Expand the section navigation mobile menu

International Education

O'Dowd Hall, Room 328
586 Pioneer Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4482
(location map)
(248) 370-2889
ie@oakland.edu

Office hours
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Alex Zimmerman, Director
(248) 370-2843
azimmerman@oakland.edu

A canal in Germany with a large building on one side and a brightly lit patio on the other.

German Contemporary Dance

Oakland University's three-week faculty-led program in Berlin, Germany. Students will be immersed in the culture of one of Europe’s artistic and intellectual centers. The program includes dance technique classes, rehearsals, lectures, and readings on contemporary issues in dance. Based at the Uferstudios Center for Contemporary Dance, and the Tanzfabrik Berlin, students will take classes with German dance artists in contemporary dance, as well as learn choreography from German choreographers. This course will culminate in a performance at the Uferstudios. Oakland University students will perform their own works from Oakland Dance Theatre productions as well as new works learned in Berlin. In addition, students will see performances and visit museums and other cultural sites in one of Europe’s most exciting capitals.

The German Contemporary Dance Program runs every three years. 

Course: DAN 4630: German Contemporary Dance (4 credits) 

Program Dates: May 2026 TBD

Application Deadline: March 1 (Apply by February 1 for best consideration for scholarships)

For more information, contact:

Elizabeth Kattner, Assistant Professor of Dance
kattneru@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2917

Apply NowMake a deposit or paymentPhoto album

Program Overview

Student with fly together as a group to Berlin, the capital city of Germany, renowned for its exceptional range of landmarks, vibrant cultural scene and way of life that's somehow all go yet relaxed.  And best known for its striking contrasts - historical buildings stand alongside modern architecture as the past and present intermingle.

Students will be primarily focused on learning German contemporary dance and performance. There will be opportunities for students to experience Berlin along with college students and artists from all over the world. 

Visits to the world-class museums such as the Pergamon Museum, the New Museum, the Old National Gallery and performances by the National Ballet, Berlin Philharmonic, and independent artists will be included in the course. Site visits to the Berlin Wall, the Holocaust Memorial, and the Brandenburg Gate will also be part of the program. Optional day trips to nearby cities such as Potsdam, Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, and Dresden will be available on weekends.

All students return home from Berlin, enriched, and changed. Some choose to stay behind in Europe and travel by air or rail to Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Paris, or London.

Academics

Requirements: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Students who don’t meet the GPA requirement may still be eligible and should speak with OU’s International Education Office prior to applying.

Admittance to the program is by audition only. Students do not need to be dance majors, but need to have had extensive training.

Course: DAN 4630: German Contemporary Dance (4 credits) 

This course will include intensive dance training and rehearsing. The Uferstudios for Contemporary Dance is an international center, and most training will take place in English. Lectures will be held by faculty from both Oakland University as well as from universities in Berlin.

Students will be required to participate in every rehearsal and activity. All students will participate in the final performance and will attend rehearsals as they are cast. 

Students will be required to register for the course as well as either audition or submit an audition video. Students from other institutions are eligible to register for the course either for undergraduate or graduate credit and will need to register as a guest through the university.

Housing and Food

Students stay in a dormitory-style youth hotel with other international students. 

Some meals are included in the program fee. Students can purchase meals independently at the many restaurants, cafes and bistros throughout the city. The most famous specialties in Berlin are Currywurst, Königsberger Klopse, Wiener Schnitzel, Eisbein, Döner Kebab, Kartoffelpuffer and Berliner Pfannkuche.

Cost

Tuition: 4 Credits

You will be charged for these credits on your eBill at your normal rate of tuition.

Program Fee: $3,000

To be paid to OU on our MarketPlace payment system and includes: housing and some meals, ground transportation and all excursions while in Germany, and health insurance.

Additional Costs: $2,275

You will need additional funds for these expenses not covered by program fee. Amounts are estimated.
Airfare: $1,400
Meals: $400
Incidental personal expenses: $300
Passport (if you don't have one): $175


Scholarships and Financial Aid: You are able to use financial aid to cover your full cost of attendance to this program (tuition, program fee and additional costs). Scholarships are also available through your study abroad application.