Bachelor of Dance — Codarts Rotterdam

Overview

We at Codarts aim to train talents to become top level contemporary dance artists.

The Codarts Bachelor of Dance department, founded in 1931 by dance pioneers Corrie Hartong and Gertrud Leistikow, has developed itself into one of the most prominent study programmes for contemporary dance. The programme has a high success rate and consistently ranks in the top rated and most popular dance courses in the world. The strength and effectiveness of the program is also reflected in the wide range of companies our alumni are employed in as well as the many alumni who are pursuing a successful career as independent dance artists.

The structure and build-up of our program, the numerous performance opportunities, our impressive internship program, our many international guest teachers and choreographers, as well as the dedicated care and support of our Codarts faculty and "team around the artist" ensures that our graduates are ready to enter the diverse and ever changing international dance community. Codarts graduates are well trained, creative, open-minded and innovative contemporary dance artists, able to position themselves in the professional work field, mapping out their career of life-long learning and personal success.

The Bachelor Dance programme has been named a Top Programme in the Keuzegids Hbo 2025.

Study programme (4 years)

The curriculum educates talented students to become contemporary dance artists, emphasizing craftsmanship, technique, autonomy, creativity, individuality and artistic expression. Performance serves as the backbone of education, with students developing skills across four core clusters: Dancer/Performer, Maker/Performer, Contextual Studies, and Professional/Entrepreneur.

Year 1. Students build technical and physical abilities through daily Ballet classes and various Modern dance technique classes such as Graham, Laban based classes and Floorwork. The program includes improvisation, drama, conditioning, yoga, and dance history. New international students participate in Living in Rotterdam orientation workshops.

Year 2. Students advance technical skills while continuing ballet and contemporary techniques. Guest teachers from professional settings introduce diverse approaches. Students create original work through youth productions and begin working with guest choreographers, with increased performance opportunities.

Year 3. Students form The Codarts Dance Company and tour the Talent on the Move program nationally and internationally (past venues include Canada, Italy, Poland, France, and NYC). They engage in artistic research, create independent work, and complete internship auditions.

Year 4. Students complete full-season internships at professional companies (NDT2, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Ballet Basel, and others) while remaining connected to Codarts. Final exams include ballet and contemporary techniques, a self-created solo, and professional presentation.

Acceptance

Approximately 30 dancers admitted annually from 800+ applicants.

How to apply / cycle

Annual September intake. Admission opens 1 October each year via Studielink. Audition tour locations for the 2026-cycle (now closed) included Marseille, Barcelona, Porto, Rotterdam and Livorno; an online pre-selection round via video is available for candidates outside Europe. The 2026-cycle deadlines (online pre-selection 30 January 2026, general admission 9 February 2026) have closed; 2027-cycle dates are typically published in October 2026. The application portal is the Codarts admission page linked from this listing.

Key requirement: a minimal EQF-4 level (foreign) certificate of equivalent value. Several years of intermediate dance training is a plus but not obliged. All accepted candidates complete a physical screening at the beginning of the academic year.