"To not miss out on who you really are."
—Anna Ádám
Founder of the School of Disobedience
Welcome to our Multidisciplinary Dance Performance Studies program, where we challenge traditional paradigms and embrace a somatic and experimental approach to contemporary live art practices. Explore the fusion of performance art with movement, text, sound, object, architecture, and audience engagement, unlocking limitless creative possibilities.
study program
This program consists of 6 thematic modules and 2 professional internships between October 2025 and May 2026.
Module 1 |
Oct. |
Performance & Creative writing |
Module 2 |
Nov. |
Performance & Voice |
Stage |
Dec. |
1st Internship |
Module 3 |
Jan. |
Performance & Object |
Module 4 |
Feb. |
Performance & Scores |
Module 5 |
March |
Performance & Solo |
Stage |
April |
2nd Internship |
Module 6 |
May |
Spaces, Experiences, Communities |
SCHEDULE & PROGRAM DETAILS
Module 1: Performance & Creative writing
Objectives:
- Renew literary practices: This module encourages participants to explore how literary practices can be reimagined by engaging with the body, space, time, writing, and voice in innovative ways. It challenges traditional approaches to writing by encouraging an embodied, spatial understanding of text. Participants will experiment with breaking the boundaries between written text and performative expression.
- Create spatialized literary experiences: Here, participants learn to design literary experiences that integrate relational, architectural, and social dimensions. The goal is to make writing more interactive and immersive by placing text within specific physical and social contexts, transforming written work into dynamic, multi-layered experiences.
- Bring text into performance: Participants will work on translating their texts into performance, integrating movement, spatial awareness, and physical embodiment to create performances that offer fresh, performative insights into the written word. This module opens a dialogue between text and performance, revealing how words can be given life through movement and interaction.
- Oct 6-10: Repertoire Course, Inspiration
- Oct 13-17: Research, Experimentation, Creation
- Oct 20-24: Rehearsal, Presentation
- Oct 27-31: Digestion, Archiving, Networking
Module 2: Performance & Voice
Objectives:
- Create immersive soundscapes: Participants will explore the creation of immersive acoustic environments that engage multiple senses. Through sound design, they will craft emotional and narrative atmospheres that can support and enhance performance. This might include experimenting with layering different sound textures or combining field recordings with spoken word.
- Explore oralities: In this section, participants will delve into the diverse modalities of speech, ranging from storytelling and spoken word to poetic chant and vocal improvisation. These experiments will aim to merge personal stories with collective oral traditions, creating a rich tapestry of voices in performance.
- Merge architecture and sound: The focus here is on the interaction between sound and architectural space. Participants will create site-specific installations that explore how sound resonates within urban and architectural settings, building a dialogue between the physical environment and acoustic experiences.
- Innovate in composition: This module encourages participants to combine text, language, sound, voice, and singing in ways that push creative boundaries. Participants will work on original compositions that fuse these elements, allowing them to create complex, layered performances where voice and sound become central components of artistic expression.
- Reinvent the DJ set: Participants will explore ways to transform the traditional DJ set into an innovative platform for sound performance. By mixing voice, sound, and music in expressive and poetic ways, they will learn how to turn DJing into a performative act that combines musicality with narrative and poetic expression.
- Nov 3-7: Repertoire Course, Inspiration
- Nov 10-14: Research, Experimentation, Creation
- Nov 17-21: Rehearsal, Presentation
- Nov 24-28: Digestion, Archiving, Networking
Professionalization: 1st internship
Objective:
The primary goal of the first professional internship is to provide hands-on experience and exposure by working directly with a choreographer, artist, community activist, or related professional in the field of arts or social practice. This internship will offer a practical understanding of the professional world, build essential skills, and help establish a network in your chosen field.
Key outcomes:
At the end of the internship, interns will prepare a written or multimedia report reflecting on their experience, detailing what they have learned, and how the internship has influenced their professional development.
Schedule (2025):
The primary goal of the first professional internship is to provide hands-on experience and exposure by working directly with a choreographer, artist, community activist, or related professional in the field of arts or social practice. This internship will offer a practical understanding of the professional world, build essential skills, and help establish a network in your chosen field.
Key outcomes:
- Practical experience:
Interns will gain direct experience in their area of interest, whether it's artistic production, choreography, community activism, or other related disciplines. The internship offers opportunities to engage in real-world projects, performances, or community-based initiatives. - Skill development:
Working closely with professionals, interns will develop a range of skills, from creative techniques (e.g., choreography, visual arts) to organizational and logistical skills, such as event management, project coordination, and communication. - Networking:
Building connections with established professionals and peers is a vital part of the internship. Interns will have opportunities to foster relationships with artists, choreographers, or community leaders, which could lead to future collaborations or professional opportunities.
