"It is only on stage that I can express certain things.
What I am looking for, what I am feeling, what it represents to me,
I believe there is nothing that can describe it." Pina Bausch

Guidance and career transition

“Artistic work is conceived as the model for work that is not alienating
and through which the subject reaches fruition in the fullness of his freedom
by expressing the forces that make up the essence of his humanity.” Pierre-Michel Menger

Professional dancers have neither a trainer, nor do they have a manager.
They alone are in charge of their careers.

“The professional regime is one where you work to earn your keep,
whereas the vocational regime is one where you earn money
in order to be able to freely exercise your need to create.” Nathalie Heinich

On average, a dancer’s performance career lasts 15 years.

Dance is a profession that requires demanding training and a vocation
that involves the whole being, which is driven by an intimate necessity.

THE MENTORSHIP

The mentorship is defined by a relationship between a dancer who wishes to further develop him-/herself in his/her professional life and a mentor who will accompany him/her in his/her evolution.

THE MENTOR:

Thanks to the mentor's first hand experience, he/she can offer the dancer an outside overview of the situation and enrichment by providing a different point of view. The mentor shares his/her experience, possibly contacts, and counsel, stimulates analysis of the dancer and helps him/her to broaden his/her horizons.

THE RELATIONSHIP:

The relationship between the mentor and the dancer is interpersonal. It consists of a place for confidential discussion in which the dancer can tackle questions linked to the practice of his/her activity and his/her desire to further develop his/her career. The advantage of this relationship is that it can be flexible and informal, concentrated on the needs and objectives devised by the dancer.

SUPERVISION PROVIDED BY THE RDP

The RDP has a network of former professional dancers at its disposal. It selects the mentor who corresponds the best to the dancer according to his/her personality and questions. The RDP will supervise the DUO’s relationship for a maximum period of one year.

This service is available to all dancers at whatever stage of development of their career they might find themselves.

The mentor’s participation is purely on a voluntary basis, this service costs CHF 50.- to dancers who are members of the RDP and CHF 300.- to non-members. This amount is used to cover the various expenses incurred in the course of running this programme.