Brainfood - Growth Mindset

BrainFood – Video platform

BrainFood is a non-profit further education project specially designed for dancers professionals

Webinars are presented by top dance-related experts.

The easily accessible information: can help boost dancers’ careers, give support in keeping dancers’ health and enhance their self-advocacy

Continue learning from the top experts about your health, mental- and emotional well-being, finances, project management, social media, legal self-protection, time management and so much more.

Balázs Delbó’s Webinar

Proper choices when making video materials

Balázs is one of the ballet artists who witnessed my professional growth from the beginning – and I’ve been able to watch his growth as well. He was a fascinating dancer on stage and his career-transition to film maker and video artist was also jaw dropping. He was working with multiple elite dance institutions, including the Wiener Staatsoper and the Hungarian Dance University. These days, a dancer’s visual self-representation is more and more important: not only does social media increase stress, but many companies now offer digital audtions., There are more and more online dance competitions, virtual performances and video projects in the dance industry. It can be hard to know which projects you can do yourself and when to seek a professional. You may be asking how to best present yourself and your dance on these videos? How do you know if a video-maker worth your money? You can trust Balázs’s advice on this topic. Enjoy his webinar and learn the answers to these questions and so much more.

www.delbeaufilm.com

Peter Lewton-Brain’s Webinar

Know thyself – and freeing your artistic voice

“Helping dance professionals enhance autonomy in their personal and professional lives by knowing themselves better. This webinar aims to provide tools & keys to recognize their strengths and capabilities.”

Boglárka’s recommendation:
Peter was one of the most important inspirations of my career. His unique understanding of technique and philosophy of ballet and his approach to functional anatomy fascinated me from the start. That was in 2001, In Alcala de Henares, Spain, at the annual IADMS meeting he explained important details of how to point the feet. Peter’s explanation made me understand what the feet must do to articulate freely and expressively. Using just two sandwich boxes he gave me the information that changed my practice forever. To this day when working with dancers, I rely on what I learned at that presentation. Since then, his mentoring has helped me to overcome many professional and personal difficulties. I hope you will enjoy learning from him as much as I did.
Date: recorded webinar is released in December 2021
www.iadms.org
www.admrdance.com

Ellie Kusner’s Webinar

How self-awareness supports maneuvering in the ocean of information

Being aware of your own values when researching for reliable information.

In the dance medicine community, everyone knows Ellie Kusner. She is an elite Pilates teacher, dance theoretician, she is frequently publishing in Dance Magazine, she has a podcast, she is educating, working for IADMS and she is doing so much more. But my first direct interaction with her was a heated conversation on racism in the dance industry on a FB group. She opened my eyes and that changed my professional focus in many senses, and I understood the future of dance medicine needs a lot more social awareness. She is one of my role models. I hope you will enjoy her introduction on the topic of dance medicine, you can learn with her about the most reliable sources that are available online to make better decisions on your own health, you will get an insight into the most important organisations for dance medicine and inspiration on the why and when it is worth it to choose a health professional who specialises in dancers.

Friedrich Pohl’s Webinar

The German Unions
in the theatres

rights and responsibilities of the employers and employees,
the collective agreement in German theatres (NV Bühne) and the “Bühnenschiedsgericht” – a platform to address legal conflicts

Boglárka’s recommendation:
In 2018 I was presenting at the congress of Tanzmedizine Deutschland. My topic was about the toxic management in dance institutions and about how toxic environments and narcissist leaders manipulate the professionals of dance medicine and serve to oppress and exploit dance artists. After my presentation, a young dancer stood up and asked some very relevant questions. That was Friedrich Pohl. His dedication and commitment was immediately clear. Since then, he has become an activist and made his community (Dancers Connect) and leading the group of dance professionals of GDBA union and as a future lawyer, he is specialised in some legal questions linked to dancer’s contracts and collective agreement. I am a union member! Why this is so important? Friedrich Pohl will explain you and will also introduce you to how the special arbitrational courts of the theatre industry work in Germany. These courts deal with the majority of legal issues that you might experience at your workplace as a dancer. It is too late to learn what they are and how they operate when you are actually in trouble. Friedrich will guide you through the maze of the representation of employees of the dance industry in Germany to help you to be better protected in your job.
Date: recorded webinar is released in December 2021
www.buehnengenossenschaft.de

