Acting
Three-year undergraduate programme, 180 ECTS
The undergraduate study of Acting is designed as a study programme focused on the heuristic approach, analysis and systematization of actor’s material. The main task is to develop and strengthen awareness of the organic acting process as the basis of artistic activity. Students are introduced to raising awareness of the fundamental principles of organic acting expression that presupposes a centered and free body, free breathing and proper voice and speech, developing, from the very beginning, personality and freedom to vary the inner voice experience in relation to the determination of its external appearance. The pedagogical process involves familiarization with the nature of group work, carefully guided approach when working on interpretation and elaboration of normative aspects of the role. It encourages exploration, questioning of the textual template and release of the body and imagination in a way that will not jeopardize the organic soundness and balance of acting instruments. Students acquire general knowledge of psychology, Croatian language, dramatology, music, art history and history of theatre. All forms of teaching, including individual work, are compulsory and require regular attendance. At the beginning of each semester, students are provided with a detailed curriculum, which includes seminars, workshops and lectures, as well as with their implementation and a precise and clear pedagogical and artistic assignments for the exam.
After successful completion of the undergraduate study of Acting, students are prepared to enroll in the MA study of Acting, or to continue their studies at the graduate level of other programmes at the Academy of Dramatic Art, as well as other related higher education institutions and academies.
Cinematography
Three-year undergraduate programme, 180 ECTS
Upon completion of the undergraduate study programme, students qualify as art associates in the fields of light design, photography and motion pictures, in film and electronic photography, and cinematography. The students are trained as cameramen, photojournalists, light designers, camera operators, colorist-light readers, camera crane operators and rostrum cinematographers.
After completing the undergraduate study, a student is able to enroll in either any graduate programme at the Academy of Dramatic Art, provided that he passes the entrance exam, or in other faculties’ and academies’ graduate study programmes related to film, multimedia, design or journalism.
Dance
1. Undergraduate (BA) study of Contemporary Dance
Three-year undergraduate programme, 180 ECTS
The undergraduate study of Contemporary Dance has two divisions: the Performance division and the Teaching division. Candidates select a desired division at the time of their application for entry exams. Both divisions are taught to full time students only. For that reason, active dance artists or teachers who want to enroll in the Teaching division, in order to get a specialization or higher qualification, can do so only under the condition that they are able to regularly attend all lessons and fulfil all programmes’ requirements.
A) The Performance division
The Performance division is designed to prepare students for the requirements and challenges of a career in the dynamic contemporary dance arena which is in a state of constant flux. For the future dance practitioners (dancers/choreographers), the programme offers a demanding and versatile technical training. At the same time, by using an individual mentoring approach, it develops a personal creative voice of each student. It encourages professional diversity, autonomy and initiative crucial for survival and longevity in today’s dance profession. The practical and creative work is supported by a strong contextual foundation which stresses the importance of theoretical knowledge and critical reflection in contemporary dance practice. Intensive practical work in the studio makes up most of the study. During those three years, daily dance technique classes (Contemporary techniques and Ballet) develop students’ technical and performance skills. At their core is the knowledge and understanding of body and movement, which is supported by somatic and functional work in Experiential Anatomy, Feldenkrais, Pilates and Conditioning classes. The development of individual creativity and artistic exploration is supported in Improvisation and Choreography classes and in a number of creative workshops. Besides regular performance opportunities in own and peer works, students take part in intensive performance projects alongside guest artists: new works are created or parts of existing repertory taught and performed publicly. This type of work provides opportunity for experiencing a professional context of performance creation, which is particularly emphasized during the third year, where it takes up a whole semester and is extended into performances outside the Academy. Practical study is supported by Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and through a continuous reflection on own processes in diaries, logs, reports and group discussions. Through a prism of contemporary theories dance and own practice and examined in historical, cultural and socio-political contexts. Additionally, students can choose various elective subjects either from the Dance department, from other Academy departments, or from other faculties that are part of the University of Zagreb. Students are introduced to the aspects of theatre production and management, which leads them to a period of internship. Collaboration with students from other Academy departments and other Art academies is encouraged and realized in a number of interacademic projects throughout the three years of study, which prepares them for successful networking and engagement in the profession. During the third year, students are able to emphasize a stronger performance or choreographic aspect of work by selecting particular subjects. An extensive, individually mentored final project offers an opportunity for independent practical or theoretical research in the field of personal interest and the final preparation for the autonomous career in contemporary dance.
