Choreomundus – Erasmus Mundus Master in Dance and Movement as Practical Knowledge and Heritage (henceforth known as Choreomundus) is a new title proposed for an existing EMJMD programme (2012-2025) that is designed to increase awareness of humanity’s intangible heritage. Choreomundus formerly emphasised dance in its title and was a unique Erasmus Mundus master in dance. However, a growing number of dissertations in related practices such as martial arts, traditional wrestling and in the Olympic sports such as breaking or snowboarding have convinced the Consortium to open for applicants interested in sport as heritage as well as in traditional rituals and games. Hence the change of the title integrating both Dance and Movement as Practical Knowledge and Heritage.
The programme was founded by a consortium of four universities: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Norway, University of Szeged (SZTE) in Hungary, Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA) in France and University of Roehampton London (URL) in United Kingdom. Since 2012, Choreomundus trained 263 students from 80 countries over 13 cohorts. Only 12 dropped out (or their graduation is pending) from all accepted. More than 10% are aged 40+. This has given rise to an expanding international network, covering all continents, enabling connections between people, between ideas and between cultures represented in good balance in the programme: Americas 69, Asia/Australia 64, Europe 56, sub-Saharan Africa 48, Middle East 26.
Choreomundus – Erasmus Mundus Master in Dance and Movement as Practical Knowledge and Heritage, established in 2012 and having recruited nearly 300 students from 80 countries, is a two-year fully joint programme taught principally in English and currently run by a new Consortium of four Partner Universites:
It addresses dance, movement and related practices as Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) from the perspectives of Ethnochoreology, the Anthropology of Dance, Sport and Movement, Heritage Studies, Technology for Dance and Sport. It focuses on fieldwork and engages with movement analysis, motion capture, ethnographic and documentation techniques. Its intercultural and transcultural foundation with a team of international staff and targeted recruitment from all continents contributes to the promotion of culturally sensitive modes of knowledge transmission. It addresses the effects and conditions of displacement and migration in the 21st century through study of people’s traditional performance practices, whether artistic, ritual or sports. To these ends students study in three countries with the option of studying in a fourth non-EU partner. They find employment worldwide within national and international public and private organisations responsible for the safeguarding of ICH (museums, leisure and creative industries, tourism etc) and in more socially inclusive projects working with diasporas, displaced persons, and communities such as refugees. They continue their education into doctoral research. Alumni conferences (2016, 2018, 2022, 2024) promote networking, business ideas, joint research, artistic practices and work collaborations. The programme delivers a fully joint degree with single diploma parchment signed by all four universities and is managed by four joint committees.
The coordinator, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), is a comprehensive university devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, research, arts and innovation, and fostering critical thinking, imaginative response as well as the desire and capacity for lifelong learning of our students who will have an impact on the world, locally and globally. Scholars from Lithuania and abroad who participated in the reestablishment of VMU in 1989 have also defined our principles, which we have been following ever since: a commitment to foster a liberal and democratic learning environment, emphasising the importance of aesthetics, honesty, tolerance and independent thought. VMU has a reputation as a university with a globally oriented, free-spirited, liberal mindset. The time spent at VMU is a formative step in the lives of our students, facilitating not only career opportunities but also personal growth, strength of character and a sense of self-fulfilment.
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), named as such in 1932, was founded in 1837. It was the first university not only in the newly-established Greek state, but also in the Balkans and the entire Eastern Mediterranean. It would go on to play a decisive historical and social role in producing the country’s scientific staff, in promoting knowledge, and in fostering the cultural life of the new nation. It has been one of the core pillars of the Greek state, it has always been highly regarded internationally.
The NKUA is a legal entity of public law, fully self-governing, subject to the provisions of public law and supervised by the Hellenic Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports. It is the largest institution of higher education in Greece. The University’s long experience in education and research equips it to adapt and stay abreast of innovations in the fields of learning, academia, science and technology. This in turn allows the NKUA to continue to provide education of the highest quality to its students and to produce innovative research. Its international rankings reflect its ongoing quest for excellence.
Its vision consists in establishing the highlighting of itself as a modern, functional and productive public university that will be a driver of progress and development for Greece and a centre where the dreams and ambitions of students and young scientists/academics can flourish, improving the prospects for upcoming generations. To be a responsible, autonomous and free University committed to its mission of providing learning, research, innovation and culture in the service of the community.
Clermont Auvergne University (UCA) is a leading public comprehensive university located in Clermont-Ferrand, in the heart of France. Created in 2017 from the merger of two historic universities, UCA now welcomes more than 36,000 students, including 4,600 international learners, across 7 campuses in the Auvergne region. The university offers a wide range of programs in science, engineering, health, law, economics, and humanities, with courses available both in French and English. Renowned for its research excellence, the university hosts 36 laboratories and holds the national I-Site label, driving innovation in fields such as volcanology, health sciences, and digital technologies. Strongly connected to the global academic community, UCA is the coordinating university of the ARTEMIS European University alliance and maintains over 500 international partnerships. With an affordable lifestyle and vibrant culture near the UNESCO-listed Chaîne des Puys, UCA also benefits from the presence of the historic city of Vichy, itself recognized on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its exceptional spa and thermal heritage. Committed to knowledge, diversity, and sustainability, UCA provides an inspiring and supportive setting for students from around the world.
