Duncan Centre, my return to dance, my return to myself…

I spent two wonderful years studying at the Duncan Centre. I must say that this school — and by that, I mean the teachers who taught me — brought me back to life.

Thanks to them, I am happy and fulfilled. Everyone at this school strives to highlight the quality and meaning of movement and dance, which is not merely formal, but essential; it cares for the person from the inside out and guides the formation and experience of community. We are not simply individuals next to individuals, but we place our individuality into a shared effort.

I believe it is important to seek out this philosophy, to be open to it, so that we can understand and embrace it. It is a journey, a process. It is often hard work, confronting critical truths face-to-face without frills or flattering encouragements. It is a physical and mental purgatory that not everyone can endure — and interestingly, that is not even what the school wants. The school simply holds up a mirror of truth, which can sometimes hurt, and so people prefer to run away, to avoid the uncomfortable obstacles that arise in their path. Perhaps they leave because they are afraid to stay with themselves. I experienced this several times myself, when I wanted to turn back, but fortunately I did not.

This is an excellent school, not only for dance, but for life itself. It teaches a person to be better, and to stand primarily before oneself, because then one can approach others with a clean slate.

Zdenka Bartošová, 2022, dancer and choreographer