B) The Teaching division
The Teaching division is designed primarily for motivated candidates who already have some dance experience, want to gain competencies and get qualified for teaching dance in formal and non-formal educational contexts in a well-informed, safe and creative way. After the first year, during which practical subjects on Contemporary technique, Conditioning, Choreography, Improvisation and LMA are compulsory for all students, the programme allows individual freedom to create own profile of expertise depending on students’ previous experience and interests. Besides the pedagogical core of the programme, a personal emphasis can be put on either practical dance work, theoretical or interdisciplinary work. Along with teaching, students are encouraged to develop interest in contextual, theory and other areas which might later lead to various graduate studies.
Key methodology subjects (Introduction to Learning and Teaching in Dance, Methods for Teaching Contemporary Dance Technique, Teaching Rhythmics, Inclusive Dance etc.) include theoretical and practical work, and develop specific teaching skills that are tested in various forms of teaching practice. These subjects are supported by Psychology, Pedagogy and Didactics on the one hand, and Functional anatomy, Physiology and Biologic kinantropology on the other, which are subjects taught in collaboration with the Faculty of Teaching and Kinesiology Faculty of the University of Zagreb. The contextual study is broad and includes subjects such as: Dance History, Art History, History of Theatre and Drama, Aspects of Music, Dance and Theory etc. The study supports a reflexive approach to own professional practice via diaries, reports, and self and peer evaluations. In creating their own profile of expertise students can improve their dance skills by choosing elective subjects from the Performance division. Alternatively, they can focus on theoretical or interdisciplinary elective subjects from the Dance Department, other Academy departments or other faculties of University of Zagreb. An extensive, individually mentored final project offers an opportunity for independent practical or theoretical research in the field of personal interest and the final preparation for the autonomous teaching career or further study on the graduate level.
2. Undergraduate (BA) study of Ballet Pedagogy
Three-year undergraduate programme, 180 ECTS
The undergraduate study of Ballet Pedagogy is designed primarily for motivated candidates with completed regular classical ballet training, who already have dance and/or teaching experience in the area of classical ballet. It aims to qualify such candidates for methodologically sound and safe teaching of ballet in professional training contexts and/or formal and non-formal educational contexts. Moreover, the programme allows individual freedom to create own profile of expertise, depending on students’ previous experience and interest. Besides the pedagogical core of the programme, a personal emphasis can be put on either additional practical dance work, theoretical or interdisciplinary work. Along with teaching, students are encouraged to develop interest in contextual, theory and other areas, which could later lead to various graduate studies. The key subject, Methodology of Classical Ballet and Teaching Practice, is based on the Vaganova method, accompanied by introduction to other approaches through lectures and workshops alongside guest teachers. This, as well as other methodology subjects (Methodology of Historical and Character Dances and of Duet) also includes the observation of classes and practical work, which enables development of specific teaching skills tested throughout the three years of study in various educational contexts. Main methodology subjects are supported by Psychology, Pedagogy and Didactics on the one hand, and Functional Anatomy, Physiology and Biologic Kinantropology on the other, which are subjects taught in collaboration with the Faculty of Teaching and Kinesiology faculty of the University of Zagreb. The contextual study is broad and includes subjects such as: Dance History, Art History, History of Theatre and Drama, Aspects of Music, Dance and Theory, as well as the central subject, Ballet and Education, which places the teaching of classical ballet into its contemporary context. The study supports a reflexive approach to own professional practice via diaries, reports, and self and peer evaluations. In creating their own profile of expertise students are able to further improve their dance skills by choosing elective subjects from the Performance division of the Contemporary Dance programme, such as Improvisation or Contemporary Dance Technique, as well as somatic and functional body practices such as Feldenkrais, Pilates and Conditioning. Alternatively, they can focus on theoretical or interdisciplinary elective subjects from either the Dance department, other Academy departments or other faculties of the University of Zagreb. An extensive, individually mentored final project offers an opportunity for independent practical or theoretical research in the field of personal interest and the final preparation for the autonomous teaching career or further study on the graduate level.
Dramaturgy
Three-year undergraduate programme, 180 ECTS
The three-year undergraduate study programme in dramaturgy (BA) is the only study programme in playwriting and screenwriting, of theoretical and practical dramaturgy in Croatia, and it is among leading programmes in dramaturgy in the international context, for its interdisciplinarity and methodological diversity, as well as the range of perspectives it opens up for students.
