DRIVHUS: Youth Talent Programme
Our Youth Talent Programme is part of our new talent development initiative, DRIVHUS. In dialogue with dance education institutions and talent schools, we have identified a shared need to support the development of emerging dance talent through teaching and mentorship. Danish Dance Theatre offers an annual one-week intensive, where young dancers aged 15–19 are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in techniques and processes within contemporary dance. The programme is led by dancers from Danish Dance Theatre, who simultaneously gain professional experience in teaching, facilitation, and choreographic practice.
The dancers have contributed to the development of the programme and have expressed how they see it as an opportunity to expand their own toolkit within the company, to learn from each other’s unique skill sets, and to help bridge the gap between young talent and the professional world—something they themselves wished they had access to as aspiring dancers.
MORE ABOUT OUR TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
As Denmark’s national company for contemporary dance, our vision is to strengthen the position of dance as a vital part of the artistic and societal landscape. Through DRIVHUS, we aim to actively contribute to the dance ecosystem and ensure that tomorrow’s talents are given the best possible conditions for growth. In this way, we strive to both elevate dance as an art form and solidify its role in Danish society. We thank the Augustinus Foundation for their generous grant of DKK 1.27 million, supporting our DRIVHUS talent programme over a three-year period.
The Danish dance landscape is rich and diverse, yet opportunities for young professional choreographers and dancers transitioning from education to career are limited. Internationally, programmes exist that allow newly graduated talents to work with professional dancers and productions—now, Danish Dance Theatre ensures such opportunities are available in Denmark too.
DRIVHUS is a strategic initiative built on years of experience in talent development and collaboration with educational institutions. The programme encompasses a total of 12 weeks of talent development for approximately 130 external and 11 internal talents. It has been developed in close dialogue with key players in the dance community, including the Master’s Programme in Choreography at the Danish National School of Performing Arts, Talent Academy in Holstebro, the Ballet School in Odense, Dansestudiet in Aarhus, and Vejle Sports Folk High School.
The programme focuses on three core areas:
