, conflict resolution, and creating meaningful rituals that support collective healing and transformation.

WEEK 4 - MAY 26-30: PROCESSING & INDIVIDUAL MENTORING

The last week of the second phase of the program transitions to an online format, offering participants five days of grounding journal prompts delivered directly to their mailbox. These prompts are carefully crafted to guide participants in exploring their thoughts, emotions, and experiences with centeredness and mindfulness. Through reflective writing exercises, participants will have the opportunity to reconnect with themselves, gain clarity, and foster self-discovery and reflection. Additionally, this week provides the perfect opportunity to schedule an individual conversation with the program creator. During this personalized session, participants can focus on sharing their experiences, insights, and aspirations for the future, receiving guidance and support tailored to their needs and goals.

LEVEL III - implementation phase

The final phase of this program involves designing and running a retreat of three days in summer 2025 at the Napmajor Arts & Healing Farm.

schedule

WEEK 1: FEBRUARY 3-7 / INTRODUCTION & INSPIRATION

During the first week of the Masterclass, you'll immerse yourself in a repertoire class and somatic experience. This week is designed to inspire you and gradually introduce you to the School of Disobedience's movement method. You'll "unlearn" dance as a social construct, and "relearn" dance as an authentic language. By shedding automatisms and prefabricated responses, you'll discover your unique movement vocabulary and personal aesthetic. This is a gentle introduction to a longer journey of self-discovery, where you'll explore what it means to move according to your own desires, rather than external expectations. Together, we'll open doors to curiosity and experimentation, giving you a taste of research-based creation. This week is not only about acquiring new techniques and tools but also about laying the foundation for a mindset and philosophy that will propel you forward.

WEEK 2: FEBRUARY 10-14 / CREATION

During the second week of the Masterclass, you will immerse yourself in the exploration of scripts, scores, protocols, and task-based performances. This intensive dive into the intricacies of performance creation will involve dissecting and analyzing various elements of scripted and scored works, as well as experimenting with task-based approaches to performance.
Through hands-on workshops and collaborative exercises, you will learn how to craft effective scripts and scores that guide performers through a range of actions, movements, and emotions. You will explore different formats for scripts and scores, from traditional written formats to more abstract and visual representations.
Additionally, you will delve into the concept of protocols, which serve as guidelines or rules for interactive and participative task-based performances, which involve audiences executing specific actions or tasks within a structured framework.

WEEK 3: FEBRUARY 17-21 / PRESENTATION

During week 3, you will come together to collaborate on the creation of a unique "soundscape" composed of tasks, instructions, and oral scores. This immersive auditory experience will serve as a culmination of the skills and techniques explored throughout the program, offering you the opportunity to embody text and deliver voice in a dynamic and expressive manner.
Through a combination of collective brainstorming, creative experimentation, and collaborative composition, you will work together to design and orchestrate a multi-layered soundscape that engages the senses and transports the audience into a rich and evocative sonic environment. Drawing inspiration from your own experiences, interests, and artistic sensibilities, you will contribute your individual voice and perspective to the creation of this collaborative performance piece.
The "soundscape" will incorporate a variety of spoken words, vocalizations, sound effects, and performative elements, woven together to create a cohesive and immersive narrative journey. You will have the opportunity to explore different vocal techniques, experiment with vocal dynamics and expressivity, and engage in improvisational exercises to further enhance your performance abilities.
Ultimately, the "soundscape" lecture performance will provide you with a platform to showcase your newfound skills and talents in a collaborative and supportive environment.

WEEK 4: FEBRUARY 24-28 / PROCESSING, ARCHIVING, NETWORKING

This final week is conducted online with daily prompts. You'll receive five days of guidance in your inbox, fostering self-discovery, reflection, documentation, and networking. You will:

Reflect on your journey and solidify your learnings.
Document your artistic process through photo and video documentation.
Engage in networking opportunities with fellow artists, curators, and collaborators to expand your artistic community and explore future collaborative projects.
Ground your journey and broaden your artistic connections.

1. Creation of scores in various formats for choreographic guidance.
2. Application of scores as tools for structured improvisation and creativity.
3. Understanding of how scores inspire movement exploration and artistic expression.
4. Experimentation with different score formats and their impact on creativity.
5. Collaboration in constructing a "soundscape" using tasks, instructions, and oral scores.
6. Analysis of scripted and scored works to grasp their techniques.
7. Crafting effective scripts and scores for guiding performers.
8. Utilization of protocols and task-based performances in structured frameworks.
9. Development of vocal techniques and expressivity for oral scores.
10. Showcasing of skills in a collaborative lecture performance.

schedule

WEEK 1: JANUARY 6-10 / INTRODUCTION & INSPIRATION

Immerse yourself in the dynamic narrative of "CLASH," one of the solos from Anna Ádám's repertoire, "sorry not sorry." Join us for a week-long somatic experience that defies boundaries, blurring the lines between live art and static objects. Through a fusion of dance and eatable objects, participants will traverse a hybrid realm where the vitality of performance seamlessly merges with the stillness of sculptures. Explore the interplay between movement, objects, and the human experience in this immersive and transformative journey.

WEEK 2: JANUARY 13-17 / CREATION & CHOREOGRAPHY

In Week 2, participants embark on a creative journey, crafting new sculptures or enhancing existing objects. They explore performative, narrative, and choreographic dimensions, devising protocols and scripts to activate their pieces. This transformative process blurs the lines between sculpture and prop, breathing new life into each creation.

WEEK 3: JANUARY 20-24 / PRESENTATION

In Week 3, participants curate and choreograph a hybrid space integrating exhibition and performance. Sculptures and objects are activated by dynamic performances, fostering a multi-dimensional experience inviting audience engagement. This innovative approach blurs boundaries, creating a captivating environment where art comes to life.

WEEK 4: JANUARY 27-31 / PROCESSING, ARCHIVING, NETWORKING

This final week is conducted online with daily prompts. You'll receive five days of guidance in your inbox, fostering self-discovery and reflection. Reflect on your journey and solidify your learnings. Document your artistic process through photo and video documentation. Engage in networking opportunities with fellow artists, curators, and collaborators to expand your artistic community and explore future collaborative projects. This week is designed to ground your journey and broaden your artistic connections.

The history of performance art has long been characterized by principles of ephemerality, action, gesture, and the centrality of the human body. However, in recent decades, we have witnessed a shift as artists, such as Emily Mast or Ragnar Kjartansson, increasingly incorporate elements of installation and object-making into their live art practice, blurring the boundaries between spaces (theater and museum), and modes of expression (performance and visual art). This phenomenon raises questions about the nature of performance, the autonomy of art objects, and the evolving relationship between audience and artwork.

The exhibition "Ne pas jouer avec des choses mortes / Not playing with dead things" (2009) sought to interrogate the status and relevance of these hybrid objects within the context of contemporary art. Do they retain their vitality and energy beyond the moment of performance? Or do they become mere relics, devoid of meaning and life? Through an exploration of works by artists such as Guy de Cointet, Paul McCarthy or Mike Kelley, the exhibition aimed to shed light on the shifting landscape of performative art practices.

