Dr. Svebor Sečak, Dean of the Dance Academy Alma Mater Europaea is an Assistant Professor at the University of Zagreb, teaching dance education in the Department for Ballet Pedagogy and Contemporary Dance. He is also the President of the Croatian Society of Professional Ballet Artists. He is employed at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb where he has the status of a national ballet principal and teaches class for the company. He is an internationally acclaimed ballet artist who has danced numerous leading roles of the ballet repertoire, choreographed ballet performancess and appeared as a guest artist and organised ballet tours worldwide.

After completing his education in Croatia, he continued his studies at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg. He also gained academic qualifications from the Royal Academy of Dance in London and the University of New England where in October 2015 he was awarded the PhD degree. He publishes articles in scientific magazines, books and portals and is an active participant of international research congresses on dance. He is the recipient of many professional awards and prizes and has been awarded the state order Marko Marulić for his contribution to Croatian culture.

The goal of the course Propedeutics – Introduction into Learning and Teaching in Dance is to connect and integrate the knowledge and skills acquired in the course Methodology and Teaching Practice of Classical Ballet into a wider context and fields that are necessary for efficient teaching in modern artistic training and education and their critical reappraisal. The course introduces students to the problems of learning and teaching in the context of modern ballet training and education and prepares them for efficient observation.  

The goal of the course Safe practice of the Vaganova methodology is to introduce students to safe practice in ballet – its physical and psychological aspects – in order to prevent injuries, secure a stimulating atmosphere and working environment, efficient advancement in daily training and a more effective and harmless training to prolong the longevity of professional dancers and avoid injuries in recreational dancers, referring on the knowledge and skills acquires in kinesiology courses.