In designing and in teaching the programme, special attention is given to the correlation and balance of the practical artistic approach and the theoretical-scholarly approach, as well as to revisions of the study programme in line with current trends in the arts and scholarly research. Students enroll in main artistic courses (Playwriting; Screenwriting; Writing for Performing Arts; and Analytical Writing), and main theoretical and professional courses (Dramatology; History of Theatre and Drama; Film Theory; Film History, and Radiophony). They can also choose from a number of elective courses with different contents and methodologies (theoretical, practical, scholarly and interdisciplinary ones) taught by teachers from the Department of Dramaturgy or offered by other Academy of Dramatic Art’s, Faculty of Humanities’ and Social Sciences’ departments, and other constituent units of the University of Zagreb.
The undergraduate study programme in Dramaturgy provides students with basic knowledge in the field of theatre studies and theory of dramaturgy (dramatology), and helps them develop specific skills related to the arts of theatre and film. The programme offers instruction in the form of theory courses and practical courses, as well as practical training closely related to professional artistic practice. The teaching is carried out in a parallel and interdisciplinary fashion in three artistic branches: playwriting, screenwriting, and performance dramaturgy. The undergraduate programme in Dramaturgy also focuses on developing analytical skills in approaching issues related to the theory of dramaturgy, as well as practical issues related to drama, performing arts and screenwriting for film.
Editing
Three-year undergraduate programme, 180 ECTS
The undergraduate study programme of Editing provides students with basic knowledge of film and related arts, and introduces him to the principles of the cinematic expression and creative processes in the field of audio-visual works’ editing. The theoretical courses cover knowledge from the field of film theory and history, art history, literature, music and aesthetics, and technology of image and sound recording, transmitting and processing. Art objects and practical artistic work are based on the realization of the short film form, in which it develops creativity and the ability to apply theoretical knowledge. The program is completed by the the execution of all obligations, provided by the taken classes’ curicullums, and by passing all the exams.
Film and TV Directing
Three-year undergraduate programme, 180 ECTS
The undergraduate study programme of Film and Television Directing gives students basic insight and knowledge about the film and its artistic context and the related audio-visual media, and it introduces him to the creative processes in the field of film and television directing. Students are trained to master the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and artistic principles of creative processes and innovation in the formulation of an audiovisual work.
Courses at the Academy are realized through theoretical and artistic subjects and practical work. Theoretical courses cover the theory and history of film, art history, literature and music. The basis of the programme consists of artistic subjects, which simultaneously and successively, through the implementation of short film forms, develop both feature-film and fictional or narrative authorial components in students training, and also help master the aesthetics and television technology. By working on joint projects alongside students from other related studies at the Academy of Dramatic Art (Cinematography, Editing, Production, Acting), students of Film and Television Directing become familiarized with the professional principles of the organization and team work in the field of film and television.
Production
Three-year undergraduate programme, 180 ECTS
The undergraduate (BA) study of Production at the Academy of Dramatic Art was established as a review of the totality of not only managerial, but also artistic aspects of international, and especially Croatian, theatre and film. The programme includes both theatre and film production with courses that are equally represented and cover both areas of study. It is organized with an aim to identify and develop students’ skills and knowledge that are needed for a successful process of business management with an emphasis on not only practical activities in production (organization), but also on the basics of creative management (production) in the field of contemporary production of film, theatre and other performing arts and media products. During the three-year programme, theoretical lectures, seminars and practical work in the field of theatre and film are held alongside film and theatre teaching production, in which other ADA departments are integrated as well. The teaching production is conducted under mentorship, and it allows students to apply newly acquired theoretical knowledge, to connect with students from other departments, and to independently lead projects in the framework of a given procedure.
Theatre Directing and Radiophony (Broadcasting)
Three-year undergraduate programme, 180 ECTS
BA studies are intended as learning and acquaintance of artistic, professional and theoretical aspects of theater directing, and are organized in a way that practical upgrade should be based on aspects previously mentioned. The balance between theoretical approach and practical implementation of the ideas detected in a play is in the core of this programme, and is inherited from the tradition of the founders of these studies. During these three years, students must gather 180 ECTS, direct two performances of their own choice, and attend four two-week courses on Directors Practice. Students of Acting, Dramaturgy and Production are included in all these performances, as well as students of Costume Design. In that way, students of Theater Directing are prepared for learning communication skills and methods of team work from the very beginning of their studies. Additionally, they are acquainted with the history of drama and theatre, with leading theatre directors from Croatian and European history, and with a historical approach towards theatre directing. Students are obligated to participate in acting master classes as assistants, and are advised to be assistant directors in professional theatres. The idea is to integrate them into the professional environment, in order to not only get more experience, but for learning purposes as well.