DE Program Details
The DE Program is a full-time, 3-year Professional Academic Course. FSPA has curated an intensive 6 semester experience that includes a combination of international-level technique-training, and theory courses to provide an all-round development and conditioning for the students.
The DE Program spans across 3 years. Each year is divided into 2 semesters.
Semester I: Aug 15 - Dec 15
Semester II: Jan 15 - May 15
Courses are categorized into Technique, Theory and Professional development. Courses are specifically curated for each semester. The courses vary in complexity and are customised for the student’s learning abilities.
Program Fee
2020 Batch fee of the DE Program is Rs.13.5L across 3 years. Fee is paid at the beginning of each semester via cheque or wire-transfer. Fee includes unlimited, complete access to FSPA School’s resources and training facilities.
FSPA offers a special Scholarship for candidates who display exceptional potential and talent. Candidates will need to complete the Scholarship Application and submit it along with the Program Application. Selected applicants will be informed post final interview Round.
Scholarship Application Form
Technique Training
Core Modules
Ballet (Level 1-3)
Contemporary (Level 1-3)
Jazz (Level 1-3)
Supporting Modules
Improvisation I
Improvisation II
Repertory
Dance Composition I
Dance Composition II
Electives
Hip Hop
Bollywood
Yoga
Acting and/or Vocal
Theatre Dance
Theory
Introduction to Dance & Culture Dance History I
Dance History II
Understanding Dance Education
Dance Analysis & Criticism
Dance Production
Dance Composition I
Dance Composition II
Body Conditioning
Healthy Dance Life
Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology
Dance Pedagogy
Studio Training
Entrepreneurship 101
Being a Dance Professional
Marketing the Artist
Business of Dance
External Speaker Sessions
Mentorship Program
Apprenticeship Program
Final Year Dance Performance
Program Faculty
Akshat Sharma
Jazz
Akshat Sharma has been teaching and performing since the past 15 years and is a prominent figure in the dance industry . He is a firm believer in the importance of technique and has trained under world renowned dancers like Jaan Freeman (USA), Nik Hills (Australia), Raymond Esterhuizen (Netherlands) and Ashley Lobo (USA/India). Akshat is well versed in different genres of dance like, contemporary, Modern Jazz, Jive, Hip-Hop, etc.
Vaidehi Patel
Ballet
Vaidehi Patel has been dancing since the age of 6, studying classical ballet at The School of Classical Ballet and Western Dance. She has completed multiple grade and vocational examinations conducted by the Royal Academy of Dance, UK and The International Society of Teachers of Dance, UK.
Vaidehi now teaches with the school, working with students ranging in age from 6 to 16 and training them for classical and modern ballet examinations.
Avantika Bahl
Contemporary
Avantika Bahl is a dance practitioner based in Mumbai where she makes her own work and teaches. She studied at the London Contemporary Dance School and has previously made a full length work {wonkot} and two short solos, 11048,M81 and Here at the Gati residency and Facets residency respectively. She also helps run Dance Dialogues, a platform that connects independent dance makers in the city. She is currently working on 'Say, what?' a new full length piece that deconstructs the notion of communication using sign language.
Jimit Thaker
Improvisation & Movement
Jimit is an experimental and comtemporary dancer, choreographer, and Dance Educator. He is professionally trained in Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-hop and Bollywood. Jimit has had the opportunity to work and learn under some of the visionaries in the dance field like Peter Jasco, to David Zombarano, Joe Alegado, Katie Duck, and Yuki Ellias. Jimit has been a part of several performances and productions including Disney’s Broadway Musical — Beauty & the Beast, Robert Moses & Tanushree Shanker’s Purush, and Half-and-Half at the Kala Ghoda Art Festival Mumbai. Jimit holds a Diplima in Dance Foundation from Terence Lewis Dance Company.
Prachi Shah
Body Conditioning
Prachi Shah is a physio therapist specialising in the field of dance and sports. She has worked with the Sports Authority of India for national camps of Taekwondo, Boxing, Basketball and Sepak Tekraw, training for several international games including the 2016 Olympics. She holds a Diploma in Dance & Fitness from Mumbai University and has trained at the Ohio State University in the Performing Arts program. Prachi additionally holds a Masters in Orthopaedic and Sports Rehabilitation with a specialisation in Dance Medicine. She currently works as a consultant physical therapist with Proformance Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation Center in Mumbai.
Dhanisa Shende
School Coordinator and Faculty
Dhanisa has worked with the Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company for over 12 years as a Rehearsal Director and Choreographer. She is also a certified yoga teacher, and a Contemporary dance teacher. Dhanisa loves improvising and giving students the freedom to explore and create.