Our "Performance & Object" Masterclass Program offers a unique opportunity to delve into the complexities of theater and exhibition space, sculpture-theatre and performing objects. This month-long exploration of the narrative, performative, and choreographic dimensions of "things", designed and led by interdisciplinary artist and choreographer Anna Ádám, focuses on five key aspects:

Blurring boundaries: We will explore how to blur the boundaries between traditional theater and visual art, creating immersive experiences that challenge conventional categorizations. We will incorporate elements of performance, installation, and audience interaction into works, creating dynamic and multifaceted environments.
Focus on the object: We will delve into the expressive potential of objects, exploring how everyday and artistic artifacts can become vehicles for storytelling and performance. Through sculpture-theatre techniques, we will imbue objects with narratives, emotions, and histories, inviting audiences to reconsider their relationship with the material world and the stories objects can tell.
Narrative experimentation: We will experiment with narrative structures and storytelling techniques, utilize text, dialogue, and character development to construct narratives that unfold within the exhibition space, inviting viewers to engage with the work both visually and conceptually.
Site-specificity: We will create site-specific works that respond directly to the architectural and spatial characteristics of the venue. We will consider the physical environment as an integral part of the artwork, utilizing space, light, and sound to enhance the theatricality of the experience.
Audience engagement: We will prioritize audience engagement and participation in the work we create. We will invite viewers to become active participants in the performance, blurring the line between performer and spectator and encouraging a sense of agency and immersion.

Through this Masterclass, participants will embark on a journey of research, experimentation, and collaboration, pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the intersection of theater and exhibition space.
Join us as we celebrate the beginning of this month-long exploration of hybrid performative art practices.

This program offers a unique opportunity to delve into the complexities of theater and exhibition space, sculpture-theatre and performing objects. This month-long exploration of the narrative, performative, and choreographic dimensions of "things" focuses on five key aspects:

Blurring boundaries: We will explore how to blur the boundaries between traditional theater and visual art, creating immersive experiences that challenge conventional categorizations. We will incorporate elements of performance, installation, and audience interaction into works, creating dynamic and multifaceted environments.
Focus on the object: We will delve into the expressive potential of objects, exploring how everyday and artistic artifacts can become vehicles for storytelling and performance. Through sculpture-theatre techniques, we will imbue objects with narratives, emotions, and histories, inviting audiences to reconsider their relationship with the material world and the stories objects can tell.
Narrative experimentation: We will experiment with narrative structures and storytelling techniques, utilize text, dialogue, and character development to construct narratives that unfold within the exhibition space, inviting viewers to engage with the work both visually and conceptually.
Site-specificity: We will create site-specific works that respond directly to the architectural and spatial characteristics of the venue. We will consider the physical environment as an integral part of the artwork, utilizing space, light, and sound to enhance the theatricality of the experience.
Audience engagement: We will prioritize audience engagement and participation in the work we create. We will invite viewers to become active participants in the performance, blurring the line between performer and spectator and encouraging a sense of agency and immersion.

Welcome to a transformative journey at the intersection of contemporary dance and interdisciplinary performance art! Our Dance Performance Masterclass is crafted for dancers, movement artists, and interdisciplinary creators eager to explore the dynamic fusion of dance, movement practice, improvisation, and performance. This immersive program invites you to delve into innovative choreographic techniques, blend diverse artistic mediums, and discover new dimensions of expression through movement. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or a multidisciplinary artist seeking to integrate dance into your practice, this Masterclass offers a vibrant space to cultivate your creativity. Join us in redefining boundaries, exploring new narratives, and unleashing the power of movement within an interdisciplinary framework. Embrace the art of dance as a catalyst for profound artistic exploration and expression. Step into a realm where movement transforms into meaning, and creativity knows no bounds.

focus

Reconnect to full performance capacity: Rediscover and amplify your performance potential across emotional, energetic, mental, physical, and spiritual dimensions.
Create a full performance: Develop the skills and confidence to conceive, choreograph, and present a complete performance piece that integrates various artistic disciplines and personal narratives.
Overcome personal obstacles: Address and overcome internal barriers such as fears, insecurity, and self-doubt through structured exploration and supportive community engagement.
Expand artistic skills: Acquire interdisciplinary skills in contemporary dance, visual arts, creative writing, sound creation, and scenography to create performances outside traditional norms.
Cultivate artistic voice: Explore diverse modes of expression and discover your unique artistic voice through guided experimentation and creative risk-taking.

In the somatic and experimental Repertoire Class titled "Anna Ádám: Right for Fight," you will delve into themes from Roland Barthes’ "A Lover's Discourse," drawing inspiration from Barthes' intricate examination of relationship dynamics. The class will explore how Barthes deconstructs the language of love and relationships through fragmented narratives and semiotic analysis, challenging traditional romantic narratives and highlighting underlying power dynamics. You will engage with these concepts through a somatic lens, fostering a deeper understanding of the interplay between language, emotion, and the body.

During this 2nd week, embark on an exciting journey of research and experimentation, transforming a book or personal writing into a multidisciplinary live performance.
Step 1: Creative writing
Explore postmodern literature and the New Novel movement, diving into fragmentation, metafiction, and intertextuality. Discover innovative storytelling techniques that inspire contemporary artistic practices.
Step 2: From page to stage
Select a text that resonates with you deeply. Analyze its themes, emotions, and narrative structure, then bring it to life through creative staging. Experiment with multimedia, movement, and unique storytelling methods.
Throughout this phase, collaborate with peers and refine your vision, culminating in a live performance during Week 3 that showcases your artistic interpretation and storytelling prowess.

In the third week, participants will present their artistic work as either a visual poem or a text-based performance. This is the culmination of their research and experimentation. Visual Poem: Combine text with imagery, typography, and color to craft a visually compelling piece that captures the essence of your chosen book or writing. Text-Based Performance: Bring your words to life through dramatic readings, spoken word, or theatrical presentations, engaging the audience with language, voice, and gesture. This showcase is your chance to share your unique artistic vision and creativity with peers and instructors, highlighting your personal interpretation and imaginative flair.

Wrap up your journey by reflecting, documenting, and connecting. Update your digital presence and portfolio with your recent experiences and creations, complete with provided photo and video documentation! Meet artists, curators, and collaborators to showcase your work and expand your network.
This final week is conducted online with daily prompts. You'll receive five days of guidance in your inbox, fostering self-discovery and reflection. Solidify your experiences, enhance your portfolio, and effectively communicate your creations. This week is designed to ground your journey and broaden your artistic connections.

Textual adaptation: You will learn how to adapt written text, poetry, or literature into compelling site-specific performance experiences, exploring techniques to breathe life into written words.
Vocal expression: Emphasis will be placed on developing vocal expression skills, including intonation, rhythm, and dramatic presentation, to effectively convey the emotional and thematic nuances of the adapted text.
Minimalism - movement and gesture: You will delve into the expressive potential of minimalism in movement and gesture, utilizing these techniques to embody the physical and emotional layers of the adapted text, enhancing the audience's engagement with the performance.
Slowness - deceleration in artistic practices: Through critical dialogue and reflection on the concept of slow art, you will deepen their understanding of how embracing slowness can enrich their creative processes and enhance their appreciation of art.
Exploration of postmodern literature: You will examine the characteristics of postmodern literature, such as fragmentation and intertextuality, and explore how these techniques can inform and enrich their creative endeavors.
Introduction to New Novel movement: You will gain insight into the innovative storytelling techniques of the New Novel movement, exploring experimental approaches to narrative structure and thematic exploration.
Textual analysis and thematic exploration: You will learn how to deconstruct written material through textual analysis and thematic exploration, gaining a deeper understanding of narrative structure, character development, and thematic motifs.
Creative experimentation and collaboration: You will engage in creative experimentation and collaborative processes to develop innovative staging techniques and creative approaches to bring the adapted text to life.
Personal project development: You will have the opportunity to develop a personal project, selecting and adapting a book or personal writing that resonates with you and refining your creative vision through research, experimentation, and collaboration.
Presentation and showcase: You will showcase your creative work through either a visual poem or a text-based performance piece, demonstrating your interpretation and artistic expression in a live performance setting, and receiving feedback to further refine your craft.

