A choreographer is a dance specialist who designs and creates choreography productions, expresses ideas and implements creative projects through artistic means of expression, participates in the processes of developing the art of choreography, is an expert in the chosen genre of dance art, cultivates and develops it and is knowledgeable about the diversity of dance styles and genres.
The wording expressed in the standard of the profession is at the heart of JVLMA choreography studies, setting out its objectives and means of achieving the basic tasks of professional activity.
JVLMA students and graduates work in a wide range of arts, styles and genres of choreography, teach dance skills to professionals and amateurs, big and small, in Riga and in the most distant regions of Latvia, adding new choreography enthusiasts to the dance community of Latvia.
JVLMA choreography diplomas have been received by choreographers widely known, recognised and loved in Latvia, the principal dance directors of the Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Celebration and the Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Celebration. The productions of several recent graduates have been incorporated into the repertoire of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet (LNOB), the choreographies of many students and alumni have been performed at Riga School of Choreography concerts and programmes of international ballet competitions. All masters students of the JVLMA Department of Choreography work in their profession as choreographers and dance teachers in professional secondary and higher education institutions, both in Latvia and beyond – in Estonia, England and Belgium.
JVLMA’s Department of Choreography was set up in 1977. Since 2000, its head is LNOB ballet soloist Zita Errs. Under her management, the operating principles of the department have been formulated, which are open to innovation and contemporary needs, but also respect the principles of tradition and continuity.
Upon successful graduation of a Bachelor’s study programme "Music and Performing Arts" a Professional Bachelor's degree in Choreography is conferred upon a student, together with the sixth level professional qualification.
The integral curriculum of the Bachelor's studies, which in addition to academic and professional training courses also include the courses required for teaching, provides all graduates the corresponding pedagogical qualification (teacher of piano playing, violin playing, choral conducting, music theory, dance, etc.). Considering the requirements of
today's labour market, a number of study programmes allow students the option to obtain the right to work in a music school as a teacher of a different subject (to teach piano playing, music theory, a related wind instrument, etc.) as an elective course.
Upon completion of a Professional Master's degree programme a graduate is granted a Professional Master's degree in Music or Choreography. Upon successful graduation from the Academic Master's degree programme, a Master of Arts degree in Humanities is conferred.
At the end of academic doctorate studies, students receive a statement regarding the acquisition of a doctorate study programme and, after successfully defending the promotional work, obtains a doctoral diploma and a degree of Doctor of Arts (Dr. Art.).