She has vast experience performing on stage to managing backstage, to designing and running complete shows. Dhanisa has always been keen to mentor young, upcoming artists and dancers and share her experience and perspectives to help them develop their skills.
Jay Parekh
Healthy Dance Life
Jay Parekh is a Nutrition & Peak performance specialist. He has been working in the space of education, coaching, speaking and helping people improve their lives through optimal nutrition, lifestyle strategies, and peak performance psychology. He has published over 27 articles and an Ebook (totaling over 50,000 words) on the topics of nutrition, sleep, recovery, athletics, peak performance psychology, behavior modification, and health & fitness! He has also developed online courses in these areas, while running live workshops and seminars and working with one on one & group coaching Clients.
Leah Rapheal Curtis
Capacity Building Educator and Faculty
Leah Raphael Curtis is a choreographer, dancer and instructor from New York. Leah began her training early training in the Pacific Northwest where she danced with the Mt. Baker Ballet. Training at Walnut Hill School of the Arts and Cornish College of the Arts and on scholarship at Dance Theater of Harlem’s Professional Program. She attended the Certificate program for Alvin Ailey in New York before gaining her B.A. Honors in Contemporary Dance from London Studio Centre, UK. In 2010, she choreographed Memory Space for the American Centre in Kolkata, and performed in the Khajaraho Dance Festival in 2012. She co-founded Delhi Dance Theater (DDT) in 2011 to unite her work in India and New York.
Module Details
Technique Training Core Modules [100]
101: Ballet (Level 1-3)
Students will be trained in classical ballet technique, develop the correct alignment, exploring musicality and artistry, and develop the flexibility and strength that is necessary for classical ballet.
102: Contemporary (Level 1-3)
Students will be trained in some classical modern dance techniques such as Cuningham, Graham, Humphrey, Limon, and Horton in addition to some current trend of dance techniques. It is essential for the students to understand the correct alignment while approaching contemporary dance and develop the artistry, clarity and connectivity of movements.
103: Jazz (Level 1-3)
Students will learn different Jazz dance styles from theatrical jazz to funk jazz and students will develop the understanding of how to approach Jazz dance with correct alignment, explore the musicality and artistry from the different time periods of jazz dance.
Technique Training Supporting Modules [100]
104: Improvisation I
Improvisation is a studio course in creative movement. Uses structured improvisational problems, interaction between dances and the elements of time, space and force. Students will research spontaneous and genuine movement to further understand the technical, physical, creative, and emotional potential of your moving body. Students will approach their work with inquiry into understanding basic movement principles (energy and dynamics, spirals, lines, moving in and out of the floor, points of initiation, and weight/gravity)
105: Improvisation II (Contact Improvisation)
Contact Improvisation explores the interaction of two people moving responsively through a point or points of physical contact. This contact forms the nexus through which weight, force, support, information and communication flows. The dance progresses as contiguous points of touch form pathways of contact that freely travel anywhere on the body of the dancers. The movement of the path of contact is in response to the physics of the action and the interplay of the dancers with the dynamics present in their immediate conditions. Response to these dynamics is greatly influenced by the quality of the presence of the dancers, their attentional abilities and embodiment.
106: Repertory
Students will work with choreographers to learn existing repertory and the specific techniques that are required to perform the repertory.
107: Dance Composition I
This course introduces basic dance composition and choreographic devices appropriate for the both conventional and unconventional dance concert venues. The students will learn to explore different tools with body, space, time, and energy to create short dance compositions.
108: Dance Composition II
This course introduces advanced dance composition techniques and research skills including improvisational techniques and choreographic devices appropriate for the both conventional and unconventional dance concert venues.
Technique Training Electives [100]
109: Hip-Hop (Open Level)
Students will develop an understanding of the hip-hop culture through explorations of old school and contemporary hip hop movements.
110: Bollywood: (Open Level)
Students will be exposed to the skills required to be powerful performers and story-tellers, using ‘show’ Bollywood choreography and Acting as mediums.
111: Theatre Dance (Open Level)
Students will develop basic skills in dance styles that are usually used in Broadway Musical Productions including Fosse technique, Tap Dance, and other current styles that are incorporated in Broadway Musicals.
112: Yoga (Open Level)
Students will develop an understanding of Ashtanga Vinayasa and use the techniques to increase strength, flexibility and injury prevention.
113: Acting and Vocals (Open Level)
Students will develop basic acting and/or vocal skills that will enhance their dance performance.
