The Ecole de Danse de Genève is a school open to everyone. It straddles tradition and innovation. Children, adolescents and adults can discover dance, progress, improve and devote themselves to their passion with a chance to lead up to professional level.
HISTORY
In 1969 George Balanchine founded the Ecole de Danse de Genève for the Grand-Théâtre de Genève and entrusted the management to Beatriz Consuelo and Alfonso Cata. The school became private in 1975 and Beatriz Consuelo become sole director. By training several generations of young dancers who went on to work for some of the best european companies, she made it into an institution of international reputation.
In 1999 Patrice Delay and Sean Wood took over as directors of the Ecole de Danse de Genève.
In 2007 the school moved to a building that was an old print works in the very center of the city.
In 2010 the Ecole de Danse de Genève was accredited by the state (Département de l'Instruction Publique) and is now part of the "Confédération des Ecoles de musique, danse et théâtre à enseignement délégué".
L'IMPRIMERIE, a space for dance
The school is housed in an old refurbished printworks since 2007 in the heart of Geneva.
No less than three studios , changing rooms, offices, a media library and common room have been built on three levels to welcome the school's dance students and Ballet Junior members.
The main atrium houses three studios of exceptional size (140, 110 and 50 m2), two of which , illuminated by a glass roof can be joined into one space by a folding sound-proof wall. Inundated by natural light this outstanding space of 250 m2 offers many possibilities for artistic projects and events.
All studios are professionally equiped with sprung Harlequin dance floors and covering, high ceilings, even lighting, mirrors, sound racks with mixers and high-performance ventillation system. These optimised working conditions make it a perfect environment for dance.
The space was conceived by architect Jesus Fernandez Garcia.
The Ecole de Danse de Genève is accredited by the Département de l’instruction publique, de la formation et de la jeunesse Service écoles et sport, art, citoyenneté and recieves funding from the République and canton de Genève.