Institutional dance education opportunities in Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Poland and selected nearby regional pathways
Purpose and scope
This online document brings together formal and institutional dance education pathways for young dancers in the Beyond Front@ region. It is intended as a practical reference for dancers, parents, teachers and partner organizations looking for accredited or university-level options in performance, choreography, pedagogy, dance theory and movement-based performing arts.
The main focus is on the five project countries – Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania and Poland – with a concise section on selected nearby and eastern/south-eastern European options. The list does not replace official admissions pages and does not cover every private studio, intensive, workshop, festival or short course.
Program names in the tables are active links to official program, department, admissions or institutional source pages. Applicants should always check the latest official calls, because language requirements, fees, scholarships, audition formats and application dates may change each academic year.
How to use this guide
1. Start with the pathway: performer, choreographer, teacher/pedagogue, dance scholar, dance therapist or movement artist for theatre/screen.
2. Check the study cycle: BA/Bachelor is the first higher-education cycle; MA/Master is advanced specialization; some institutions also offer preparatory or pre-college routes.
3. Read the current audition call carefully and prepare a concise CV, motivation statement, diplomas/transcripts, video links, solo material, improvisation tasks and any written assignments requested by the institution.
Source note: information is based on official institutional pages and partner-provided institutional lists checked in May 2026. Use the links in each table for final verification before applying.
Beyond School – Ljubljana, Slovenia – 19 Mar 2025. Photo by Nada Žgank
Institutional dance education opportunities in Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Poland and selected nearby regional pathways
Croatia
| Institution / city | Official program link(s) | Main pathway | Applicant notes |
| University of Zagreb – Academy of Dramatic Art (ADU), Zagreb | BA Contemporary Dance; BA Ballet Pedagogy / ADU program | Public university route in contemporary dance and dance pedagogy; ADU also lists ballet pedagogy at BA level. | Programs are usually in Croatian. Check the current audition call, entry tasks and recognition of prior training. |
Slovenia
| Institution / city | Official program link(s) | Main pathway | Applicant notes |
| Alma Mater Europaea Dance Academy, Ljubljana / Maribor | BA Dance, Choreography; Auditions | Accredited first-cycle dance and choreography route with practical artistic training and several dance directions. | Useful for applicants seeking a higher-education dance route in Slovenia. Check language, tuition and scholarship conditions. |
| University of Ljubljana – Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television (AGRFT), Ljubljana | MA Art of Movement | Second-cycle movement program for theatre/performance contexts; modules include Art of Movement and Movement in Space. | Relevant as a progression route after BA-level dance or performing arts studies. Check portfolio and language requirements. |
Hungary
| Institution / city | Official program link(s) | Main pathway | Applicant notes |
| Hungarian Dance University (MTE), Budapest | BA program; MA program; Admission | Major national dance university with BA and MA routes for dancers, choreographers, coaches and dance teachers. | Strong prior dance training is normally expected. Check specialization, audition material and language of instruction. |
| Budapest Circus Arts and Contemporary Dance College (BCDC), Budapest | Contemporary Dance BA | Focused three-year BA route in contemporary dance, performance practice, technical training and individual research. | Relevant for applicants looking for a contemporary dance performance pathway. Check annual admissions and fees. |
Romania
| Institution / city | Official program link(s) | Main pathway | Applicant notes |
| National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale” (UNATC), Bucharest | BA Performing Arts – Choreography; MA Choreography and Performance in Dance | Choreography within a strong theatre and performance context; BA and MA options support creation, performance and pedagogy. | Key Romanian route for choreography and dance performance research. Check audition stages and current seat numbers. |
| Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Letters and Arts, Sibiu | Performing Arts (Choreography); course curriculum | BA-level performing arts/choreography route in a theatre and cultural management environment. | Useful for dancers interested in choreography connected to theatre, festivals and cultural production. |
| Ovidius University of Constanta, Faculty of Arts, Constanta | Performing Arts – Choreography | Choreography route in a public university arts faculty, with practical and theoretical performance components. | Check Romanian-language admissions pages, artistic aptitude tests, tuition and international student procedures. |
| National University of Arts “George Enescu”, Faculty of Theatre, Iasi | Choreography | Bachelor choreography route within a long-established arts university and theatre faculty. | Suitable for choreography, dance master/ballet studies pathways. Check entrance exam and documents. |
| University of Arts Targu Mures, Targu Mures | Performing Arts – Choreography; Admission | Performing arts/choreography route in a bilingual Romanian/Hungarian arts university context. | Check whether the chosen track is offered in Romanian or Hungarian and confirm audition details. |
Note for applicants to Romanian institutions: many official pages are in Romanian even where international offices provide English information. Check the current admission portal, translated documents and aptitude tests for the exact year of entry.
