German Dance and Education
Berlin, Germany, May 11 - June 1 2012
Course Description
This three-week course in Berlin, Germany will be a combination of lectures and site visits which deal with the art of dance. Lectures will examine the connections between dance and music, visual art, architecture and dramaturgy. Students will discuss these subjects in the context of major historical and political events such as the Reformation, the rise of National Socialism, the Cold War, and Reunification. The works of past and present German choreographers such as Mary Wigman, Pina Bausch, and William Forsyth will also be examined. The course includes two days trips to two other cities: Dresden, the center of German Expressionist dance before and during the World War II, and Potsdam, home of the Prussian emperors. Berlin, Dresden, and Potsdam each represent some of Germany’s most important architectural, intellectual and artistic achievements. In addition to the study of German dance, students will have the opportunity to meet with educators to discuss the role that the integration of arts, in particular music and dance, play in the educational system in Germany. Finally, students will have the experience of being an international student in a city with thousands of university students from all over the world.
Country Profile
Europe's strongest economic and industrial power, Germany is also the most populous European country outside Russia. Fertile northern plains stretch south from the North and Baltic Seas changing to central highlands and then rising to the rugged Schwarzwald (Black Forest) in the southwest and to the Alps in the far south. Germans are highly urbanized; about 86 percent live in cities and towns. With one of the world's lowest birthrates, Germany is a magnet for foreign workers—some 7.3 million immigrants live here.
Twenty years after its post-Wall rebirth, Berlin is a scene-stealing combo of glamour and grit, teeming with top museums and galleries, grand opera and guerrilla clubs, gourmet temples and ethnic snack shacks. Whether your tastes run to posh or punk, you can sate them in Berlin. When it comes to fashion, art, design and music, the German capital is the city to watch. A global influx of creatives has turned it into a cauldron of cultural cool reminiscent of New York in the ’80s. What draws them is Berlin’s legendary climate of tolerance, openness and experimentation infused with an edgy undercurrent that gives this ‘eternally unfinished’ city its street cred. Cheap rents don’t hurt either. All this trendiness is a triumph for a town that’s long been in the cross-hairs of history: Berlin staged a revolution, was headquartered by fascists, bombed to bits, ripped in half and finally reunited – and that was just in the 20th century! Famous landmarks such as the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and what’s left of the Berlin Wall are like a virtual 3-D textbook in a city where you’ll find history staring you in the face every time you turn a corner. Perhaps it’s because of its heavy historical burden that Berlin is throwing itself into tomorrow with such contagious energy. At times the entire city seems to be bubbling over into one huge party. Cafes are jammed at all hours, drinking is a religious rite and clubs host their scenes of frenzy and hedonism until the wee hours. Sleep? Fuhgeddaboutit!
Yet despite its often hectic pace, Berlin functions on an exquisitely human scale. Traffic flows freely, public transportation is brilliant, you can walk without fear at night, clubs have no velvet ropes and your restaurant bill would only buy you a starter back home. Come and join the party and be swept away by the riches, quirks and vibrancy of this fascinating city.
Exert about Germany from National Geographic and Lonely Planet.
Faculty
This course is taught by Dr. Lauren Friesen and Dr. Elizabeth Kattner, professors from the Theatre & Dance department.
Eligibility & Prerequisites
- All undergraduates and graduate students are eligible to apply
- All majors are eligible to apply
- Guest students are eligible to apply
- No GPA requirements.
Course Profile
This is a 3-credit course being offered in the Summer 2012 term. Students are required to register for one of the following courses:
- INT 394 - Special Topic in Study Abroad (undergraduate)
- INT 594 - Special Topic in Study Abroad (graduate)
Costs
The cost of this program is $2,312. This includes
- Housing
- Meals (lunch only)
- Health Insurance
- Cultural Activities
- Transportation in Germany
There is a $300 enrollment deposit required at the time of application. Students are required to submit full payment of program fee by March 9, 2012. To determine an estimate of all costs, please click here to download a sample budget form.
NOTE*: Not included in the program fee: Tuition Charges, Passport, and Visa
Deadlines
Application deadline: December 16, 2011
50% of program fee: February 17, 2012
Remainder of program fee: March 9, 2012
Cancelations & Refunds
Students who withdraw on or before February 17, 2012 are eligible to receive $200 from the enrollment deposit. Any withdrawals must be done in writing and submitted to the Office of Study Abroad. There will be no refunds after February 17, 2012. Students who withdraw after February 17, 2012 will be responsible for paying the full program fee.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to eligible students. To learn more and apply, please visit Study Abroad Scholarships.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Lauren Friesen & Dr. Elizabeth Kattner
Theatre and Dance
238 Theatre
(810) 237-6522
lfriesen@umflint.edu; ekattner@umflint.edu
* Fees are subject to change due to currency exchange rates