At the end of the internship, interns will prepare a written or multimedia report reflecting on their experience, detailing what they have learned, and how the internship has influenced their professional development.
Schedule (2025):
- Dec 1-19
Module 3: Performance & Object
Objectives:
- Narrative and performative objects: This module explores the storytelling potential of objects, focusing on their symbolic and narrative capabilities in performance. Participants will experiment with objects as carriers of meaning, using them to communicate stories, emotions, and concepts within a performance setting.
- Choreograph objects: Here, participants will explore the choreographic potential of objects, learning how to manipulate, interact with, and animate objects within a performance. Through these interactions, participants will discover how objects can become integral parts of a choreography, taking on roles beyond mere props.
- Spatial dynamics of objects: Participants will focus on the relationship between objects and the space they occupy. They will learn how objects shape, influence, and alter spatial dynamics in performance, examining how objects can create different spatial narratives and affect the movement of performers and audience members alike.
- Jan 5-9: Repertoire Course, Inspiration
- Jan 12-16: Research, Experimentation, Creation
- Jan 19-23: Rehearsal, Presentation
- Jan 26-30: Digestion, Archiving, Networking
Module 4: Performance & Scores
Objectives:
- Create choreographic scores: In this module, participants will explore various ways of creating choreographic scores that guide movement and performance. These scores might be written, narrated, or drawn, providing clear or open-ended instructions for performers / audiences to follow. Participants will learn how to develop these scores as tools for structured improvisation and creative exploration.
- Score as instruction: The focus here is on using scores as instructional frameworks for performance. Participants will practice writing or drawing detailed scores that direct the flow of movement, action, or performance, serving as blueprints for creative interpretation and execution.
- Feb 2-6: Repertoire Course, Inspiration
- Feb 9-13: Research, Experimentation, Creation
- Feb 16-20: Rehearsal, Presentation
- Feb 23-27: Digestion, Archiving, Networking
Module 5: Performance & Solo
Objective:
- Practical solo creation: This module offers a complete guide to the process of creating and performing a solo work. Participants will engage in every stage, from the initial idea and conceptualization to research, experimentation, and creation, learning how to develop a solo piece from scratch.
- Tools for solo work: Participants will be equipped with practical skills in dramaturgy, scenography, sound design, and lighting, gaining a comprehensive understanding of all technical and artistic elements involved in solo performance.
- Production and marketing strategies: Beyond creation, participants will also learn the necessary steps for promoting and presenting their solo work to the public. This includes developing effective communication strategies, marketing approaches, and production planning to ensure their solo piece reaches the right audience and gains visibility.
- Mar 2-6: Repertoire Course, Inspiration
- Mar 9-13: Research, Experimentation, Creation
- Mar 16-20: Rehearsal, Presentation
- Mar 23-27: Digestion, Archiving, Networking
Professionalization: 2nd internship
Objective:
The second professional internship aims to immerse interns within a formal organization or institution such as a dance company, art venue, theater, museum, gallery, or cultural center. The goal is to deepen their understanding of the operational and creative processes within established structures in the arts and culture sector, gaining both practical and administrative insights.
Key outcomes:
Interns will complete a comprehensive report at the end of their internship, highlighting their key learnings, contributions, and reflections on the structure’s functioning. The report should include analysis on how the institution operates within the wider cultural context and what specific skills the intern has developed through this experience.
Schedule (2026):
The second professional internship aims to immerse interns within a formal organization or institution such as a dance company, art venue, theater, museum, gallery, or cultural center. The goal is to deepen their understanding of the operational and creative processes within established structures in the arts and culture sector, gaining both practical and administrative insights.
Key outcomes:
- Immersion in a professional structure:
Interns will experience the day-to-day functioning of a structured environment, providing insight into the internal dynamics of a professional setting. This may include attending staff meetings, observing decision-making processes, and participating in the execution of artistic programs or cultural events. - Understanding institutional frameworks:
Interns will gain insight into how institutions operate within local and global cultural ecosystems, including artist residencies, curatorial practices, programming, and outreach. They will learn how these institutions foster collaborations and manage their relationships with artists, audiences, sponsors, and other stakeholders. - Hands-on project participation:
Interns may assist in organizing and executing events, exhibitions, performances, or educational programs. This hands-on involvement will allow them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations, contributing to a larger artistic vision or community initiative. - Expanding networks:
The second internship provides ample opportunities to network with professionals across different fields within the organization. Interns will meet curators, artists, technical staff, and administrators, opening doors for future collaborations or employment opportunities.
