1 
What are the selection criteria?
Training + Research: PARTS is looking for dancers, dance makers and choreographers with intuition and openness, physical intelligence, clarity and purity in movement, physical potential, stage presence and charisma, general development and intelligence, capacity for observing, mental availability, capacity for looking and listening, the capacity to quickly digest new information. top

2
Is the curriculum at PARTS directed towards dancers, choreographers or both?
Training: The curriculum of the Training Cycle is mostly a dance training program. But in workshops such as composition, repertoire and the task to create a duet and a solo in the 2nd year, there is also room to develop your choreographic skills.
Research: In the Research Cycle, students can specify if they want to concentrate on the deepening of their dancing or of their choreographic skills. There is more room for choreographic development, both within workshops and the ability to create personal work. PARTS has only a limited amount of studio space available for personal work, so the amount of projects that can take place in a certain period is limited. top

3
Training or Research Cycle?
Candidates are encouraged to make a choice for the Training or the Research Cycle.
In many cases, even for candidates of 21 years old who have followed several years of professional dance training, the Training Cycle is still a very appropriate choice, due to PARTS' specificity and particular artistic options. The understanding of improvisation, composition, release technique, theatre and music acquired by a PARTS student in the Training Cycle is indispensable to successfully following the Research Cycle. For most students in training or having already completed a training course, the material from the Training Cycle is complementary to the curriculum already followed.
After the final audition for the first cycle, no more candidates for the first cycle can be accepted. So there is no possibility to participate in the audition for the Research Cycle, and then to be accepted in the Training Cycle.
When you cannot decide whether the Training or the Research Cycle should be the best for you, we advise you to participate in a pre-selection for the Training Cycle and to speak with the selection responsible – he or she could give you advice. top

4
I am older or younger than the age limit for one of the cycles. Can I participate in the preselection for the Training Cycle?
Training + Research: If you are younger than the age limit, you can participate in the audition, but only if you are sure you will have the necessary diploma (High School diploma for Training Cycle, BA in Dance for Research Cycle) before September 1st, 2010.
If you are older than the age limit, you should know that only by rare exception PARTS takes in candidates that passed over the age limit. You can participate in the audition, but you should be aware that you have little chance getting accepted in the school. top

5
I do not have a high school diploma. Can I participate in the preselection for the Training Cycle?
Training: If you will not have a high school diploma before September 1st, 2010, you cannot participate. Even if you are selected, but you have no diploma by September 1st, 2010, you will not be allowed to enter the school. top

6
I do not have a BA diploma in Dance but I have at least 3 years of professional experience as a dancer. Can I apply for the Research Cycle?
This is not possible. top

7
Do I need to send or bring recommendation letters and a cv to the audition?
Training: You don’t have to send a cv and recommendation letters, nor bring them to the audition. We have all the information we need from your inscription form.
Research: If you apply through a preselection, you don’t have to send a cv and recommendation letters, nor bring them to the audition. If you apply with a dossier for the final audition of the Research Cycle, a cv and recommendation letters are necessary items. top

8
Can I send in an application dossier for the Research Cycle and participate in a preselection for the Research Cycle?
Research: No, you have to make a choice which way you want to take. top

9
Do I make more chance doing the preselection for the Research Cycle than sending in an application dossier?
Research: No. Both formats have specific qualities. In a preselection, you can show more of your qualities as a dancer, but there is also room for creative work. With the application dossier, you can stress more your creative qualities in explaining your work, but there is also room for the dancing through the required video. top

10
How do I know if I can participate in a preselection?
Training + Research: One week after sending in your application form, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail. If you have not received this until a few days before the preselection, contact Marijke Vandersmissen at the PARTS office. top

11
What will happen during a preselection?
Training: The preselection will consist of three activities: a ballet class, a contemporary class (both lasting 90 minutes) and the showing of a personal phrase.
The personal phrase has to last maximum 1 minute, without music, costumes or props. It can be a phrase choreographed by you or by someone else, an autonomous phrase or an excerpt of a larger work. It is allowed to improvise, but one has to be ready to repeat this improvised phrase.
Research: The preselection will consist of a contemporary dance class and a personal work. The precise format of the personal work will be explained in an email to the registered candidates a week before the preselection. top