This disruptive, progressive, and transformative program, which combines learning with unlearning, offers a soft and warm alternative to traditional academic arts education.

"School of Disobedience" redefines art education as a critical practice that spans disciplines, using artistic skills, processes, and experiences to actively engage in social and political discourse. Our mission is to empower individuals through immersive learning experiences that encompass visual arts, performing arts, creative writing, and more. By fostering creative exercises, readings, and discussions, we aim to deepen participants' insights, expand perspectives, and nurture critical thinking and confidence. Within our classes, participants explore freely in a non-judgmental environment, discovering and expressing themselves authentically. They receive robust support, knowledge, and tools to enhance their personal performance personas and embark on a journey of self-discovery and artistic growth.

school

At the intersection of creation, research, non-formal education, and community activism, the "School of Disobedience" was envisioned and brought to life by Anna Ádám as an integral part of her artistic practice. The project comprises three main interconnected activities: non-formal interdisciplinary performance art education through our Masterclass, empowerment through the Fight Club, and healing through our Summer Retreats.

Blending embodied practices with theoretical insights, our School serves as an experimental and critical platform for research in the fields of non-formal education and community activism.

Through critical pedagogy, experiential and non-formal education, empowerment and unlearning methods, guerrilla tactics, community building and organising practices, the school encourages students to liberate their voices, bodies and minds; to freely reflect on local cultural and socio-political contexts; to challenge hegemonic class, gender and normative behaviours and dominant ideologies; to develop their capacities to resist, protest and revolt: to dare to dream and to dare to change.

We don't have a permanent address, we are a travelling school, pop-up and nomadic. We set up our school temporarily in different places, structures, festivals where we are invited. Our mission is to create a passionate and radical 'soft space' for self-exploration and empowerment within these 'hard' structures. Dislocating our activities allows us to think and act locally. Sharing and caring. Last year we opened our school in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Senegal, Serbia, UK for a period ranging from one day to one month.

Our Fight Club serves as a community space for radical care and empowerment. Here, through the practice of play fighting and self-defense, we liberate our bodies and voices, discovering our power and challenging our strength. Through this practice, participants develop self-confidence, physical and mental resilience.

The School of Disobedience is a unique hybrid of a disruptive experimental Multidisciplinary Performance Art School, a Fight Club, and a Healing Centre, all united by the common goal of nurturing self-liberation through self-acceptance and fostering independence through responsibility.

unlearning school

Founded by Anna Ádám, the School of Disobedience stands as a beacon of the avant-garde, a Multidisciplinary Art School of a new generation. Here, the focus lies not only on learning but also on unlearning, inviting participants to challenge conventional wisdom and explore uncharted territories of creativity. Offering both online and in-person month-long masterclasses, short summer retreats, weekly classes, and monthly events, all conducted in English, the school provides a diverse array of opportunities for personal growth and artistic exploration.

Comprising several modules, our Multidisciplinary Dance Performance Studies program offers an alternative to traditional academic arts education. Our unconventional lecture series, developed from our own curricula and unlearning model, extends beyond the performing arts to encompass subjects ranging from creative writing to social sciences, from improvisation to aqua-contact, and from DJ set making to play fighting. This interdisciplinary and intergenerational approach encourages innovation and prompts a radical reimagining of what a progressive educational model entails: one that is radical, critical, dissident, rebellious, avant-garde, underground, student-centered, self-organized, and entirely independent.

healing centre

Every year, we organize 4-day long thematic retreats at our Healing Centre. These retreats offer a blend of unique experiences, rituals, celebrations, and community activities alongside dedicated creative time. Participants engage in exploratory sessions aimed at unblocking barriers, setting limits, and overcoming creative or personal stagnation. We address fears, navigate pressure and expectations, and cultivate motivation, new inspirations, insights, and professional perspectives. Throughout various topics, we foster creativity and critical thinking, introducing participants to new tools, aesthetics, processes, and methods. By the end of the retreat, participants who are ready to do so step out of their comfort zones, feeling more empowered, liberated, and free.

MODULE 1
MODULE 2
MODULE 3
MODULE 4
MODULE 5

Anna Ádám: "Right for Fight". Photo © Zellei Boglárka, 2021

MODULE 1: FEBRUARY 2024

"From page to stage: How to turn a text into a performance"

Location: Budapest, Hungary

About:
In this module, participants will explore the transformative power of live performance by adapting text, poetry, or literature into site-specific experiences. Through a blend of poetry, storytelling, and performance techniques, emphasis will be placed on vocal expression, gesture, and movement. Utilizing emotion, rhythm, intonation, and dramatic presentation, participants will breathe life into written words, crafting immersive and captivating experiences that engage audiences on a deep and personal level.

Unlearning Facilitator:
Anna Ádám

Schedule:

Feb. 5-9: INSPIRATION (Dance & Performance)

In the Repertoire Class titled "Anna Ádám: Right for Fight," participants will explore the themes from "Roland Barthes: A Lover's Discourse," drawing inspiration from Barthes' intricate examination of relationship dynamics. Through movement and somatic exploration, this session aims to embody the emotional and physical dimensions of connection.
Following this, there will be a screening and discussion on the concept of slow art in today's fast-paced world. Participants will engage in critical dialogue about deceleration in artistic practices, reflecting on how embracing slowness can deepen their understanding and appreciation of art.
Moreover, participants will be introduced to postmodern literature, characterized by fragmentation, metafiction, and intertextuality. By delving into these literary techniques, participants will explore how postmodern literature can inform and enrich their creative processes.
Lastly, participants will explore the New Novel movement, a groundbreaking literary movement that emerged in 1950s France. Through an examination of New Novel authors' innovative approaches, participants will gain insight into experimental storytelling techniques and their relevance to contemporary text-based artistic practices.

Feb. 12-16: CREATION (Creative writing & Performance)

In the Personal Project phase, participants will embark on a journey of research and experimentation aimed at staging a book or personal writing. This process involves a multifaceted approach, including textual analysis, thematic exploration, and creative experimentation.
Participants will begin by selecting a book or personal writing that resonates with them on a deep level, whether due to its narrative themes, emotional resonance, or personal significance. Through in-depth textual analysis, participants will deconstruct the chosen material, examining its narrative structure, character development, and thematic motifs.
Next, participants will engage in thematic exploration, delving into the underlying concepts, emotions, and messages conveyed within the text. This phase may involve research into related topics, historical contexts, or artistic influences that inform the chosen material.
Building upon this foundation, participants will then experiment with different staging techniques and creative approaches to bring the text to life in a live performance setting. This may include exploring innovative methods of storytelling, experimenting with multimedia elements, or incorporating movement and choreography to enhance the narrative experience.
Throughout the process, participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with peers, share ideas, and receive feedback to further refine their creative vision. The Personal Project phase culminates in the staging of the book or personal writing, offering participants the chance to showcase their artistic interpretation and storytelling prowess in a live performance setting.