Interns will complete a comprehensive report at the end of their internship, highlighting their key learnings, contributions, and reflections on the structure’s functioning. The report should include analysis on how the institution operates within the wider cultural context and what specific skills the intern has developed through this experience.
Schedule (2026):
- April 6-20
Module 6: Creating spaces, experiences, and communities
Objective:
- Create and hold spaces: Participants will learn the fundamentals of designing and maintaining safe, supportive, and creative environments. These spaces, whether physical or conceptual, will foster personal development, artistic experimentation, and collective change. Emphasis will be placed on creating spaces where people feel free to explore and grow.
- Design and facilitate experiences: This final module focuses on the practical techniques required to guide groups through transformative creative processes (multi-sensory experience, ritual, ceremony...). Participants will gain skills in facilitation, teaching, and mentoring, learning how to offer feedback, provide support, and lead others in creative endeavors while maintaining an atmosphere of encouragement and inspiration.
- Build communities: Participants will also explore methods for creating and sustaining engaged and active communities around shared values, goals, or artistic visions. Participants will learn how to cultivate a sense of belonging, solidarity, and collaboration, helping them to build lasting networks that promote shared growth and collective creativity.
- May 4-8: Professionalization / Personal Project: Concept
- May 11-15: Professionalization / Personal Project: Implementation
- May 18-22: Professionalization / Personal Project: Presentation
- May 25-29: Digestion, Archiving, Networking
our commitments
- Courses in English
- Small groups: maximum of 4 participants per group
- 2 professional internships
- Multidisciplinary approach
- Focus on the student’s project
- Positive and encouraging atmosphere
- Boosting self-confidence
- 1-2 public performances per month
- Creation of professional tools: photo shoots, portfolio, etc.
- Networking and development opportunities
locations
We extend the context of learning from the classroom to public space, non-traditional venues and nature, to challenge epistemic power structures, and invent new immersive, multi-sensory and interactive experiences. We run our classes in different formal and non-formal, indoor and outdoor studios and spaces in Budapest, Hungary (forest, spa, hammam, parc, lake, riverside, dance studio, gallery, museum, artist-run-space, underground platform, festival, boxing club, theater, permaculture farm...).
class activities
Performance, Repertoire, Instant composition, Contemporary dance, Somatic approach, Authentic movement, Choreography, Lecture performance, Sound poetry, Zine making & Self-publishing, Creative Writing, Voice training, Immersive installation, Visual arts, Sculpture & Object making, Text-based Art, Research, Experimentation, Personal project, Organizing an event (open mic, performance evening, exhibition...), Group discussion, Debate, Theory, Leadership, Social entrepreneurship, Project management...
practical information
- Title: Multidisciplinary Dance Performance Studies
- Level: Professional
- Age limit: None
- Baccalaureate/diploma(s) required: No
- Certificate: Upon completion of the program, if you meet the conditions and pass the final evaluations, an official certificate will validate your journey and the skills acquired.
- Format: In-person (Budapest)
- Structure: 6 modules + 2 professional internships
- Intensity: 4 days per week, with 3 hours of daily classes + 1-3 hours of personal work recommended.
- Public presentations & performances: At least once a month, you will have the opportunity to present your work during public performances, a key moment to share your progress and engage with an audience.
- Application deadline: Applications are reviewed and evaluated as they are received. Since the group is small (4 people), it is advised not to wait too long to apply.
- Language: English
- Price: €6000
- Housing in Budapest: While accommodation is not included in our price, we will assist you in finding suitable housing. Budapest is more affordable than other European capitals, and you can find a room starting from €350-400/month.
- Teaching team & collaborations
selection process
Our Multidisciplinary Dance Performance Studies is among the most exclusive art education programs, admitting only 4 participants per group. This ensures that we can provide highly personalized guidance and individualized attention tailored to each participant's needs. Our selection process consists of four steps:
- Online application submission: Click here
- Interview: Shortlisted candidates will have a video call with the founder of the school. This is an excellent opportunity to present yourself, your professional projects, and your career objectives.
- Creative exercise: Shortlisted candidates will respond to a creative prompt in either Performance or Creative Writing. They will have one week to submit their proposition. This exercise offers a beautiful opportunity to engage with our learning materials and pedagogic tools in a hands-on experience.
- Final selection: Candidates will receive a decision within 2 weeks after submission.