Professional Contemporary Dance Certification Program (PCDCP) - Winter 2026

About the Open Call

The Professional Contemporary Dance Certification Program (PCDCP) is a five-week immersive training experience offered every Winter and Fall, built for dedicated, visionary artists who have completed diploma or B.A.-level studies, or who bring a minimum of five years of immersive dance practice. This program is not an introduction, but a continuation for artists ready to deepen their craft, teach with integrity, and perform with purpose. It offers intimate mentorship with world-renowned choreographer Judith Sánchez Ruíz, whose practice is rooted in non-western perspectives and over 30 years of international experience. The program includes certification upon completion, with additional teaching certification possible after participation in multiple PCDCP programs. The location is The Eden Studios, Studio 190, Berlin, Germany, with the 5 Week Intensive running from January 12th - February 14th, and showings and presentations on February 13th & 14th. A comprehensive archive of all research, debates, presentations, and classes will be accessible online exclusively for students. The curriculum focuses on a radical return to the body, unlocking innate movement intelligence through a functional, somatic approach. It includes: - Functionality and Perspective in Dance: Classes based on Judith Sánchez Ruíz's 15+ years of investigation on release techniques, focusing on movement initiation, shifting weight, clarity, precision, and dynamics. - Your Own God, Intensive Improvisation: Research based on JSR's choreographic process, aiming to unlock the mind from imitative dogma and focus on individual awakening through radio exercises, ramifications, and associations of vocabularies. - Partnering: Focuses on partnering development and improvisational composition through exercises exploring off-balance, counter-balance, and weight dynamics. - Teaching Methodologies: Collaborative learning to create structured exercises and lesson plans, engaging in discussions about teaching strategies and optimal learning environments. - Mentoring: Delving into repertoire and artistic mentoring within intimate peer groups. - Como las olas: Features the return of JSR Company’s repertory work "COMO LAS OLAS," which conceptually focuses on time and loops, exploring perceptions of gender and sexuality within technical and creative contexts. JSR, a trailblazing Afro-Cuban artist, is renowned worldwide for her fearless, boundary-pushing work, fusing rigorous structure with improvisation. Her vision is to build a global dance network rooted in exploration, innovation, and radical artistic exchange, amplifying diverse voices with a powerful emphasis on women in contemporary dance. The JSR Company is committed to diversity and education, expanding knowledge and welcoming students from all backgrounds and cultures.

What is Offered

Certification, Mentorship, Professional Development, Performance, Networking, Publication

Requirements

Proof of completion of contemporary dance education program, B.A., or equivalent is required. Selection criteria will focus on the applicant's artistic individuality, improvisational talents, intellectual enthusiasm, and a keen interest in exploring movement. Applicants must submit a detailed artistic curriculum vitae, a 1-minute video explaining their interest, and a 5-minute video demonstrating improvisation skills (2 min slow-motion, 3 min in sequence, no edits/music).

How to Apply

**Requirements**: * Proof of completion of contemporary dance education program, B.A., or equivalent is required. * Selection criteria will focus on the applicant's artistic individuality, improvisational talents, intellectual enthusiasm, and a keen interest in exploring movement. **Application Submission**: Please submit: * a detailed artistic curriculum vitae * a one minute video expressing why you are interested in our program and sharing more about yourself * a 5 minute video link (YouTube or Vimeo) with no edits or music, consisting of: * a 2 minute slow-motion improvisation to highlight presence, state of mind, and bodily intelligence * a 3 minute improvisation in one sequence shot in silence (no edits and no music) The application link is a Google Form.