Feb. 19-23: PRESENTATION (Performance evening)

In the Presentation phase of the project, participants will have the opportunity to showcase their creative work through either a visual poem or a text-based performance piece. This stage serves as a culmination of the research, experimentation, and creative exploration undertaken throughout the Personal Project phase.
For those opting to present a visual poem, participants will have the freedom to express their artistic vision through a combination of text and visual elements. This may involve incorporating typography, imagery, color, and layout to create a visually compelling and emotionally evocative piece that communicates the essence of their chosen book or personal writing.
Alternatively, participants may choose to present a text-based performance piece, which involves bringing the written word to life through live performance. This could take the form of a dramatic reading, spoken word performance, or theatrical presentation that engages the audience through the power of language, voice, and gesture.
Regardless of the chosen format, participants will be encouraged to infuse their presentation with creativity, originality, and personal expression. This is an opportunity for participants to share their unique perspective, interpretation, and artistic voice with their peers and instructors, showcasing the depth of their understanding and the richness of their creative imagination.

Feb. 26-March 1: REST (Grounding, Guided journaling, Processing)

Experience 5 days of grounding journal prompts delivered to your mailbox, guiding you to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences with centeredness. Reconnect with yourself and gain clarity as you delve into each prompt, fostering self-discovery and reflection.

Anna Ádám: "CLASH". Photo © Zellei Boglárka, 2021

MODULE 2: MARCH 2024

"Sculpture Theatre & Performing Objects: the performativity of things"

Location: Budapest, Hungary

About:
In this Masterclass, the fusion of visual arts and performing arts takes center stage. Participants will delve into the dual realms of creation, crafting objects while simultaneously exploring their performative, narrative, and choreographic dimensions. Through collaborative efforts, a unique blend of object-theatre and performance-exhibition will be curated, envisioning a dynamic space where live art practices breathe life into static artworks. Here, the traditional roles blur as the plinth transforms into a stage, sculptures become props, and installations serve as immersive sets, inviting audiences into a realm where art transcends boundaries and conventions.

Unlearning Facilitators:
Anna Ádám, Júlia Gaál (Repertoire class)

Schedule:

March 4-8: INSPIRATION-INTRODUCTION (Dance & Performance)

Immerse yourself in a week-long somatic experience and repertoire class titled "Anna Ádám: CLASH," where the boundaries between live art and inert objects blur. Through dance performance interwoven with objects and food, participants will traverse a hybrid realm, seamlessly merging the vitality of performance and choreography with the stillness of sculptures and objects. As the worlds of the living and the inert collide, a new narrative unfolds, inviting exploration and contemplation of the dynamic interplay between movement, objects, and the human experience.

March 11-15: CREATION (Objects & Performances)

During this week, participants are invited to embark on a creative journey where they will either craft artworks from scratch, imbuing them with a sculptural essence, or enhance existing pieces currently in development. Through exploration of the performative, narrative, and choreographic dimensions, participants will devise protocols, scripts, and task-based performances to activate their artworks. This transformative process will blur the lines between sculpture and prop, offering a dynamic interplay that breathes new life into each creation.

March 18-22: PRESENTATION (Exhibition-Performance)

In this course, participants will engage in the dual roles of curator and choreographer, crafting a unique hybrid space that seamlessly integrates exhibition and performance. Through careful curation, sculptures and objects on display will be activated by dynamic performances and interactive devices, fostering a multi-dimensional experience that invites audience engagement and interaction. This innovative approach blurs the boundaries between traditional exhibition and live performance, creating a captivating and immersive environment where art comes to life.

March 25-29: REST (Grounding, Guided journaling, Processing)

Anna Ádám: "Secret Garden". Photo © Zellei Boglárka, 2021

MODULE 3: APRIL 2024

"Oralities: nothing is left behind"

Location: Budapest, Hungary

About:
In this Masterclass, your exploration will center around the captivating realm of oralities through performativity. You'll embark on a journey delving into the multifaceted ways voice can be harnessed as a powerful tool of expression. From dialogue to texts, from speech to spoken words, you'll uncover the boundless potential of the human voice to shape and enrich your creative endeavors, whether they manifest in dance, performance, or physical theatre.

Sessions include immersive dives into creative writing, movement research, and voice exploration, each building upon the other to cultivate a rich tapestry of artistic expression. Through these explorations, you'll delve into the intricacies of text and movement, unraveling their symbiotic relationship and discovering how they intertwine to create compelling narratives in performance.

Your journey culminates in the exploration of choreographic creation, where you'll synthesize your discoveries into cohesive and impactful performances. Guided by the ethos of collaboration and experimentation, you'll have the opportunity to explore different ways of using your own text, voice, body, and movement material to craft text-based performances, whether alone or in collaboration with others.

Together, we'll challenge conventions and push the boundaries of traditional performance, creating dynamic and immersive experiences that resonate with depth and authenticity. Through this transformative process, you'll not only refine your artistic practice but also unearth new dimensions of creativity within yourself.

At the culmination of this transformative journey, we will come together to orchestrate a truly unique experience: a lecture performance night nestled within the enchanting embrace of a forest. This ethereal setting will serve as the backdrop for a captivating celebration of ephemeral and dematerialized art, where the boundaries between performer and audience blur and the essence of the moment reigns supreme. In the depths of the forest, amidst whispered secrets and moonlit shadows, we gather for a night of ephemeral artistry—voices rising, bodies moving, in a celebration of the fleeting magic that exists only in the present moment.

Unlearning Facilitator:
Anna Ádám, Rebeka Petra Kiss (Repertoire class)

Schedule:

Apr. 1-5: INSPIRATION & INTRODUCTION (Dance & Performance)

Repertoire Class / Somatic experience:
Embark on a transformative journey through "Anna Ádám: Secret Garden," a week-long somatic experience and repertoire class guided by Rebeka Petra Kiss, contemporary dancer. Explore the theme of Shame & Guilt from a unique perspective, delving into trembling silences, muted words, and withheld speech to unlock inner doors of self-awareness and expression.

Apr. 8-12: CREATION (Text-based Performance)

In this Masterclass, your exploration will center around the captivating realm of oralities through performativity. You'll embark on a journey delving into the multifaceted ways voice can be harnessed as a powerful tool of expression. From dialogue to texts, from speech to spoken words, you'll uncover the boundless potential of the human voice to shape and enrich your creative endeavors, whether they manifest in dance, performance, or physical theatre.
As we delve deeper into the connection between language and the body, text and movement, you'll unravel the intricate interplay between verbal expression and physicality, discovering how each informs and enhances the other in profound ways.

Apr. 15-19: PRESENTATION (Performance Night)

In a unique and transformative experience, you'll collectively orchestrate a lecture performance night set amidst the tranquil embrace of a forest—an immersive and intimate celebration of ephemeral and dematerialized art.Here, we defy the conventional urge to fixate on documentation or leave a trace. Instead, we embrace the present moment fully, speaking loud and proud, exploring our subversive voices as they echo through the trees, allowing the essence of our performance to exist purely in its fleeting beauty.

Apr. 22-26: REST (Grounding, Guided journaling, Processing)

Anna Ádám: "Desire Club". Photo © Zellei Boglárka, 2021

MODULE 4: MAY 2024

"Rules of the Game: Scripts, scores, protocoles and task-based performances"

Location: Budapest, Hungary

About:
In this Masterclass, participants will engage in the creation of scores in various forms, including written, narrated, and drawn formats. These scores will serve as choreographic tools, offering instructions for actions and movements that guide participants in their research within structured improvisation and their own creative processes.
Throughout the module, participants will explore how scores can inform and inspire their movement exploration, allowing them to develop their unique choreographic language and artistic expression. They will experiment with different ways of crafting scores, discovering how each format influences their creative approach and the outcomes of their work.
At the culmination of the module, participants will collaborate to build a "soundscape" – an immersive sound installation composed of tasks, instructions, and oral scores. This collective creation will showcase the diverse range of scores developed throughout the Masterclass, offering a multi-dimensional exploration of movement, sound, and artistic collaboration.

