Over 100,000 euros for MA CoDE scholarship holders
With the twelfth generation of students on the MA CoDE master's program, a diverse group of international artists is once again beginning their journey together. Thanks to the support of the Crespo Foundation, the scholarship program will be funded with over 100,000 euros until 2030 - a decisive contribution to the artistic and pedagogical development of young dance professionals.
The current scholarship holders combine different biographical backgrounds, artistic approaches and social perspectives. They are united by their common search for new forms of movement, mediation and collective practice.
Individual paths into dance
For Luciano Baptiste, it all began with the desire to become a professional skateboarder. His fascination with repetition and physical learning eventually led him to contemporary dance. After his studies in Frankfurt, he developed his own movement practice, influenced by his work with the movement culture of Ido Portal, among others. Today he teaches internationally and is co-initiator of a dance festival in Darmstadt. The MA CoDE course marks a new developmental step for him to further deepen his artistic practice.
Katharina Câmara is also following her own path: after completing a master's degree in business development, she made a conscious decision to focus on dance. In São Paulo's independent scene, she worked on interdisciplinary projects between performance, somatic practice and social reflection. Her work combines personal perspectives with collective experiences. In the MA CoDE at the HfMDK, she is now specifically looking for forms of mediation and new ways of making dance effective in a social context.
» With their artistic mediation work, MA CoDE graduates make a key contribution to our funding programs. At the interface of art, education and social engagement, they open up new approaches through dance, enable participation and create diverse perspectives. With our funding, we create the freedom to develop sustainable and future-oriented dance education. «Hanna Knell, Dance & Cultural Education Officer, Crespo Foundation
International networks and artistic research
Giada Grieco has a distinctly international perspective: After studying in Italy and working as an artist in Europe, India and Israel, she now works as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Her work revolves around identity, transformation and emotional states. With her own collective, she develops interdisciplinary formats that focus on improvisation and collaboration. In the MA CoDE, she would like to expand her artistic research and continue to think about choreography as a socially relevant practice.
Dayoung Lim discovered her passion for dance through K-Pop and developed a multi-layered movement language between tradition and the present. Her training in South Korea and international experience shape her artistic approach. At the center of her interest is the question of how embodied knowledge can be passed on. Her studies in Frankfurt offer her the opportunity to combine artistic practice and theoretical reflection.
Between theory, society and artistic practice
Nika Müller combines dance with social science issues. Her background in education, sociology and gender studies flows directly into her artistic work. She sees dance as a space of irritation that questions social norms and opens up new forms of togetherness. Her aim is to combine theory and practice in a sustainable way and to shape dance as a collective learning process.
Taiwo Ojudun brings a strongly social perspective to the group. Growing up in Lagos, he developed his artistic practice between performance, urban space and decolonial thinking. As the founder of a non-profit dance collective, he works with young people and uses dance as a tool for social transformation. His work operates at the intersection of art, education and political discourse.
The importance of the scholarship
For all scholarship holders, funding from the Crespo Foundation is far more than just financial support. It enables them to concentrate fully on their studies, further develop their artistic and teaching skills and open up new perspectives.
Particularly in a field such as contemporary dance, which is often characterized by precarious working conditions, the scholarship creates scope for research, experimentation and exchange. It not only strengthens individual careers, but also the development of an international dance community based on solidarity.
» The continuation of the scholarship program by the Crespo Foundation is a substantial relief for the individual students in the MA CoDE and strengthens their respective focus areas. We also see this as a response to the good work of the MA CoDE alumni in the region and, above all, as a clear commitment to the potential of mediation in the art form of dance. We are grateful for the resulting appreciation of the MA CoDE profile. «Prof. Ingo Diehl, Head of the MA CoDE program
The HfMDK would like to thank the Crespo Foundation for its generous support!
