The effects of the Covid 19 pandemic are still being felt and continue to pose challenges for many performing artists, especially freelance dancers. The need for counselling, coaching, financial support for retraining and one-to-one meetings to develop a future perspective is growing and artists often see no other way than to leave the stage and retrain.

We are convinced that performing artists, especially dancers, are highly specialised experts in their field and it is important to use their excellent skills also for the time after their stage career, so that they can flow back into society. In order to avoid long-term unemployment or even social cases, it is important to actively support the artists in this vulnerable phase of professional transition.

SSUDK encouraged the performing artists* to use the time for self-reflection and for new inspiration for professional development. To this end, “The Dancers’ Survival Guide to Transition” was published by SSUDK.

The Transition Centre SSUDK supports all performing artists with individual counselling and coaching, live or via ZOOM. Make an appointment: info@ssudk.ch

SSUDK encouraged the performing artists* to use the time for self-reflection and for new inspiration for professional development. To this end, “The Dancers’ Survival Guide to Transition” was published by SSUDK. “The Dancers’ Survival Guide to Transition”

Many performing artists are not able to pursue their profession until their regular retirement. Be it for health reasons or because they can no longer cope with the physical demands of the profession. For dancers in particular, a career change is an inherent part of their career: due to the physical demands of their profession, they have to reorient themselves at an average age of 35. Some are able to find another position in their traditional field, but many have no choice but to retrain.

Due to the rather low wages during an artist’s career, it is often not possible to build up savings for retraining purposes. The entry into further professional life is made even more difficult by the often unrecognised professional qualifications of performing artists.

This is where the SSUDK helps people to help themselves. With information on changing careers, counselling and contributions to retraining, performing artists are offered the opportunity to channel their creativity and working power in new directions.

The Foundation SSUDK

The Foundation for the Retraining of Stage Artists was established in 1993 by the Swiss Association of Stage Artists “Schweizerischer Bühnenkünstlerverband (SBKV)”. In 1997, the foundation opened up to non-members and since 2013 it has operated under the name Swiss Foundation for the Retraining of Performing Artists “Schweizerische Stiftung für die Umschulung von darstellenden Künstlerinnen und Künstlern SSDUK”.
In 2016, the “Transition-Center SSUDK” was established to support and advise performing artists before, during and after their career in German-speaking Switzerland, Ticino and Liechtenstein. This applies in particular to dancers during their professional transition.