Unlearning Facilitators:
Anna Ádám, Eva Mora (Repertoire class)

Schedule:

May 8-12: INSPIRATION (Dance & Performance)

During the first week of the Masterclass, participants will immerse themselves in a Repertoire Class and Somatic experience titled "Anna Ádám: Desire Club." This unique session blends elements of an intimate workout with a sensual fitness class, offering a solo dance performance that celebrates the diversity of desires, pleasures, and bodies.
Led by Eva Mora, participants will explore movement as a form of self-expression, embracing their individual desires and celebrating the richness of human experience. Through somatic exploration and choreographic exercises, participants will engage in a journey of self-discovery, tapping into their innermost desires and expressing them through movement.
"Desire Club" provides a safe and inclusive space for participants to explore the nuances of desire, pleasure, and embodiment. It invites individuals to connect with their bodies in a deeply personal and empowering way, fostering a sense of liberation and self-acceptance through movement.

May 13-17: CREATION (Text-based performance)

During the third week of the Masterclass, participants will immerse themselves in the exploration of scripts, scores, protocols, and task-based performances. This intensive dive into the intricacies of performance creation will involve dissecting and analyzing various elements of scripted and scored works, as well as experimenting with task-based approaches to performance.
Through hands-on workshops and collaborative exercises, participants will learn how to craft effective scripts and scores that guide performers through a range of actions, movements, and emotions. They will explore different formats for scripts and scores, from traditional written formats to more abstract and visual representations.
Additionally, participants will delve into the concept of protocols, which serve as guidelines or rules for performance, and task-based performances, which involve performers executing specific actions or tasks within a structured framework. Through these explorations, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how performance can be shaped and influenced by predetermined parameters and instructions.
Throughout the week, participants will have the opportunity to experiment with these concepts in their own creative work, developing original scripts, scores, protocols, and task-based performances. By engaging in collaborative feedback sessions and sharing their work with their peers, participants will refine their skills and gain new insights into the art of task-based performance creation.

May 20-24: PRESENTATION (Lecture performance)

During the final week of the Masterclass, participants will come together to collaborate on the creation of a unique "soundscape" composed of tasks, instructions, and oral scores. This immersive auditory experience will serve as a culmination of the skills and techniques explored throughout the program, offering participants the opportunity to embody text and deliver voice in a dynamic and expressive manner.
Through a combination of collective brainstorming, creative experimentation, and collaborative composition, participants will work together to design and orchestrate a multi-layered soundscape that engages the senses and transports the audience into a rich and evocative sonic environment. Drawing inspiration from their own experiences, interests, and artistic sensibilities, participants will contribute their individual voices and perspectives to the creation of this collaborative performance piece.
The "soundscape" will incorporate a variety of spoken words, vocalizations, sound effects, and musical elements, woven together to create a cohesive and immersive narrative journey. Participants will have the opportunity to explore different vocal techniques, experiment with vocal dynamics and expressivity, and engage in improvisational exercises to further enhance their performance abilities.
Ultimately, the "soundscape" lecture performance will provide participants with a platform to showcase their newfound skills and talents in a collaborative and supportive environment. Through their collective efforts, participants will create a memorable and impactful performance experience that resonates with audiences and leaves a lasting impression.

May 27-31: REST (Grounding, Guided journaling, Processing)

MODULE 5: JUNE 2024

"Translation as creative practice"

Location: School of Disobedience "Healing Centre", Lake Balaton, Hungary

About:
Welcome to the countryside program at Lake Balaton, where we invite you to embark on a transformative journey exploring the art of "translation" as a multidisciplinary creative tool. Over the course of three themed 4-day retreats, you will delve into the process of translating between different mediums, from image to object, object to text, text to movement, and movement to space.
This module offers a flexible commitment, allowing participants to attend one, two, or all three retreats based on their interests and availability. Each retreat will provide a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of translation as a creative practice and explore its potential to inspire new forms of artistic expression.
As part of the program, accommodation and meals are included in the program fee, ensuring that participants can fully immerse themselves in the creative process while enjoying the tranquil surroundings of Lake Balaton. Join us for an enriching experience that promises to expand your artistic horizons and ignite your creativity.

Unlearning Facilitator:
Anna Ádám

Schedule:

June 3-6: "ARTS & TEXT"

Join us for a dynamic exploration blending creative writing, voice training, and movement practice. In this retreat, you'll delve into the transformative power of text and spoken words, learning how to harness them to elevate your performance.
Through a series of engaging writing exercises and collaborative activities, you'll challenge the traditional boundaries between language and the body, text and movement. Discover how the expressive qualities of voice can enrich your artistic expression and deepen your connection to your performance.
Whether you're a seasoned artist or new to the world of performance, "ARTS & TEXT" offers a unique opportunity to expand your creative horizons and refine your craft. Don't miss this chance to unlock the full potential of language in performance art.

June 10-13: "OUTSIDE OF THE BOX"

Join us for "OUTSIDE OF THE BOX," a transformative retreat where you'll challenge conventional norms and explore new dimensions of creativity.
In this intensive session, you'll embark on a journey of unlearning, shedding the constraints of Western aesthetics, academic conventions, and standard beauty norms. Together, we'll break free from traditional patterns in contemporary art-making practices, opening ourselves to unconventional possibilities.
Through collaborative exercises and hands-on experimentation, you'll rediscover the joy of creative expression and learn to think beyond the confines of the familiar. "OUTSIDE OF THE BOX" invites you to embrace innovation, embrace diversity, and embrace the power of daring to be different.

June 17-20: "CREATING SPACES, EXPERIENCES, COMMUNITIES"

Immerse yourself in "CREATING SPACES, EXPERIENCES, COMMUNITIES," an empowering summer workshop focused on developing the skills and vision needed to design and facilitate transformative retreats and workshops.
Throughout this dynamic session, you'll acquire practical tools and techniques for crafting meaningful experiences that foster personal growth and community connection. Learn to curate safe and nurturing spaces where participants can explore, learn, and evolve together.
Whether you're a seasoned facilitator or new to workshop design, this program offers valuable insights into supporting group processes and guiding individual journeys. Join us as we embark on a journey of collective empowerment and creative exploration.

past events

open stage

[HU] Te is írsz szövegeket, versket, vagy bármit, amit szívesen megosztanál másokkal? Mindegy milyen műfajban, most végre itt az alkalom!
[ENG] Do you write texts, poems or anything you'd like to share with others? Whatever the genre, now's your chance!

NEXT SESSION: SEPTEMBER 2023

"Right for Fight"
performance

[HU] Vak szerelemből felismerés, elfogultságból csalódás, harmóniából konfliktus, szabadságból bezártság... Szakítani akarunk, közben megbocsátani, egyedül is lenni meg együtt is, döntéseket hozni majd visszacsinálni, határokat szabni és mégis átlépni. Bizonytalanság, elveszettség, zavarodottság, miközben zúg a fülünkben, hogy "igen", "nem", "mégsem", "mégis", vagy inkább "talán"...
[ENG] From love to indifference, blindness to open eyes, idealisation to deception, harmony to conflict and freedom to imprisonment, we want to break up but forgive, be alone but accompanied, set limits but cross them, to say "yes", "no", "maybe" all at once…
Full of contradictions, oppositional emotions, ambivalent reactions, paradoxical decision, passionate and irrational choices, this duet conceives love as a universal combat sport without protective equipment, in which two vulnerable fighters constantly rewrite rules, negotiate power, fight with each other, against each other, next to each other.

