Celebrating Legacy and Fostering the Future
As part of our Nutcracker 2025 weekend at the ZKO-Theater, the Yen Han Ballet Foundation is honoured to present a costume exhibition featuring original pieces from the Jeune Ballet de France (JBF) — a foundational institution in the development of young dancers in France and beyond.
The Legacy of the Jeune Ballet de France (JBF)
Founded in 1983 by Robert Berthier, the Jeune Ballet de France was one of the first apprenticeship companies to provide conservatory graduates with a one-year bridge between their studies and the professional dance world. Dancers toured internationally, performed professionally, and developed both stage experience and artistic depth under mentorship.
This pioneering model went on to inspire many major ballet institutions across Europe to establish their own junior companies. Its alumni — including Artistic Director Yen Han — have gone on to fulfill successful careers in the arts and beyond.
The costumes featured in this exhibition are more than garments — they are storytellers of tradition, transformation, and youthful artistry. This exhibition honours the past, while inviting us to consider how we support the dancers of tomorrow.
Introducing the Yen Han Ballet Foundation Residence Program
Inspired by the JBF model and adapted to today’s world, the Yen Han Ballet Foundation Residence Program offers a modern apprenticeship structure that is flexible, inclusive, and future-oriented.
This one-year pilot program provides young dancers with a structured environment for artistic development while continuing their academic or vocational studies. Whether or not they intend to pursue professional dance careers, participants benefit from tailored support, mentorship, and high-level performance opportunities — without compromising their education.
What Makes This Program Unique?
- Academic Flexibility
Dancers are supported in continuing their education in parallel, allowing for personal and professional balance. - Financial Support
The program provides financial assistance, removing the burden that often prevents talented dancers from completing their final years of training. - Holistic Pedagogy
Training is combined with mental, emotional, and creative development, cultivating not just dancers — but well-rounded individuals. - Artistic Freedom & Collaboration
Rooted in classical discipline but open to innovation, dancers will also collaborate across art forms — building an ecosystem of creativity. - Real-World Preparation Without Pressure
This is not about competition or perfection. It is about growth, access, and transformation, guided by a team of dedicated professionals.
A Vision for Cultural Change in Switzerland
Too often in Switzerland and across Europe, dance is seen as a childhood pastime — an after-school activity that is sacrificed once academic priorities take hold. Many young people with genuine talent and passion stop dancing during their teenage years, not due to lack of skill, but because dance is not perceived as a viable part of their future.
Our program does not promise a dance career. It offers something deeper: a structured, supportive environment for those who wish to continue dancing while pursuing their academic or professional goals. We currently have students doing just that — one studying law at the University of Zurich, and another pursuing science at ETH — both continuing to grow as dancers within the Foundation.
This program aims not only to serve its participants, but to advocate for a broader cultural understanding: that dance education can and should exist beyond childhood, and that its benefits extend far beyond the stage. We envision this pilot as the seed of a long-term, sustainable platform — one that contributes to a strong and lasting cultural landscape for Switzerland.
Support the Vision
We are currently preparing for the launch of this program and actively seeking:
- Patrons who wish to champion this new generation of artists
- Donors who believe in accessible, holistic education through the arts
- Supporters and collaborators to join us in building a new path forward
Your involvement helps us provide a foundation where dance becomes not only a form of expression — but a life-shaping force for the next generation.
