Can I apply if I am not from a contemporary dance background?

Absolutely! In fact, we are very happy to receive your application. At BUDS, we are working on expanding the boundaries of genres - together with the future, diverse, professional dance generation.

Can I also apply if I am deaf, disabled or chronically ill? Can costs for Access be covered?

We are aware that very few dance schools in Germany train dancers with disabilities. We would also like to counteract this barrier on the way to professional training with BUDS. Unfortunately, the rehearsal room is only accessible via stairs and there is no barrier-free toilet. There are pillars in the room that can get in the way when dancing freely. There are only very limited opportunities to retreat, which cannot be made availa- ble on an ongoing basis. We are looking to provide an access budget, but this is not guaranteed. If you have any further questions about rooms and access, please contact us.

What do you mean by dancers and choreographers? What do you mean by ‘at the beginning of their career’?

BUDS is aimed at people who have already gained experience as dancers/choreographers and have made their first independent projects, such as a funded production at a theatre, the organisation and realisation of a community event, the founding of an association or other initiatives in the artistic field, etc. BUDS is aimed at professional artists who are motivated to take the next step in their young career and to network and further their education.

Can BUDS pay for travelling expenses and accommodation?

Unfortunately, we cannot pay for travel costs and accommodation.

What does the timetable look like? How many hours a day do the lessons last?

We plan a core working time from Monday to Friday for workshops, lessons, peer-to-peer time and other input from around 10am to 2pm. Attendance is compulsory. Working hours may vary before the final presenta- tion in January and February 2026. As a rehearsal stage will be available at Kampnagel for the entire period, individual work can be self-organised and flexible.

What does the final presentation look like?

All participants will create their own short final performance (10-20min, tbd). The final works will be shown and documented on one evening at Kampnagel. Everyone is given the same starting conditions for rehearsals, technology and mentoring. The work can be performed either alone or as a group. The BUDS team and Kampnagel/K3 do not make any artistic decisions regarding the final works, and are only involved as coaches, advisors or mentors.

What do you mean by ‘bottom up’?

For us, bottom up means supporting the participants in their self-determination and self-organisation. The BUDS should encourage them to acquire knowledge, share their own knowledge and expand and utilise individual skills (in contrast to the top-down principle, which is based on the power and authority of manage- ment/superiors). The aim of BUDS is to be a bridge between (auto-didactic) training and a career in the free performing arts and to train participants to become individual artists.

What does ‘peer to peer’ mean?

In contrast to traditional training and teaching models, in which experienced people pass on their knowledge to the participants, the peer-to-peer principle emphasises the knowledge of all participants. This knowledge can and should be shared. Peer-to-peer methods rely on the diverse knowledge of various groups; for example, we trust that all participants are already experts in their fields/styles.