NEXT SESSION: SEPTEMBER 2023

performance evening

[HU] Tíz, maximum tíz perces előadás egy este leforgása alatt. Mind radikális, kísérleti, meredek. Személyes, őszinte, bátor.
Az estére pályázat során lehetett jelentkezni. Zsűrizés nem volt. Így az első tíz beérkezett projektet láthatjátok. Reményeink szerint "fura" lesz, vagyis kánonon kívüli, szokatlan.
[ENG] Ten performances in one evening, max. 10-min-long each. All personal, honest, brave. Radical, out-of-the-box, experimental. Anybody could apply with a proposition through an open call. There was no selection process: you will see the the first ten proposals we received.

NEXT SESSION: SEPTEMBER 2023

sober techno

[HU] Indítsd be természetes úton a boldogság-hormonjaidat! A “Sober Techno” az egyik legintenzívebb és legfelszabadítóbb programunk. Party józanul, teljes biztonságban, másnaposság nélkül.
[ENG] Learn how to wake up your feel-good hormones, how to produce dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin naturally. Explore how to use the power of your body and mind to enter a conscious trance state through intensive physical dancing, how to party clean and safe.

NEXT SESSION: SEPTEMBER 2023

writing club

Far from academic norms and conventions, this non-canonical creative writing class will support you to constantly question "Dos" and "Don'ts", challenge literary canons and accepted rules related to syntax, grammar, vocabulary, and ponctuation. This class will extend your conception of what is "text" to allow you to go far beyond mainstream literary genres, standardized writing techniques, attitudes, and practices. It will give you new ideas, insights, and perspectives, encourage you to take risks, explore new ways of narrating, composing, and creating, develop your own artistic voice and personal aesthetic. Our exercises will guide you to take the path of the non-conform, explore with confidence the unknown, the unusual, the unfamiliar, and the unexpected in literacy creation.
This session's topic will be: "The gaze"

NEXT SESSION: SEPTEMBER 2023

play fight club

[HU] Gyakoroljuk a szemkontaktust, uraljuk a teret, felszabadítjuk a testünket, megtudjuk mennyire vagyunk erősek, kitartóak, bátrak. Az izmainkkal együtt játékosan építjük az önbizalmunkat is.
LÁNYOK! Rendhagyó alkalom: Az év elején Szenegálban töltöttem két hónapot, ahol a helyi birkózási technikát tanultam. Ezen a rendhagyó foglalkozáson elsősorban a tanulmányút alatt elsajátított tudást fogom átadni.
[ENG] Through the practice of play fighting and self-defense, we learn how to occupy a space, liberate our body and voice, discover our power and challenge our strength, develop self-confidence and resistance. Unlike any rule-based sport or technique-based dance style, this inclusive method is built on everyday movements. It is adapted to every type of body, and doesn't require any experience or specific knowledge.
GIRLS! During this special session, I will mainly be passing on the knowledge I acquired during my study trip in Senegal where I learned the local traditional wrestling technique during two months.

NEXT SESSION: SEPTEMBER 2023

theory

ABOUT
Week-long workshops on a specific topic linked to the fields of sociology, psychology, geopolitics, and dramaturgy, questioning socio-political contexts, inequalities, power dynamics, social justice, hegemonic class, normative behaviors, dominant ideologies.
Activities include: lecture, readings, screenings, historical material, archives, divers audiovisual resources, discussion, writing, presenting...

TOPICS
Module 1:

Iris Medeiros (Brazil): "Ways and meanings of the touch: a tool for empowerment, well-being, and knowledge"

Module 2:

Masha Kardash (Ukraine): "Self-exoticism and post-socialist femininity: demystifying the ‘exotic’ body in Eastern Europe"

Module 3:

Sara Mychkine (France / Tunisia): "I. Decanonizing modern art: from painting to performance. II. Birthing new space-times outside of the box"
Anna Ádám (Hungary): "Unreason & Madness: I. The social and cultural construction of madness II. Pathologization, social exclusion, activism III. The unknown and the unexpected"

PRACTICE

ABOUT
Week-long workshops linked to a performing art form (dance, music, theatre, spoken word / lecture, creative writing, puppetry / object-theater, performance art...) or body practice, having a specific topic, cultural context, and artistic outcome.
Activities include: movement practice, dance, performance, creative writing, poetry & lecture, dj & mixing, choral, voice training, zine making...

PRACTICE PROJECTS
Module 1:

Penelope Morout (Greece / France): "Sculpting Body-Images: improvisation, playground, release"
Anna Ádám (Hungary): "Body politics"
Anna Ádám (Hungary): "The sketchbook project"

Module 2:

Lu Lin (China): "Reading My Panties: stories, relations, politics, dogmas, and taboos related to cultural differences"
Anna Ádám (Hungary): "Wildflowers Festival: organizing, curating & programming a community festival"
Anna Ádám (Hungary): "Personal Mythologies: an immersive creative writing experience

Module 3:

Sarah Diep (France): "Sound poetry: reclaim your own narrative / dj mixing, field recording and voices
Anna Ádám (Hungary): “Character building, script writing, directing, performing, and live streaming a 3-days-long reality show on romantic, adventure, food, dating, and fashion”

TECHNIQUE

ABOUT
Week-long technique and dance style workshops far from western academic canons and/or beauty norms, composed of both a movement practice part (combinations, short sequences, phrases, etc) and a sharing part (historical, cultural, and socio-political background).

Dance techniques: Ndombolo (Congo), Azonto (Ghana), Afro House (Angola), Amapiano (South Africa), Naija Street Styles (Nigeria), Funk carioca (twerk), Contemporary / Improvisation, Release, Fusion Bellydance, Waacking
Relaxation, grounding & healing techniques: Qi-gong, Tai Chi, Guided Yoga, Breathing techniques, Guided Meditation, Guided Hypnosis, Psychomagic act, Collective singing, Moongoddess & Dragonbreath Method, Shiatsu Japanese Massage
Martial art techniques: Kung Fu (Chinese martial art), Play Fight, Self-defense, Kalaripayattu (Indian martial art), Budo (Japanese martial art)
Flow toy techniques: 3 ball juggling, Staff spinning, Hula hooping, Poi spinning

MAIN TECHNIQUES
Module 1:

Luana Naquin (France): "Introduction to Afro fusion dance styles: Ndombolo (Congo), Azonto (Ghana), Afro House (Angola), Amapiano (South Africa), Naija Street Styles (Nigeria)"
Marion Filippi (France): "Multi sensorial journey: Breathing techniques, Meditation, Guided Hypnosis, Psychomagic act, Collective singing"

Module 2:

Adriatica Bodyart (Brazil / Germany): "Moongoddess Dance & Dragonbreath with Body painting: introduction to Fusion Bellydance and Waacking"
Maxime Smeets (The Netherlands / China / Indonesia): "Tame the Dragon: Introduction to Qi-gong & Kung Fu"

Module 3:

Zsuzsa Bakonyi (Hungary): "Enjoy your flow toys: juggling, poi & staff spinning, hula hooping"
Yuta Ishikawa (Japan): "Body Weather: Introduction to Shiatsu & Budo"

PROJECT

ABOUT
Week-long workshops where a guest artist, maker, choreographer, composer shares her ongoing creation project with student: invites students into her artistic world, shares her tools and working method, tests her craziest ideas, tries out new things, deepens her research, rehearses, composes, creates wit the group.
Activities include: movement research, experimentation, creation, composition, repertoire, rehearsal, final sharing...

GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS

Module 1: Marion Binois (France): "Monster: as a liberation of the submerged side of the iceberg, that is hidden, unaccepted, uncontrolled"
Module 2: Priiya Prethora (India): "Facing Traces: Decolonial and emancipatory movement practice based on Kalaripayattu and performance creation with a sound archive on history, memory and identity"
Module 3: Ashley Vu (France / Vietnam): "In the “boat-people” lineage: (Im)migration movement, uprooting and search for identity"

well-being

ABOUT
Week-long workshops where we learn how to take care about our body, how to accept and appreciate it. Through a series of healing technique, relaxation technique, manual technique, therapeutic practice, will learn how to rest, how to enjoy taking the time for ourselves, how to develop our own self-care and self-love routine.
Activities include: yoga, relaxation, massage, care, healing and therapeutic practices...

TECHNIQUES & TOOLS

Module 1: Marion Filippi (France): "Multi sensorial journey: Breathing techniques, Meditation, Guided Hypnosis, Psychomagic act, Healing voices (Choral meditation)"
Module 2: Maxime Smeets (The Netherlands / China / Indonesia): "Tame the Dragon: Introduction to Qi-gong & Kung Fu"
Module 3: Yuta Ishikawa (Japan): "Body Weather: Introduction to Shiatsu & Budo"

COMMUNITY

ABOUT
Week-long workshops seen as “calls for gathering” for friendship, trust, and togetherness. It's about creating safe and generous spaces that go beyond relational aesthetics by including in it the production of collective knowledge and the sharing of skills, tools, and processes.
Activities include: immersive group experiences, community cooking, group rituals and ceremonies, excursion, hiking...

PROJECTS

Module 1: Judit Kis (Hungary): "The power of communal farming and cooking to inspire, heal, and create communities."
Module 2: Luca Borsos (Hungary): "Underground Budapest: How to occupy public spaces - reinventing our ways to intervene"
Module 3: Tekla Gedeon (Hungary): "The giant who sunk in soil: experiencing with lichen colonies of the Kerepesi Cemetery & making a collective woven tapestry"

MARTIAL ART & Self-defense

ABOUT
Fight Clubs are political soft spaces of care and empowerment, where through the practice of martial arts, play fight, and self-defense, we occupy the space, liberate our body and voice, discover our power and challenge our strength, develop self-confidence and resistance. Against the intimidating and objectifying male gaze used as an instrument of women’s oppression, we regularly do eye gazing exercises, and learn how to confront it instead of looking away. We reinforce our eyes as a muscle, and rehearse to gaze back proudly again, again, and again. Making our eye-muscle become stronger and stronger, we gaze back day after day with a little bit more confidence, and a little bit less of fear.

TECHNIQUES
Module 1:

Anna Ádám (Hungary): "Play Fight & Self-Defense" (Wildflowers Festival)

Module 2:

Swapnapriiya Manna (India): "Kalaripayattu, an Indian martial art"
Maxime Smeets (The Netherlands / China / Indonesia): "Wushu (Kung Fu), a full-contact Chinese combat sport"

Module 3:

Yuta Ishikawa (Japan): "Budo, a Japanese martial art"

RELAXATION, RELEASE, GROUNDING

ABOUT
Learn release and grounding techniques, focus on breathing, muscle relaxation.

METHODS
Module 1:

Penelope Morout (Greece / France): "Sculpting Body-Images: improvisation, playground, release"
Marion Filippi (France): "Guided yoga & Healing voices meditation"

Module 2:

Adriatica Bodyart (Brazil / Germany): "Moongoddess Breathing technique"
Anna Ádám (Hungary): "Sober Techno" (Wildflowers Festival)

Module 3:

Yuta Ishikawa (Japan): "Body Weather method"

Improvisation

ABOUT
Far from academic and canonic contemporary dance and improvisation classes, the School of Disobedience's performance improvisation method is rather inspired by abstract art in terms of thinking, and by photography in terms of making. It denies physical virtuosity, skillful trick, technical stratagem, aesthetic artifice, and more broadly classicism’s emphasis on imitation. Instead it stress the role of imagination and of the unconscious as the essential creative factors with a structure directly rooted into photographic processing:

observing life;
exposing to light;
fixing the moment;
developing the image.

During this class, following an intuitive and very personal research, you will explore how personal mythologies, memory, and identity are formed and constituted. Guided by creative instructions and tasks, you will challenge your body as a political-affective geography, a historically shaped and colonized archive, where power is constantly contested and negotiated.

METHODS

Module 1: Penelope Morout (Greece / France): "Sculpting Body-Images: improvisation, playground, release"
Module 2: Anna Ádám (Hungary): "Thinking in Images: improvisation with a photography archive" (Wildflowers Festival)

Repertoire

ABOUT
You will learn some choreographies from the Gray Box repertoire, some solos from "sorry not sorry" (2018) or "UTOPIA/DYSTOPIA" (2022). You will discover the choreographer’s, Anna Ádám's movement vocabulary, her choreographic approach, and working method. This intensive repertoire class will be a unique opportunity to explore your strength in terms of physicality. You will exclusively work on solos. Your solo will be chosen according to your research field, interest, emotional state, mental availability.

"sorry not sorry" (2018) is composed of 3 solos:

“CLASH”, a solo on finding our own path.
“Dirty Dancing”, a solo on intimacy and desire.
“Secret Garden”, a solo on culpability.

"UTOPIA/DYSTOPIA" (2022) is composed of 3 solos:

“Who is the boss?”, a solo on domination, oppression and exploitation
“CRISIS BEFORE CRISIS”, a solo on the feeling of being lost, overwhelmed, caught in a downward spiral from which it seems complicated to get out.
“MÖBIUS”, a solo on powerlessness, being manipulated and trapped by an enclosing system

CHOREOGRAPHER

Anna Ádám (Hungary)

STUDIO TIME & MOVEMENT RESEARCH

ABOUT
You will have studio time reserved to research on your own. In this space, you will be encouraged to step out of your comfort zone, transform your imagination and open yourself to new forms, aesthetics and inspirations. You will find ways to generate new movements and movement qualities. So as to stimulate different parts of the brain and the body, you will move back and forth between moving, writing, and drawing.

SCHEDULE

Module 1: Studio time: Movement research lab & Personal creation
Module 2: Studio time: Movement research lab & Personal creation
Module 3: Studio time: Movement research lab & Personal creation

CREATION & COMPOSITION

ABOUT
You will be guided to play, tinker, craft, and put together your sequences into choreography through creative tasks and instructions. Following studio time, movement research, readings, life experience, self-examination, you will be invited to reflect and work as soloists, with partners, or in group to create a performance in relation with a given topic. You will also receive a choreographic toolbox together with one-on-one mentoring (including critical feed-back in the analysis, application of the method and the clarity of details). You will have the opportunity to show your work in front of an audience.