Poland
| Institution / city | Official program link(s) | Main pathway | Applicant notes |
| AST National Academy of Theatre Arts in Krakow – Faculty of Dance Theatre in Bytom | Faculty of Dance Theatre / Bytom; AST English page | Dance theatre pathway combining actor training, body awareness, contemporary performance and choreographic practice. | Best for dancers interested in dance theatre and interdisciplinary performance. Check Polish-language recruitment details. |
| Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice – Dance Department, Katowice | Dance Department | Dance-related higher education in a music academy context, including practical and theoretical dance studies. | Verify current degree level, specialization and entrance requirements directly with the department. |
| Chopin University of Music – Department of Dance, Lodz | Department of Dance | Department lists Ballet Pedagogy, Contemporary Dance and Choreography, and Theory of Dance specialties. | Strong option for ballet pedagogy, contemporary dance/choreography and dance theory. Check language and audition. |
| Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Lodz – Faculty of Performing Arts, Lodz | Choreography and Dance Techniques | Music academy setting with choreography and dance techniques connected to performing arts training. | Check Polish-language program details, current admissions call and faculty requirements. |
| Academy of Humanities and Economics in Lodz (AHE), Lodz | Dance – BA and MA route | Private higher education route in dance, choreography and dance pedagogy, with full-time and part-time formats. | A practical route for dance, pedagogy and cultural/event work. Confirm tuition, language and recognition. |
| Poznan University School of Physical Education, Poznan | Dance in Physical Culture | Dance in physical culture route connecting dance education, choreography, movement, health and therapeutic dance. | Relevant for dancers interested in education, somatic, wellbeing and applied dance contexts. |
Note for applicants to Polish institutions: several official program pages are primarily in Polish. Confirm whether the program is available to international students, which language is used in teaching, and whether a Polish-language exam or certificate is required.
Selected nearby regional pathways
The following examples are not part of the five core project countries, but they may be useful for young dancers from the region who are considering neighboring, eastern or south-eastern European study routes.
| Country | Institution / city | Official program link(s) | Notes for young dancers |
| Austria | MUK Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna, Vienna | Department for Dance | Nearby BA-level contemporary/classical dance and contemporary dance pedagogy options, plus pre-college routes. |
| Austria | Anton Bruckner Private University, Linz | Institute of Dance Arts | Contemporary dance arts environment with university-level pathways; confirm current BA/MA admissions. |
| Czech Republic | Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (HAMU), Prague | Dance Department | Established dance department in an arts academy; check current BA/MA fields, Czech/English access and auditions. |
| Slovakia | Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VSMU), Bratislava | Dance BA | Close regional option for dance studies in a performing arts academy; check Slovak-language requirements. |
| Serbia | Belgrade Dance Institute, Belgrade | About / program; Undergraduate enrolment | Accredited dance-focused institution with classical ballet, contemporary dance, choreography and pedagogy routes. |
| Ukraine | Ivan Boberskyi Lviv State University of Physical Culture, Lviv | 024 Choreography BA | Four-year BA route in choreography; useful for the Poland/Ukraine border region. Check current delivery mode. |
| Ukraine | Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts / Kharkiv State Academy of Culture | KNUKiM Faculty of Choreographic Art; Kharkiv education programmes | Official Ukrainian-language sources list choreographic art pathways; verify current admissions and mobility. |
| Bulgaria | NATFA “Krastyo Sarafov”, Sofia | Movement Theatre – Dance Theatre | Four-year full-time Bachelor program combining movement theatre, dance theatre, acting and physical practice. |
| Bulgaria | Varna Free University / National Academy of Music, Sofia | Choreography – Contemporary Dance Theatre; Ballet Pedagogy | Additional choreography, contemporary dance theatre and ballet pedagogy routes in Bulgaria; check language and fees. |
This regional section is selective rather than exhaustive. It prioritizes institutions with accessible official program or department pages and clear relevance to dance, choreography, pedagogy or movement-based performance.
Young dancer application checklist
Before making an application decision, compare programs across the same practical criteria rather than by name recognition alone. A program can be excellent but unsuitable if the language, age profile, audition format, tuition, visa route or professional outcome does not match the applicant.
| Decision point | Questions to answer before applying |
| Pathway | Decide whether the priority is performance, choreography, teaching/pedagogy, dance theory, dance therapy, or movement for theatre/screen. |
| Degree and recognition | Confirm whether the route is BA, MA, preparatory, doctoral, or non-degree; check accreditation, ECTS, professional title and progression to the next cycle. |
| Language and access | Check teaching language, required prior training, age limits, audition tasks, portfolio/video requirements and document translations. |
| Costs and support | Verify tuition, scholarships, accommodation, travel, insurance, visa/residence rules and student support services. |
| Application timing | Admissions calendars, auditions and entrance exams change every year. Follow the current official call and contact the admissions office early. |
Final note
This document is educational information only. It does not rank institutions and does not guarantee admission, scholarship eligibility, visa/residence approval or professional recognition. Young dancers should use it as a starting map, then contact institutions directly before submitting applications.
A downloadable PDF version of this document is available here:
