Spin Off Forstudium i Dans is a one-year foundation course for those who wish to pursue a professional career in dance. Since its establishment in 2002, the school has grown into one of Norway’s leading institutions for dance training.

Our faculty consists of experienced and dedicated teachers with strong academic backgrounds and extensive professional experience in both performance and pedagogy. Many of our graduates go on to study dance at prestigious universities and colleges in Norway and abroad — and today work as dancers, choreographers, or dance educators.

Spin Off is located at Schous Kulturstasjon in the heart of Oslo, with Riksscenen and Øvingshotellet as our closest neighbors. We share facilities with Oslo School of the Arts’ theatre and dance programs, as well as the dance department at Edvard Munch Upper Secondary School. Together, we create a dynamic and inspiring learning environment spread across seven floors.

At Spin Off, the core subjects are classical ballet, jazz, and modern/contemporary dance. The training focuses on building a strong technical foundation, with an emphasis on understanding each dancer’s individual physical potential. The goal is to develop a strong, functional, and injury-free body.

Students are encouraged to work across styles to develop a holistic understanding of dance, regardless of genre. We expect students to take responsibility for their own learning and to work independently, both inside and outside of class. Feedback — both group-based and individual — is processed and actively applied in their continued development.

Students also learn to pick up exercises and combinations quickly, so they can focus on expressing musicality, presence, and personal artistry in their dancing. This provides a solid foundation for auditions and further dance studies.

In addition to technical dance training, students work with creative and choreographic processes through composition, improvisation, choreographic tasks, and rehearsals for showings and performances.

The school places great emphasis on developing students’ creativity alongside their technical skills. Throughout the year, students work both individually and in groups on a variety of choreographic assignments and performance projects. Each student also receives individual mentoring and dedicated time to create a solo piece, which can be used for auditions when applying to further education.

These creative subjects provide students with a vital foundation for becoming independent dance artists.

In addition to the main and creative subjects, students receive instruction in supplementary subjects that strengthen the body, prevent injury, and support both personal and artistic development. These classes include yoga, Pilates, anatomy, training theory, nutrition, injury prevention, and injury treatment.

The school aims to give students a broad perspective on dance as both an art form and a profession. We therefore organize lectures, showings, performances, and excursions to educational institutions, dance companies, and the Norwegian National Ballet. We also invite dance artists to share their personal experiences, and offer workshops with professional dancers, choreographers, established companies, and independent artists.

The purpose of the supplementary subjects is to:

• expand students’ understanding of dance as an artistic expression and as part of the cultural landscape in Norway

• contribute to a broader perspective on the field of dance

• provide a realistic insight into the life of a dance artist, and a solid foundation for making informed choices toward a professional career

📸: Tale Hendnes