Theory [200]
201: Introduction to Dance & Culture
This course is a lecture-based with in class video viewing, class discussion, live dance concert attendance, and movement exploration. This course addresses the main question: “What is dance?” by observing and learning different dance styles and the cultures of how these dances emerged. Students will explore different dance forms from theatrical dance to ritual movements and classical dances to commercial dances. Explore dance from the cultural perspectives and understand how major dance forms developed through historical, social, and economic perspectives.
202: Dance History I
Explores dance as a reflection of culture and as an art form from the early societies to the present. The course will focus on International ballet, modern dance, and American dance as art forms and as commercial entertainment.
203: Dance History II
A historical study of prevalent dance forms and their development. Socio-cultural influences in dance and the contributions of individual artists is investigated and researched. A portion of this course studies the history of dance in world cultures and global trends in the development of dance as an art form.
204: Understanding Dance Education
In this course, students learn to look at dance education as a whole in terms of overall objectives for a dance school/studio, curriculum design, and all other necessary skills to direct their own dance schools.
205: Dance Analysis & Criticism
In this course, students learn to look at dance education as a whole in terms of overall objectives for a dance school/studio, curriculum design, and all other necessary skills to direct their own dance schools.
206: Dance Production
This course provides an introduction to the tools, equipment and basic procedures required to enable students to participate in the technical aspects of a theatrical production. Second year students will take this course and work as crew for the third year students’ final concerts.
207: Body Conditioning
This course will assist each student determine their own personal body conditioning plan in addition to regular technique classes. The topics will cover Yoga, Pilates, and other conditioning methods.
208: Healthy Dance Lifestyle
This course explores areas of health and fitness that impact peak physical performance for dance and related activities. Topics will be covered through a combination of kinesthetic and academic approaches.
209: Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology
This course is designed to give dance students a practical, functional and theoretical understanding of dance kinesiology skills such as identifying bony landmarks, muscles, and joint actions through neuromuscular, strengthening, and jumping programs utilizing floor and standing.
210: Dance Pedagogy
This course explores the social and physical development of children as it relates to the teaching of dance. Students will learn to develop a repertoire of techniques for teaching children and adults.
Professional Development [300]
301: Entrepreneurship 101
Module will focus on understanding the key components of being an entrepreneur. The module includes vision and goal setting, strategic planning, and effective execution strategies. Training includes the understanding of brand development, culture and product road-mapping.
302: Being a Dance Professional
Students will develop an understanding of how to prepare for audition, which includes how to find the appropriate auditions, how to network with other dancers and professional choreographers. Students will also develop an understanding of how to present themselves in the professional dance world with professionalism, honesty, and dignity.
303: Marketing the Artist
This course teaches the students how to market themselves into today’s dance fields. Students will gain knowledge and skills to create resume and reel, personal webpage, and network with dance companies and choreographers.
304: The Business of Dance
This course explores the administrative side of dance business. Students will explore marketing, management, fund raising, and other skills that relate to dance and business.
305: External Speaker Sessions
FSPA brings in speakers from spaces directly and indirectly connected to the artistic space. The objective is to help students gain exposure and access to individuals who are successful in the space so that they can learn from their journey. We will have speakers ranging from the following creative areas: Theatre, Physio therapy, Nutrition, Bollywood, Branding, Dance production.
306: Mentorship Program
Post the first semester, students begin their mentorship talks with our core faculty. These involve one on one conversations with our faculty to address queries on career, their dance techniques and other areas. Our faculty are direct role models for our students, and by having one on one conversations, our students gain the opportunity to learn more details about our faculty and their journey, and their advice for our dancers.
307: Apprenticeship Program
All students have to complete hours of internship to ensure that dancers are ‘work ready’ and are exposed to the skills required to complete tasks, work in teams and work on professional development. Internships can be done at:
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FSPA-Studio Management, Strategy and Research for the school.
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NGOs-teaching at NGOs on weekends for classrooms in need for dance teachers, and other academic/administrative support.
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Interning on weekends at organizations/firms of their interest such as retail, cinematography, dance production, administration, marketing, etc.
308: Final Year Dance Performance Showcase
The Final Year Performance is divided into two parts: Creation & Production. Each student will create their own dance that will be presented and produced in the final dance concert in the spring. Students will conduct their own rehearsal and creative process with weekly check-ins and mentoring facilitated by faculty. They will work together as a group to produce the final dance concert that showcases the original choreography created by the third year students. Second year students will serve as the crew for the production.