The JOINT MASTER programme IMPACT is a highly specialised initiative in the field of contemporary performance and creative technologies in dance that is aimed at recruiting high-potential students from all over the world. This joint master programme is organised collaboratively between three prestigious institutions: Ecole des Sables (Dakar Senegal), Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique et Danse de Lyon (France) and The Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp (Belgium).

The programme spans two academic years, culminating in 120 ECTS credits and offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes the following topics: 

• Shared context: Body, Theory, Place and Event:

This course will address assumptions and practices of embodiment particular to the place of study as well as the role of theory in creating , sustaining and challenging these assumptions and practices. The lessons will happen both explicitly and implicitly, through immersion and engagement with place, institution and cultural events.

• Materialities of Performance:

This course addresses the materials that accompany bodies in performed work: stage craft, sound design, music, costume, visual design etc.

• Praxis:

Addresses studio practice, body-based creation methods and exposes the student to varied ways of crafting performative works as well as supporting them in their own process.

• Research Methodologies:

This course will introduce and support the student in naming and developing their own studio and research practices as well as introducing them into to practices of the emerging field of artistic research.

Also additional supporting courses are tailored to the specialisations of each institute. The programme requires an admission test after which successful applicants will begin their journey by spending one semester at each of the participating institutions resulting in the performance of their personal IMPACT project and artistic research.

This course will address assumptions and practices of embodiment particular to the place of study as well as the role of theory in creating , sustaining and challenging these assumptions and practices. The lessons will happen both explicitly and implicitly, through immersion and engagement with place, institution and cultural events.

This course addresses the materials that accompany bodies in performed work: stage craft, sound design, music, costume, visual design etc.

Addresses studio practice, body-based creation methods and exposes the student to varied ways of crafting performative works as well as supporting them in their own process.

This course will introduce and support the student in naming and developing their own studio and research practices as well as introducing them into to practices of the emerging field of artistic research.

Artistic Research is an immersive journey. Students will explore the  foundations of scientific and artistic investigation and the rich history of  artistic and societal thought. 

A deep dive into artistic research will lay the groundwork for a better understanding of procedural, experiential and relational knowledge all while students learn more about the ethics of artistic exploration.

It’s not just theory! Students will also actively engage in project design, state-of-the-art elaboration, planning, execution and documentation. Plus, the course equips participants with indispensable tools for bibliographic management, academic writing, and ethical considerations. 

The course is designed for active discovery, promoting cooperative learning through autonomous reading, vibrant discussions and critical assessments of various artistic research proposals. Students will learn how to express their creations through various types of media (written text, images, scores, video, etc) and weave this into their artistic IMPACT project.

Performative Event, Thesis & Oral Defense

The IMPACT Project requires students to investigate how their experiential and embodied knowledge engages with geo-political and socio-economic histories in local and/or global climates. Students are expected to locate their artistic practice within/in opposition to current and/or historical trends in performance, and contextualize their practice in relationship (or juxtaposition) to current scholarship in Dance, Performance and/or Cultural Studies.

Projects are rooted in Practice as Research/Practice-Based (or -led) Research as a methodology for creative research in the arts.

The Degree project consists of:

1 Critical reflection with two options:

• One “tracked” approach called Documented critical reflection that is fixed (but with different options in how to present, they can choose different media/formats (see drama department Antwerp:
  • academic research paper
  • creative writings, portfolio/chosen media
  • other written formats like essay
• Some students are allowed to experiment with the methodology but this needs to be clear from quite early on (latest by the end of the first year).

Students identify 3 or more areas of scholarship that inform their examination of their research question(s). Students develop a theoretical framework, using Practice as Research as a guideline, and critically reflect upon their research question(s), process and product (if applicable). Please consult additional guidelines in IMPACT student handbook. The course “Research methodology” offers methodologies to complete the critical reflection.

2 Artistic presentation/performative sharing/event/encounter (making public)

Students develop a research question(s), engage in creative and embodied research and publicly present a creative product or aspects of their research process. The Performative Event may take on any format, including a performance in typical or experimental settings, a workshop, a media or live art installation, or a combination of more than one format.

3 Presentation and dialogue on the critical reflection and the artistic, performative encounter

Students prepare a 20-30 min oral presentation supported by visual aides (PowerPoint, videos, photos, or other visual aides). Students publicly present their research to a jury of IMPACT faculty, and satisfactorily respond to questions presented by the jury and community attendees.

IMPACT Project Timeline:

• End of Semester 1: Students declare area of research focus.
• Beginning of Semester 2: Students select an advisory committee and primary advisor to the Applied Project. Students work with primary advisor to develop a research prospectus.
• End of Semester 2: Students present and defend their research prospectus for the Applied Project, detailing their research question(s), three primary areas of scholarly investigation, and proposed timeline.
• Semester 3: Students engage in creative research and prepare their Performative Event for public presentation.
• End of Semester 3: Students present their Performative Event.
• Semester 4: Students work with primary advisor and advisory committee to develop their Thesis and Oral Defense.
  • 4 weeks prior to Oral Defense: Students submit the final draft to the Thesis (approved by their primary advisor) to their advisory committee.
• End of Semester 4: Students present their Oral Defense in front of their committee and invited community members.