Alumni Newsletter
Special Edition
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Dear Vorname, 

I am pleased to share a special edition of the Alumni Newsletter with you today!

As 2021 draws to a close, we look back with gratitude on special experiences that have enriched our life on campus in the recent months â€“ despite the ongoing pandemic.

Memories of the first "Palucca SommerbĂĽhne" on our campus come to mind. With an unspeakable effort in the rain and in hot summer temperatures, staff and students of the university as well as guests of the Semperoper Ballet made the realization of this first-time event format possible. With a very creative repertoire of contemporary and classical pieces, the dancers once again demonstrated their artistic talent on the open-air stage. Impressions of the "Palucca SommerbĂĽhne" were captured in a limited edition of a photo book. While stocks last, the photo book can be purchased here.

Looking back on 2021, we are very pleased about a placement rate of our graduates of the Bachelor Dance Program of 100%. After they presented their final projects on the "Palucca SommerbĂĽhne" with the premiere of their own online dance film "SYMBIOSIS", we had the pleasure of saying our goodbyes to the newly graduated  alumni as they start their careers as professional dancers in Germany as well as abroad. Likewise, our graduates of the Master Dance Teacher Programme, many of whom will continue to be associated with the university in the future as part of the Palucca Alumni Network.

A diverse artistic program was also implemented for this year's dance week on the Island of Sylt. The dance week took place under the artistic direction of Prof. Dr. Jenny Coogan and in cooperation with the Nordseeheim Klappholttal. With a total of eight students from the Bachelor Dance Programme as well as the three musicians Tilo Augsten, Frank Liebscher and Kay Kalytta, this year's dance week once again offered a unique dance event uniting nature and art.

With their work MOMENTO, MA Choreography alumni Maria Chiara de'Nobili and Alexander Miller made it to the 22 participants of choreography 35 this year! The international competition is Europe's most important platform for aspiring choreographers and was held in Hannover, Germany. More than 400 applications were registered, so as a university we are very happy about the special success of these alumni! More exciting news from the Master Choreography Programme can be read here.

Last but not least, we are grateful that a total of two of the public Palucca Tanz Studio performances were able to take place this year within the framework of the Corona Regulation appointed at that time. Together with the audience, our dancers enjoyed two expressive and successful evenings in the GrĂĽner Saal of our university. Reviews of this year's Palucca Tanz Studio can be viewed here.

Now we look into the year 2022. Planned events such as the Online Master Info Days in January and Stunde des Tanzes in March give us hope to maintain our connection with prospective students, guests and partners in the new year.

I wish you, dear readers, an equally hopeful look into the year 2022. Maintain your creativity and courage despite the current time of uncertainties.

I would like to thank you for your constant commitment to Palucca University of Dance Dresden and wish you a joyous Advent and Christmas season and a good start to the New Year.

With this special issue you receive the last contribution of our health series with Eva-Maria Kraft. I would like to thank Ms. Kraft for her extensive input on the topic of "Nutrition for Dancers" this year and hope that you, too, were able to benefit from her expertise and experience.

Warm wishes

Shalene Schmidt
Department of Strategic Development/Communication
Student Marketing & Alumni Coordination
Health Article
How much should dancers eat?
by Eva Maria-Kraft
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To round up this series of articles about “Nutrition for Dancers” I would like to address another question, one that is often quite important: How much should dancers actually eat? In spite of the Body Positivity Movement finding its way slowly into the world of dance, the subject of slimness and a well-proportioned figure is still a necessary issue in some areas. 

The genetic predisposition, metabolism, age, and also eating habits, training workload and lifestyle have a fundamental influence on our size, figure and weight. Training with a mirror, the often tightly fitting uniform dancewear, the comparison to others and the comments from colleagues, teachers, or choreographers make it sometimes difficult to remember that to be slim does not equate to being better. And so, for some dancers, it is often a continual nutritional balancing act of staying slim or the wish to become slimmer while still having enough energy, strength, and endurance for training, rehearsals and performances. 

Regarding the amount of kilo calories (kcal) which are burned in trainings: there is not a great increase because while dancing, short intensive demands are often interrupted by short breaks for corrections, clarifying steps or because other dancers have their turn.A practical and simple rule of thumb is: dancers should eat one extra meal a day. This can either be spread out over the day, adding a bit at breakfast, lunch, dinner and in the form of snacks or literally in the form of a doubled portion or an extra fourth meal. When and how these extra calories are accommodated depends on one’s own preferences and daily routines - some prefer to eat in small portions but more often, others prefer fewer but larger meals.(See also article no. 1 “Scheduling your meals around your dancing - timing is the key”) 

Many people are affected by weight fluctuations. This can have numerous causes and is not always an indication that a corrective action or “optimisation” of one’s nutrition should be undertaken. For example, stress, lack of sleep, a change in dance training or puberty can strongly influence weight. Menstruation alone can cause a fluctuation of weight in women of up to two kilograms a month. Changes in life such as a change of location, the start of school or training, or the pace in a new company also need time. It can take several months until our metabolism has adapted itself to the new situation and this can lead to changes in weight.
During longer training breaks, such as a vacation or performance-free periods, it is also not unusual to experience changes in weight because there is a discontinuation of regular and intensive training, the daily and nutritional routines are often different and there is a let up of stress. In the case, where the breaks are several weeks long, one should consider adjusting one’s nutrition. During short one or two-week breaks, this is not necessary.
During phases of being injured one must maintain a completely different balance: On the one hand, during a necessitated break, the overall need for energy is decreased. On the other hand however, it is this moment when the body specifically needs important nutrients for regeneration and healing - in particular protein and antioxidants. (See also article no. 2 “Nutrition and its influence on injuries”) It is also important to consider that, as we grow older, we need increasingly less and less food because our basal metabolic rate sinks naturally with age, even if the amount of physical activity remains the same. (See Key Takeaway: Calculating basal and total metabolic rate)

For those who want to know precisely, one’s personal kcal-intake can be calculated in the Key Takeaway. At the same time, I would warn you not to take these figures too literally! Nourishment should basically involve enjoyment, intuition and happiness. Regularly counting calories is only necessary when one’s weight must be changed for reasons of health and should never be practiced single-handedly but rather only undertaken in consultation with an expert in order to interpret these figures correctly. Normally, we do many things right by ourselves!
Calculation of kcal-intake
The next newsletter edition 
The next Alumni Newsletter will be published in February 2022. Alumni contributions will be accepted until 31 January 2022 and should be submitted to alumni@palucca.eu.
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Palucca Univerity of Dance Dresden
Rector: Prof. Jason Beechey
Department of Stratgeic Development/Communication
alumni@palucca.eu | +49 (0) 35125906-45
Basteiplatz 4, 01277 Dresden GERMANY

Translation of Health Article: Helen Centner (Dipl. authorized translater and English Trainer (BDĂś, ELTAF) 

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