"From September until December 2022, I studied at the Budapest Contemporary Dance Academy as an Erasmus mobility. The four months went by quickly and were filled with enriching and challenging experiences. Generally, the other students and faculty members were super warm and welcoming. I joined the first year in their first semester and integrated smoothly into the group. What I enjoyed the most at the BCDA was the thought-through way of reflecting and giving feedback on organizational things, the work done in classes, or during creation. The time was parted into two periods, every eight weeks.

In the first period, aside from technical, somatic, and creative classes, the task was to create a short solo. Additionally, there was a study week where we learned about the body's anatomy. While this first period was a lot about arriving into the space and system of the institution, it was already filled with many inspiring experiences. The body classes in the morning included breathing exercises, Pilates, coordination and endurance games, and martial arts. Then there were classes in ballet and traditional dances, in contemporary dance technique and improvisation. In the afternoon, there was individual work and rehearsal for the solo. This independent work in the afternoon was an essential experience for me. I learned how to organize myself to be productive, but also I learned how to pay respect to my needs. So next to revising material for classes or training specific parts of my body, I used that time to balance myself. After writing a concept, it was straightforward to work on the solo. Of course, it did not go as planned; nevertheless, I was content with the process, and the feedbacks from the mentors were very supportive and encouraged me to keep investigating the artistic direction I chose.

In the second period, the study week was about fine arts and dance history, and the body class was part of the first technique class and depended on the teacher's physical practice or the class's direction. There were days with autogenic training, some with guided improvisation, and others with martial arts or Qui Gong exercises. In the first half of the second period, the creative task was to create a group work concerning the space. Two pieces were made for a public presentation in the house in the second half. The first one was a repertoire called Kilences (No. 9), Iván Angelus, and the second piece led the rehearsal was called HERE and NOW and was created with Fülöp László.

Over and I enjoyed my time in Budapest a lot. The hours in the academy were exhausting but very inspiring. I gained a lot, not just a deepened knowledge of techniques but also insights into the art of creation and connections with inspiring humans. Remember, it was adorable to explore the cultural scene. Budapest is a vibrant city, and there is always something to see or do. I saw incredible works of local artists as we went out to the theatres with the other students." Johanna Greiner