The School of Dance and Circus ( sv, Dans- och cirkushögskolan, DOCH) was, until 2014, a

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

institution offering higher education in the fields of

dance education Dance education is a practice whereby students are taught a broad understanding of dance as an art form or trained professionally in specific dance genres. Dance education also encompasses a research area in which scholars conduct original resear ...

, folk dance,

dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

, dance therapy, historical dance,

choreography Choreography is the art or practice of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design ...

and contemporary circus. Since 1 January 2014 it has been a part of

Stockholm University of the Arts The Stockholm University of the Arts ( sv, Stockholms konstnärliga högskola) is a public university college created 1 January 2014 by merging the School of Dance and Circus, the University College of Opera, and the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Ar ...

, and the previous name is no longer used. DOCH was founded as the Institute of Choreography (Koreografiska institutet) in 1963; in 1978 it was renamed the University College of Dance, “Danshögskolan”; in 2010 it became the University of Dance and Circus, "Dans och Cirkushögskolan" (DOCH). It operated under the Ministry of Education, and was fully funded by the government and therefore had no tuition fees for Swedish and EU citizens.

Circus programme

Attendance at the

circus school Circus schools are institutions that offer professional and sometimes degree-level training in various circus skills such as acrobatics, aerial arts, object manipulation, and other specialized physical skills. The rise of the circus school as ...

was awarded on the basis of live auditions held in

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

, with tests of physical strength, flexibility, endurance, and theatrical skill. In addition, each applicant was required to give a demonstration of their own performance specialty. The program, headed by Ivar Heckscher, trained students in

acrobatics Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most often performed in acro ...

, equilibristics, aerial technique, and juggling. In addition, each student received advanced training in at least one discipline. The neocircus program included theoretical studies to complement each student's personal artistic development. Until 2007, no Americans had ever been accepted into the neocircus program. In June 2007, American juggler

Wes Peden Wes or WES may refer to: * Westmorland, county in England, Chapman code __NOTOC__ People and fictional characters * Wes (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Wes Madiko (1964–2021), Cameroonian musici ...

became one of 16 students chosen from 68 candidates, who were culled from 200 applicants.

Vice-chancellors

* 2006–2013

Efva Lilja ''Efva'' Maria Kristina Lilja (born 1956 in Huskvarna, Sweden) is a Swedish artist and professor of choreography, working with performances, visual art, film and writing. Lilja is considered one of Sweden's most prominent choreographers and her infl ...

* 1996–2005

Kari Sylwan Kari Sylwan (born 15 October 1940) is a Swedish actress, dancer, ballet teacher, and choreographer. Career Sylwan started as a dancer in 1956 at the Royal Swedish Ballet and at the Cullberg Ballet. At both companies she danced leading parts, for e ...

* 1976–1996

Lena Malmsjö Lena or LENA may refer to: Places * Léna Department, a department of Houet Province in Burkina Faso * Lena, Manitoba, an unincorporated community located in Killarney-Turtle Mountain municipality in Manitoba, Canada * Lena, Norway, a village in � ...

* 1971–1976

Lilian Runestam Lillian or Lilian can refer to: People * Lillian (name) or Lilian, a given name Places * Lilian, Iran, a village in Markazi Province, Iran In the United States * Lillian, Alabama * Lillian, West Virginia * Lillian Township, Custer County, Ne ...

* 1963–1971

Bengt Häger Bengt may refer to: People In arts, entertainment and media Actors * Bengt Djurberg (1898–1941), Swedish actor and singer * Bengt Ekerot (1920–1971), Swedish actor and director * Bengt Eklund (1925–1998), Swedish actor * Bengt Logardt (1914� ...

* 1963 Birgit Cullberg

References

Stockholm University of the Arts Performing arts education in Sweden Higher education in Stockholm Dance education organizations Circus schools {{Sweden-university-stub