Dr. Jill Descoteaux’s Webinar

Most useful time management tricks for dancers and creative artists

Jill has an impressive resume in dance and performing arts medicine. The first time I heard of her work was when she was working with Cirque du Soleil and I read the studies she wrote as a researcher. For me, she is a real star, and I always wanted to work with her. Life was so generous to give me this chance and we started to cooperate in a working group addressing discrimination in dance. In this group, I’ve learned, that she mastered time management skills and tools and she is regularly supporting artists and artistic projects in this regard. The reason why my recent presentation for the annual IADMS congress was ready before the deadline is because of her support. You need ideas for scheduling your project, send your applications in time, don’t want to be late with the choreography you are making or the gala you are organising? Join Jill’s webinar and make time work for you.

Wagner Moreira’s Webinar

Keys to success for freelancer contemporary dance career in Germany

Building up a successful freelance dance career in another country? Or in another continent? This seems one of the hardest professional challenges of the dance community. But Wagner knows the keys for solving this puzzle. On his webinar, you can learn how he did it and you can get ideas on how you can do it on your own. His experiences can be useful for all dance professionals, teachers, ballet masters and dance artists. Networking, funding, integration and applications in Germany? Join him and upgrade your chances for an artistic independence.

Dr. Nico Kolokythas’s Webinar

How training methods, strengthening, stretching and conditioning concepts work?

Efficient methods vs risky ideas. Repetitions, periodisation, frequency etc.: basics from sports science for dancers. How to recognise pseudoscience?

Every scientist needs outsider eyes to regularly provide critical appraisal of their professional knowledge, a partner to discuss recent scientific results and someone with whom they can respectfully debate anything. I know that I am not alone in this need. One of my most beloved debate partners is Nico. His solid scientific knowledge, humanism, strong ethics have helped me many times to better formulate my opinion, locate better references, and argue more logically. We disagree on various questions, but we agree on quality, transparency and on the importance of reliable information. We both stand for anti-abusive dance environments, especially in education. If I would like to upgrade my knowledge on sports science, training methods, and strength conditioning, Nico would be one of my first choices to ask for guidance as to the right direction. If you want to learn how to make the best choices about your strength training, stamina and conditioning, what are trustworthy online information sources and what is junk sport science, if you would like to build up skills to solve difficult problems like staying in shape in home isolation or quarantine, Nico’s webinar is for you. Enjoy and get stronger together.

Dr. med. Katy Mederack’s Webinare

Most important aspects of the German health care system that all dance professionals should know about

I learned about Dr Mederacke’s work from my dancer clients. They all emphasized that Dr Mederacke is one of the rare medical professionals in Germany who supports her patients much further than the obligations of the praxis of an orthopaedist: she really cares, organises, answers and educates. We are both members of Tanzmedicine Deutschland, Germany’s dance medicine alliance, and I think she is the best choice to introduce to you, how the German heath care system operates. Join her webinar and learn what you can expect as a dancer and what is expected from you. How you can find the right specialist, what is covered by the health insurance and how you can upgrade your chances to get what you need if you have a health problem?

Sabrina Sadowska’s Webinar

The secret of safe, smooth and painfree career transition in dance

Sabrina is the Chairwomen of Stiftung Tanz which is an organization that has a unique role in supporting dancers at one of the most challenging phases of their life: the career transition. This is the only Germany organisation dedicated to help dancers to build up a new profession, start an entrepreneurship or to study when they are ready to leave the stage. Sabrina has an exceptional knowledge of how a dancer can step further to prepare for the future. What are the financial and professional possibilities? What is the best way to optimize the transition? I wish all dancers could dance forever, but when somebody wants or needs to make a change, reliable information and targeted support is essential. I think it’s worth learning about this sensitive topic even if their careers are still active and ongoing. I’ve known her and her work from the very first day I started to work in Germany. Enjoy her webinar on Stiftung Tanz and career transition pathways in Germany.

