BA Dance '24  

My name is Kornelija Aleksait?, and I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance in the summer of 2024.
After spending a total of five years at Palucca University – two years in the Young Talents programme and three years in the BA Dance programme – I initially received no offers for a permanent position at a theater. I had already started planning my life as a freelancer in Berlin when I received an email from the ZAV. It stated that Theater Magdeburg was urgently looking for an apprentice for the upcoming season. Without much hope, I sent in my application, already expecting another rejection. To my surprise, I was hired! Since September 2024, I have been working at Theater Magdeburg and have had the great fortune of participating in almost every production.

My time at Palucca University provided me with a comprehensive and solid foundation – not only in dance and art but also in life in general.
At just 14 years old, when I moved into the boarding school of the Palucca University, I learned to take care of myself and be independent. I am especially grateful for the diverse trainings and the various approaches to dance and movement that I experienced thanks to the university’s vibrant team of professors and teachers. Nowadays, it is more important than ever for dancers to be adaptable and to meet the demands of different artistic styles – a skill that gives Palucca students a clear advantage.

Another aspect I deeply value is the interpersonal environment at the university. The relationship between students and faculty was always based on mutual respect and appreciation – and still is today. I learned how to conduct myself professionally while remaining friendly toward colleagues and authority figures. Of course, there were difficult moments during my training, but it was precisely those moments that taught me the most.

What I would like to share with future graduates: Never stop creating art and expressing yourselves. Art is what remains; it is what helps ease the loneliness and uncertainty of being a newly graduated dancer. You can create the perfect plan for your career, but if everything went according to plan, life wouldn’t be nearly as inspiring. I don’t believe that graduating means stepping out of the oven as a fully baked loaf of bread, ready to take on the world. But what the university instills in you – trust and belief in yourself – is what allows you to graduate with pride and move forward.

I don’t like to admit it, but those who always told me, “It happens when you least expect it”,were right.

Contact

Instagram: k.o.rnelija