Professional Development
Summer Intensives
“The course leaders were considerate of the dancers, with one taking on the role of the lead instructor and the other focusing on providing feedback. This well-balanced dynamic was incredibly helpful. It was very helpful to talk with teachers about things that weren’t so clear in my body and figure out how to improve my movement. They made themselves very accessible for that.”
Intensives Course Participant 2025
Hofesh Shechter Company are delighted to announce our Summer Intensives courses, in London and Rotterdam this June.
London – Led by Rehearsal Assistant Yeji Kim, Shechter II Rehearsal Director Chien-Ming Chang and our team of inspiring company dancers, these courses will delve into the repertoire of three of Hofesh’s most recent works, Theatre of Dreams, From England with Love and Contemporary Dance 2.0.
Rotterdam – Led by company dancers Cristel de Frankrijker, Keanah Simin and Chanel Vyent, these courses will delve into the repertoire of two of Hofesh’s most recent works, Theatre of Dreams and Contemporary Dance 2.0.
Birmingham – Led by Rehearsal Director Frédéric Despierre, and company dancers Robinson Cassarino and Justine Gouache, this course will delve into the repertoire of Hofesh’s most recent work, Theatre of Dreams.
Following a busy summer tour, where the dancers have taken Hofesh’s latest work to France, Germany, Austria, China and South Korea, these 5-day courses will share repertoire and imagery from his latest pieces that have wowed audiences across Europe and beyond. Come and dance with us, as we near the end of our summer touring schedule, and before the dancers take a well-earned break.
Hearing and learning about Hofesh’s pieces from a range of different company members, gives our participants a variety of insights and access points into exploring the work from many perspectives. We have learned, through extensive feedback, that our participants really value this approach.
You can find out more about Theatre of Dreams here:
You can find out more about From England with Love here:
You can find out more about Contemporary Dance 2.0 here:
Each day will start with a full warm-up class, exploring Hofesh’s fundamental movement principles in the context of a company class, preparing the body for Hofesh’s movement language by engaging in different tasks and intensities through improvisation. This is the way we work on tour, and in rehearsal periods. After a short break we will share repertoire – a different extract either from Theatre of Dreams, From England with Love or Contemporary Dance 2.0 each day.
Please note: all courses will cover the same content.
Our Intensives courses are open to dancers, teachers and dance students – anyone looking to enrich and deepen their practice or training, and of course anyone interested in getting to know more about our work. You must be 18 years of age minimum, and we warmly welcome all ages upwards of that. Whether you are new to Hofesh’s work, or you have already danced with us before, there will be something for everyone to discover during the week. Each course will culminate on Day 5 with a run-through of some of the repertoire learnt throughout the course.
COURSE 1: LONDON
Date: Mon 9 – Fri 13 June 2025 inclusive
Time: 9.30 – 13.00 daily
COURSE 2: LONDON
Date: Mon 9 – Fri 13 June 2025 inclusive
Time: 14.00 – 17.30 daily
COURSE 3: LONDON
Date: Mon 16 – Fri 20 June 2025 inclusive
Time: 9.30 – 13.00 daily
COURSE 4: LONDON
Date: Mon 16 – Fri 20 June 2025 inclusive
Time: 14.00 – 17.30 daily
Venue: Sadler’s Wells East, 101 Carpenters Rd, Stratford Cross, London E20 2AR https://www.sadlerswells.com/your-visit/sadlers-wells-east/
Cost: £275 for the week + booking fee
COURSE 1: ROTTERDAM
Date: Tue 10 Wed 11 & Thur 12 June 2025
Time: 12.00 – 17.30 daily
COURSE 2: ROTTERDAM
Date: Tue 17 Wed 18 Thu 19 June 2025
Time: 12.00 – 17.30 daily
Venue: SKVR Hillevliet, Hillevliet 90, 3074 KD Rotterdam
https://www.uitagendarotterdam.nl/en/locations/location/skvr-hillevliet/
Cost: £210
COURSE: BIRMINGHAM
Date: Mon 9 – Fri 13 June 2025 inclusive
Time: 10.30 – 14.30 daily
Venue: Studio 1, FABRIC, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thorp Street, Birmingham, B5 4TB
Link: https://fabric.dance/
Cost: £250
To book our courses CLICK HERE
Applications for Shechter II 2026 have now closed.
We wanted to extend a truly heartfelt thank you for your interest in the Shechter II 2026 Professional Development Programme and for taking the time and care to apply. We deeply appreciate you sharing your artistry and dedication with us through your applications and videos.