SCHEDULE

Module 1: Personal creation: "Performance" & Showcase
Module 2: Personal creation: "Experience" & Showcase
Module 3: Personal creation: "Community" & Showcase

CREATIVE WRITING

ABOUT
Far from academic norms and conventions, our non-canonical creative writing class will support you to constantly question "Dos" and "Don'ts", challenge literary canons and accepted rules related to syntax, grammar, vocabulary, and ponctuation. This class will extend your conception of what is "text" to allow you to go far beyond mainstream literary genres, standardized writing techniques, attitudes, and practices. It will give you new ideas, insights, and perspectives, encourage you to take risks, explore new ways of narrating, composing, and creating, develop your own artistic voice and personal aesthetic. Our exercises will guide you to take the path of the non-conform, explore with confidence the unknown, the unusual, the unfamiliar, and the unexpected in literacy creation.

SCHEDULE

Module 2: Anna Ádám (Hungary): "Personal Mythologies: an immersive creative writing experience"

In the "School is Disobedience" we will not teach to you to break the law, we will neither burn the civil code nor the Bible, we will not encourage you spitting on a police officer, insulting security guards, using verbal or physical violence, aggressiveness, brutality, vandalism, we will definitely not telling you to steal, cheat or lie at all, at all, at all! Quite the opposite...

We will teach you respect, empathy, open-mindedness, and tolerance towards difference and divergence. We will insist on authenticity, sincerity, generosity: we believe in you, we believe in your art, go further and further, make people be impacted by. We will encourage you to be honest and engaged, simple, humble and generous, free and independent, confident and strong. We will guide you to create meaningful and powerful art with a very personal, original and outstanding point of view.

We will develop your capacity of resisting, defying and revolting in two steps:

During the first part of the program, we will encourage you to disobey to yourself, step out of your comfort zone, overcame your barriers, break your personal rules both in the mind and in the body. Many of us are engaged in self-destructive behaviors that have become habits. In both our personal and professional lives, we sometimes find ways to damage or destroy ourselves physically, mentally, or emotionally. At times we deliberately prevent our own success and overall well-being. Let's recognize self-sabotaging habits. Let's try to understand it, identify root causes. Let's take time for self-reflection. Let's disobey to our fears, negative thoughts, counterproductive beliefs, and harmful emotions. Let's find your inner positive voice. Fight against and disobey to your pattern of behavior and habits. Make small but meaningful changes. Set personal and professional goals and make beautiful plans. Realize your dreams.
During the second part of the program, we will teach you to disobey to others' gaze, judgements and expectations. Free yourself from your class, from your position, from your social status! Stop wanting to prove yourself to the art world, to be validated with an institution, stop using terminologies and theoretical references just because it is "required". Stop being manipulated by the market, stop creating for open calls, stop adapting your art, stop responding to trends. Resist, defy, revolt! We will teach you not to look for what looks good, what’s nice, what will the audience like, how will teachers and professionals react, what will the others think about. We will always tell you to do only what you personally like and believe in. To be concerned with what you want to say instead of how. To try out something completely new. Instead of avoiding, we will suggest you to look specifically for the risky, the unusual, the unknown, the weird, the uncanny. Not to throw away your "strange" ideas, but try them one by one. Try in art, with art, for art and through art everything you haven’t had time or haven’t had the courage to do so far. Be autonomous, be independent, be freely and proudly yourself.

Classes are not held by "teachers" but by artists, collectives, representatives of local NGO-s, associations, and grassroots initiatives. We can say that this is a fieldwork- and practice-oriented school in which participants are not sitting passively in a classroom and conceptualizing nice things for the elite, but actually they are creating for everyone, making concrete actions for a better future, building bridges between those who have access to knowledge and art, and those who do not.

We - staff and participants included - believe that art can be used as a tool for social justice, and art can make the difference.

Instead of "regular classes", the school is composed of modular indoor and outdoor immersive experiences, field works with other social groups and micro-communities (juvenile gangs, clubs, sororities, the elderly, high school students...), in addition to creating, curating and organizing public events (exhibition, performance, public space intervention, rituals, celebrations, hiking...).

The program briefly introduces to participants a series of theoretical disciplines (psychology, anthropology, sociology, sexuality-, gender and queer Studies, womens' rights, body politics, auto-ethnography, politics of desire...), concepts (domination, oppression, collaboration, togetherness, collectivity, leadership, fear, trust, desire, love, intimacy, sexuality, life cycle, care, rituals, healing, sisterhood, witchcraft, eco-feminism...), artistic expressions (dance, choreography, performance, visual arts, community art, social choreography, experience design, immersive installations, digital media art, audio-visual displays, construction of interactive and multi-sensorial devices, costume design, mask making, creative writing...) together with professional tools (collaboration and co-creation practices, collective working methods...).

Challenging artistic conventions and traditional canons, confronting standards, beauty norms, questioning social norms allow participants to acquire the ability to think and act freely and critically without worrying about others' gaze, judgment and expectations.

Day after day participants get to know themselves better and better, they develop self-confidence and self-love, in other words they build a solid basis to become afterwards autonomous and courageous people: dare to be themselves, fearlessly follow their own path, and be proudly and confidently themselves!

2025 retreats

Format: In person
Duration: 3 days during summer 2025
Location: Napmajor Farm

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

apply here

part 1: contact information

part 2: getting to know you and your project

part 3: consent

part 4: anything else?

mentoring objectives

personal development

creativity

theory

project

your learning outcomes
facilitators training

healing

schedule

LEVEL I - preparation phase

LEVEL II - practice phase

LEVEL III - implementation phase

schedule

schedule

focus

school

unlearning school

healing centre

MODULE 1: FEBRUARY 2024

"From page to stage: How to turn a text into a performance"

MODULE 2: MARCH 2024

"Sculpture Theatre & Performing Objects: the performativity of things"

MODULE 3: APRIL 2024

"Oralities: nothing is left behind"

MODULE 4: MAY 2024

"Rules of the Game: Scripts, scores, protocoles and task-based performances"

MODULE 5: JUNE 2024

"Translation as creative practice"

past events

open stage

"Right for Fight"
performance

performance evening

sober techno

writing club

play fight club

2025 retreats

Format: In personDuration: 3 days during summer 2025​Location: Napmajor Farm

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

apply here

part 1: contact information

part 2: getting to know you and your project

part 3: consent

part 4: anything else?

mentoring objectives

personal development

creativity

theory

project

your learning outcomesfacilitators training

healing

schedule

LEVEL I - preparation phase

LEVEL II - practice phase

LEVEL III - implementation phase

schedule

schedule

focus

school

unlearning school

healing centre

MODULE 1: FEBRUARY 2024​​"From page to stage: How to turn a text into a performance"

MODULE 2: MARCH 2024​"Sculpture Theatre & Performing Objects: the performativity of things"

MODULE 3: APRIL 2024​"Oralities: nothing is left behind"

MODULE 4: MAY 2024​​"Rules of the Game: Scripts, scores, protocoles and task-based performances"

MODULE 5: JUNE 2024"Translation as creative practice"

past events

open stage

"Right for Fight" performance

performance evening

sober techno

writing club

play fight club

Format: In person
Duration: 3 days during summer 2025
Location: Napmajor Farm

your learning outcomes
facilitators training

MODULE 1: FEBRUARY 2024

"From page to stage: How to turn a text into a performance"

MODULE 2: MARCH 2024

"Sculpture Theatre & Performing Objects: the performativity of things"

MODULE 3: APRIL 2024

"Oralities: nothing is left behind"

MODULE 4: MAY 2024

"Rules of the Game: Scripts, scores, protocoles and task-based performances"

MODULE 5: JUNE 2024

"Translation as creative practice"

"Right for Fight"
performance