Balance 1 Academy—The Founding of the Dance Academy and the Renovation of Villa Balance into the Dance Villa

Villa Balance—A Century-Old Gem, Reimagined and "choreographed"

The Balance 1 Academy is based at the stylish Villa Balance in Berlin-Tempelhof, affectionately known as the Balance Dance Villa. Our beautiful villa, built in 1913, exudes history. Where an industrial pioneering spirit once reigned, movement, light, and music now converge. Where machines once ticked away, rhythm and movement now define the majestic atmosphere.
The high ceilings, large windows, and stately charm of the historic building provide the perfect backdrop for ballet and contemporary dance. An inspiring space that gives artists and dance enthusiasts the freedom to fully express themselves.

Since the early 1980s, the villa has been gradually converted and expanded into a dance villa.
Since October 2019, dance students finally train on newest professional sprung floors and the latest generation of dance carpets. Today’s sprung floors were developed specifically for use by professional dancers to minimize stress on the joints and enable them to work in a much gentler manner.

Even the first professional dancers who made their way from America to the Dance villa in Berlin immediately felt at home. Even back then, the atmosphere was reminiscent of Martha Graham’s villa in New York at the time. Graham's beautiful three-story villa, surrounded by New York’s skyscrapers, served as the creative hub of the “Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance” from 1952 until the death of the famous modern dance legend in 1991. It was there that she developed some of her most famous choreographies and trained many renowned dancers and choreographers. The beautiful villa on the Upper East Side, which we, too, had the privilege of visiting, always gave all the dancers who trained there a warm and familiar feeling. When the villa was sold and demolished in 2000 to make way for a massive apartment building on the same site, it came as a great shock to everyone who had studied and trained there. The Graham Villa has always remained in our hearts as a great source of inspiration.
Since the academy’s founding, our dance villa has also become a second home for dance students from all over the world.

Villa Balance Berlin entrance stairwell
Balance 1 - vision of the dance academy

The Vision for Training in Contemporary Dance

In the 80s and 90s of the last century, there were very few opportunities in Germany to study dance on a professional basis. Those who did not make it to one of the state universities for Dance often quickly gave up on the beloved but seemingly unrealistic dream.

Dancer Miriam Drechsler was also dissatisfied with the prevailing situation at the time. She felt compelled to deepen her knowledge abroad, because only there she saw the possibility to develop optimally as a dancer. Thus, the desire to change these circumstances in Germany arose in her early on.

When Miriam applied for her student visa to dance at renowned dance schools in New York City, she was asked why she wanted to come to study dance in the United States. She replied that she wanted to learn from the best and greatest in the dance world so that she could later start her own highly qualified Academy of Dance in her hometown Berlin. Apparently she had a very convincing effect at her young age since she was offered a lifetime visa: "We need young people with high visions like you in the US.

Dance training Information

Founding of the Academy and the first graduating class of the “Magical Balance 1” program

In 1993, Miriam founded BALANCE DanStudiOne in Berlin. This marked the beginning of an era in which internationally renowned guest lecturers made their way to Berlin’s “BALANCE” to lead inspiring workshops for dancers. Classes for both amateurs and professionals were offered, and the studio became a home base for dance companies. There was a spirit of optimism in the air. Consequently, it wasn’t long before the dance academy was founded with the goal of becoming a professional training center for Contemporary dance. In 1996, the Balance 1 Academy finally opened its doors to the next generation of dancers. These dancers were drawn not only from Germany but also from around the world to Berlin and the newly founded academy, which quickly received official recognition as a vocational school from the Berlin Senate.

The first graduates, who celebrated their graduation in 1999 at the Theater am Halleschen Ufer (now HAU 2), were so successful from the very beginning in their various paths into the professional world of dance that they earned the nickname “the magical first Balance 1 year” in the professional dance scene. This proved to be a good omen: since then, the academy has held a leading position among state-recognized dance training programs in Germany.

Following numerous renovations and refurbishments of Villa Balance, the original Dance Studio is also being revived as the Balance 1 Dance Studio and Ballet School. Here, dance classes will once again be offered, initially designed for children and teenagers.

Balance 1s first magic graduates 1999 in front of theatre
Balance1-mission

Our mission

We believe that every dance student has the right to learn and train in a safe environment, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Therefore, we distance ourselves from any form of discrimination, racism, bullying, violence, anti-Semitism, as well as all forms of abuse.
The cultural roots of our academy are based on respect and open-mindedness.
We are always committed to creating a welcoming, friendly and safe environment. This is the only way to create a place where different cultures and backgrounds can intermingle. To learn from and with each other and to develop together in a curious and creative community. Both as a person and as an artist.

Our core values are based on:

  • equality
  • diversity
  • inclusion
  • curiosity
  • open-mindedness
  • self-motivation
  • dedication
  • self-reflection
  • generosity
  • mutual respect

Balance 1 partners and memberships

UFER_STUDIOS collective dance spaces

Our Dance performances are presented with the cooperation of the
Uferstudios collective dance spaces in Berlin.

 

International audition director Cristina Perera

Dancer, choreographer and dance teacher Cristina Perera, also traveling worldwide for dance workshops,
holds international auditions for admission to the dance education.

 

 

 

ZTB Zeitgenössischer Tanz Berlin (contemporary Dance Berlin)

zeitgenoessischer_Tanz_Berlin_logoBalance 1 is a member of the ZTB, Zeitgenössischer Tanz Berlin.
The association Contemporary Dance Berlin represents the interests of artists and institutions active in dance.
The ZTB is the sponsor of the Tanzbüro Berlin, the central consulting and marketing office for dance in Berlin.

 

Eurasia Dance Project International Network

We are partner of the EurAsia Dance Project International Network, directed by Stefano Fardelli, which has more than 20 EurAsia Partners in 18 countries all over the world through Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, Pacific States and Central America.

EurAsia Dance Project International Network is a Non Profit Association legalized by the Italian Government.

One of the missions is to enable young dancers and choreographers of any origin to study abroad and spread out their culture. This is why EurAsia Auditions are also on tour in the poorest and most dangerous countries of the globe. It allows these young dancers to take auditions for the biggest academies of Europe without flying abroad. The students selected during the EurAsia Auditions win a 50% / 80% scholarship for all the 3 / 4 year professional dance programs.