Dr. Jaš Otrin’s Webinar

Why Human Capital should not be a topic only in the Economy?

Jas Otrin’s life is the blueprint for a successful dance career and successful career transition in Germany. He understands what it means to be a dancer. As a cultural manager, he has done extensive research on human resource management in dance institutions. He knows how to transform workplaces in theatres to well-functioning communities. He believes this is one of the most important values that connects us. Learn with him why YOU matter as an artist and as a human being (and not just an employee), how you should value yourself in a workplace in Germany and how you can use a growth mindset for your own security.

Bertram Müller’s Webinar

The secret of using our body to regulate our emotions and heal our traumas

The polyvagal theory and its practical use for dancers

Bertram Müller has unique knowledge that connects mental health and the dance art scene in Germany. He is not only a psychotherapist with a lot of experience but he was a representative of several dance institutions and organizations in Germany. His presentation is an introduction to one of the most efficient techniques that dancers can use for emotional regulation and trauma experience processing: polyvagal theory and mental health techniques based on this theory. Learn with Bertram on how to access your resilience and mental well-being using the unique capacities of your body. Enjoy his webinar and destress.

Armin Frauenschuh’s Webinar

Intercultural competencies
in Germany

More successful self-advocacy by respecting and understanding the local cultural environment and German traditions

Armin and I started to work together under the umbrella of Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company. As tour and production manager, his responsibilities included the organization of my schedule as associated physio and health scientist of the DFDC. Needless to say that he took care of all the small details, he was supportive and efficient. But working together, I realised that he has a deep understanding of the difficulties that international dancers experience while working in Germany because of the lack of information on the local cultural environment, traditions and routines. He is not only a manager but a dance artist and ballet master himself and has an impressive experience on how a foreign dance professional can connect easily to the German society. I strongly believe that tolerance and good cooperation starts with understanding and with the help of his webinar, you can understand better the German country and the way people think and live here. He will prepare you for the typical administrative and social challenges that foreign dancers are facing: visa application, apartment renting etc. His practical advice will make your life easier in Germany and teach you will to see the friendly face of this country.

Fruzsina Geréby’s Webinar

“Myth-Busting in Dance Health” – Ligament and tendon

Tips and Tricks, science and pseudoscience and the most important terms of anatomy and dance medicine what a dance professional needs
Boglárka’s recommendation:
As a therapist, I have very high standards when choosing my associate colleagues. But I find Fruzsina a great physio with solid teaching experience and I really like working with her. Her ethical standards are immaculate, she is precise, reliable and committed while helping dance artists. In her webinar, she is breaking down some of the basic anatomical terms that a dancer will typically see in medical papers, or hear during Pilates or Gyro classes. Don’t get lost in the maze of technical terms on your body, Fruzsina will help you to have a clear understanding. Enjoy her webinar!

Beatrice Bernstein’s Webinar

“Words as friends” and how to better use them on your own behalf

Skills will be offered about shifting one’s mindset in preparation for efficient and polite self-advocacy within the dance world and as a support for attaining optimum results, both in on-stage and off-stage real-life situations. How we use our words can be an invaluable tool as a mediator to empower dancers to reach their artistic goals as well as to attain fair pay and an acceptable quality of life overall. Knowing how to express ourselves with clarity about our goals, rather than being led by purely reacting to our emotions, gives us the power to connect with positivity and to be successful with solution-oriented communication. Practical advice about one’s expression of self-esteem, the importance of having a positive mindset, and learning about the difference between being tolerant and not standing up for one’s rights in a dance environment will also be discussed. Additionally, we will cover the use of techniques for utilizing the power of positive Self-talk: verbal expression of feelings and body experiences, and a section about the effective use of English as a second language will be on offer as well.