12
How long will a preselection last?
Training + Research: The exact length of a preselection varies according to the number of participants, but usually around 6 hours; take this into account when you need to book travels beforehand. If you are not sure, contact Marijke Vandersmissen at the PARTS office. top

13
When do we know if we are selected for the final audition?
Training + Research: The selection is made on the day of the preselection, maximum two hours after the end of the audition. If you have to leave earlier, you should warn the selection responsible, and call the PARTS office the next week to know your result. Candidates who have been selected for the final audition will receive a confirmation letter, which they also can use for getting visa. top

14
When do I know if my application dossier for the final audition of the Research Cycle is accepted?
Research: the deadlines will be announced later. top

15
What will happen during the final audition?
Training: The final audition will last several days and consists of classes in ballet, contemporary techniques, repertory, improvisation and theatre. You will have to write a short essay in English, and have a personal talk with a teacher or staff member.
Research: The final audition will last several days and consists of classes in ballet, contemporary techniques, repertory, improvisation and theatre. You will also receive a creative assignment for which you receive studio time to prepare. During the second part of the final audition, the students of the 2nd year of PARTS who are candidate to go to the Research Cycle will join the final audition. top

16
 When do we know if we are selected to come to PARTS?
Training + Research: During the final audition, an intermediate selection will be made after two days: those who are not selected then cannot participate in the remainder of the audition. The final selection will be made one week after the end of the final audition, so you do not have to stay around waiting for confirmation. top

17
Is there a dress code for the auditions?
Training + Research: The candidate must wear clothing that permits correct observation by the teacher. Wide clothes or too many layers of clothes hinder the precise observation of the position and workings of the body. For classical classes there is a dress code: ankles, knees and hips must be clearly discernible. Students need to wear flat ballet slippers and tights (or legging or leotard). top

18
Do I make more chance auditioning in Brussels rather than elsewhere?
Training + Research: The preselections are carried out by the same group of people for all the preselections, holding on the same criteria for evaluation. Moreover, auditions in Brussels are usually more crowded than in some other places. top

19
All the places for the preselections are extremely far from where I live. What do I do?
Training: If you have trouble finding the right spot for a preselection, please contact Marijke Vandersmissen who will give you advice. But under no circumstance it is possible to participate in the final audition without having passed through a preselection.
Research: You can choose the procedure of the application dossier. But under no circumstance it is possible to participate in the final audition without having passed through a preselection or approval of your dossier.
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20
The preselections for the Research Cycle in are too far for me, but one of the preselections for the Training Cycle is closer to where I live. Can participation in a preselection for the Training Cycle also count for the Research Cycle?
Research: No. If you can’t make it to the preselection, you can apply by dossier. top

21
Can PARTS financially support my coming to Brussels for the preselection for the Research Cycle or for the final auditions?
Training + Research: No, we can't. We will give you a list with cheap accommodation in Brussels. Contact Marijke Vandersmissen if you have serious trouble getting to Brussels. top

22
How many students does PARTS take in?
Training: 32-36 candidates.
Research: 20-25 candidates, including students who finished the Training Cycle at PARTS. top

23
Does PARTS provide scholarships?
Training + Research: PARTS can provide some scholarships to those students that do not have enough financial resources and have not succeeded in getting scholarships from other funding bodies, but for scholarships PARTS depends on external sources, so nothing can be guaranteed. Even if you are not yet sure if you will be accepted or not, it is good to start looking around for scholarship funds in your own country, and start up the application procedure, because in many cases waiting until the final confirmation is after the application deadlines. If you need help or documents from PARTS, contact the office. top

24
Can you send me a brochure or prospectus?
Training + Research: Unfortunately we have no printed material about PARTS. Please check the website where you can find the necessary information. If you still have further questions, contact the PARTS office.
You can also buy the book 'P.A.R.TS. - Documenting 10 years of contemporary dance education'. This book contains a lot of interesting information and stories about PARTS. The book can be ordered online, for 20 Euros plus shipping. If you are interested, go to the 'News & activities' section. top

25
Can I visit the school?
Training + Research: this is only possible on selected dates such as the Open House. Check the news section of the website for dates. top