We know the energy and vulnerability it takes to put yourselves forward, and we were so moved by the passion and talent evident in your submissions. It’s truly inspiring to see such a vibrant community of dancers.
Given the incredible volume of applications we’ve received, please understand that we won’t be able to offer individual feedback or personal responses to everyone. This in no way diminishes the value of your application or the impression you’ve made. The selection process is now underway, and we will be in touch with those moving to the next stage in due course.
Thank you once again for your commitment and your artistry. We wish you all the very best in your continued journey.
SHECHTER II
Shechter II is the Hofesh Shechter Company professional development programme for the next generation of emerging artists aged 18-25 – a company of young dancers selected every two years and representing the most exceptional world-class dancers from across globe.
Shechter II is not just about performance – it’s a full programme of professionally aligned research and development which aims to develop young dance artists who deeply understand their practice, who are engaged, curious and who embrace self-reflection.
“I grew a lot as a dancer, but also I had a lot of mental and emotional growth. It was powerful and interesting in that sense. It made me grow more as an artist in the work. I learned about life….that it’s not just what you see on the outside. This will help me a lot in the next place I go to – knowing myself more fully…how I work with people, how I see myself…” – Rosalia Panepinto, Shechter II dancer 2020
“I am so happy that I did this year – I don’t believe that any other company could have given me a similar experience. I am so grateful for all of you who make this possible – the team, Hofesh, Bruno & Ming, the colleagues who are now my dearest friends – we are a little touring family. What a total blessing this year has been and wow… how MUCH have I learnt.” – Chanel Vyent, Shechter II dancer 2022
The programme offers an extraordinary proximity to the workings and practices of a major international dance company, working closely with renowned choreographer, Hofesh Shechter, and touring the UK and Europe with a recreation of his most renowned works, while at the same time providing the support and underpinning that ensures heightened professional readiness.
Launched in 2018, Shechter II attracted critical acclaim and won the Prix de la Critique award for Best Performers at Théâtre de la Ville, Paris, where they staged 29 sold-out performances over two seasons of Hofesh Shechter’s SHOW. In 2020, 10 dancers marked the 10th anniversary of Shechter’s acclaimed classic Political Mother by reaching new online audiences through the live streams of POLITICAL MOTHER UNPLUGGED – invoking the ferocity and spirit of the original for a new era and compassing digital animation. The pandemic initially meant a more digital experience for this cohort of Shechter II dancers, resulting in Political Mother: The Final Cut, a captivating short film, created and directed by Hofesh. The film was live-streamed from Battersea Arts Centre, London in July 2021, to a global audience, over 3 nights, to huge acclaim and was recently named Grand Winner 2023 for Best Dance Film at Cannes World Film Festival.
Shechter II’s third edition of 8 dancers unleased the intensity of Hofesh’s ensemble work in 2022 with Contemporary Dance 2.0 – A rhythmic, fiercely energetic and exhilarating performance featuring an eclectic sound-score with euphoric feel and throbbing beats. This work achieved global recognition by reaching 35,000 audiences internationally, including 25 sell- out performances in Paris and at festival weekends of the National Theatre’s River Stage, Latitude and Lowlands Festivals.
In 2024 the Shechter II programme ran from January 2024 to January 2025 and comprised a period of creation and rehearsal, followed by touring in the UK and internationally, performing Hofesh’s From England with Love. This work, full of paradox, pride and humour, ‘a love letter to England’, was performed 92 times across the year. Alongside this, the company was delighted to announce a new professional development offer – Jerwood 🖤 SII – funded by the Jerwood Developing Artists Fund. This additional funding provided a rolling programme of dance science knowledge and skills sessions delivered by The Place; a bursary for each dancer to spend on their own career development; teaching skills sessions; and bespoke support for the transition to a professional career.
In 2026 the Shechter II programme will run from January 2026 to January 2027 and will involve a period of creation and rehearsal, followed by touring in the UK and internationally. Following exemplary feedback from the outgoing Shechter II 2024 dancers, we are hoping to roll out a professional development offer once more, for our next cohort of young dancers.
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Jerwood Foundation
Jerwood Foundation was established in 1977 by Alan Grieve, CBE for John Jerwood. In 1991, after Jerwood’s death, Alan Grieve became chairman of the Foundation which to date has donated over £110 million to support the arts in the UK. In 2023 the Foundation merged with Jerwood Charity (Jerwood Arts) and at this time Alan Grieve was appointed Chairman Emeritus and Rupert Tyler was appointed Chairman. To find out more about Jerwood Foundation, visit jerwood.org