Tobias Ehinger’s Webinar

Roadmap to the structures of the German dance scene

My husband is an international ballet artist whose career gave me opportunity to have an inside look at the many aspects of the management side of the dance world. I have seen various types of unfair treatment by institutions: disorganised guestings, delayed or lost payments, unanswered emails and so on. This is not the case with Tobias Ehinger. With him everything is always so fluent, correct, well-organised, precise and of high quality. He is supportive, ethical and available for answering all of our questions. I think he represents the best face of Germany’s performing arts management scene and has a unique knowledge of the framework of dance-related associations, organisations and structures. In his webinar, you can learn who is who, which institutions are responsible for what and you can connect yourself to the German dance networks.
Date: 27th November 2021
www.theaterdo.de

Terry Hyde’s Webinar

How can you benefit from growth mindset in your dancing career?

The dance community is more and more aware of the importance of mental health and psychological well-being but still, there are very few experts who really recognize the needs of professional dancers in dance and who can relate to their experiences. Terry was a professional ballet dancer himself and in the last couple of years, he has become a well-known and highly demanded psychotherapist on the international dance scene. In the year 2021, we were working together as a the team on the project taming our Trauma© by Praetorian. During this time together I witnessed his amazing skills in guiding, supporting and motivating artists who aim to find a growth mindset in their life and work and who wish to address their traumatic experiences. Join Terry’s webinar to learn about some keys to health self-management for dance professionals. You will meet a psychotherapist who speaks your language, knows how dance a studio smells and has answers to the specific artistic, emotional and career challenges dance professionals are dealing with. This special webinar will be shared by me and Terry. I will interview him and arrange the most important knowledge units in the frame of Q&A.
Date: 25th September 2021
https://www.counsellingfordancers.com/

Daniil Simkin’s Webinar

Key to success for ballet career in Germany

How to build consistent work as a ballet dancer? How to networking? How to build confidence and self-management? How to overcome difficulties? What is similar, what is different in the German dance life compared to other EU countries + compared to US? How to bring these particularities to someone’s benefit? How to be proactive? How to make brave chooses?.

https://www.abt.org, www.dance-masterclass.com, www.staatsballett-berlin.de, www.daniilsimkin.com

Hendrik Hagen’s Webinar

Introduction to the German legal system “The basics that all dance professional should learn”

Boglárka’s recommendation:

We often think that legal problems and courtroom battles are exceptional events, but in fact they are a very casual and normal part of the life. To be honest this was a very hard lesson for me as well, but Mr Hagen supported me in some very difficult situations and made me understand that we should not be afraid of legal problems. Instead, we need to be prepared with some basic understanding on possible solutions. What are the do’s and don’ts and when an action is needed and how to find a good lawyer? This is not always easy for a foreigner as you might feel insecure and afraid. Stop the stress and inform yourself on some of the most important aspects of the German legal system with a great attorney who has several professional dancers in his practice. He can speak your language, he is passionate for justice and even has a great sense of humour. In this webinar, Hendrik Hagen can give you an insight to what are the very first legal steps in cases of discrimination, sexual harassment, if your landlord is unfair etc. Learn the legal costs and deadlines that are typical in Germany, learn how to avoid the most typical mistakes and how to choose your legal advisor.

https://www.dregger-hagen.de/

Sebastian Gorski’s Webinar

Legal questions of royalties, licences and personality rights – Creative products and original contents in dance

Boglárka’s recommendation:

Sebastian Gorski is a superstar lawyer in Germany, his specialty is personal rights in the media, but he is also knowledgeable on royalties, licences and the correct use of legally protected creative content. When I first met him, I was dealing with a difficult legal dilemma and he was not only displaying an unquestionable professional knowledge but a sensitive, empathic and very kind approach. I felt very supported by him! In his webinar, he is going to give you some ideas on what you should be aware of when making a creative content (video, choreography, advertisement) and how to respect personality rights in the press or in the internet.

www.vonhavefey.com

Elisabeth Exner-Grave’s Webinar

Tanzmedizine Deutschland

Possibilities and opportunities that are available in Germany if a dancer is looking for a dance specialist in any medical or health field. Raising awareness, providing relevant, and reliable information, and suggesting trustworthy resources.

https://www.tamed.eu/wer_wir_sind