Passerelle takes time to create depth and to make ideas more comprehensible. We do not teach dance classes, but seek to offer young people insights. We make them move, drawing from their own talents. That’s why we invest in time as well as in-depth processes rather than the quick bite. Our artistic and pedagogic vision complies with Dēmos’ model of ‘participatory art practices’, based on the following four core qualities:

• Participatory: We expect commitment and input from our participants. This makes young people grow, both artistically and on a personal level. It stimulates them to take ownership of the process.
• Contextual: Our practice breaks down barriers and rigid structures, and reaches those groups for whom arts education is not self-evident. We create smart contexts and include young people’s social environments in the overall story. Passerelle educates, connects and expands horizons.
• Artistic: Our coaches’ artistic skills make up the essential foundation of our activities. Because of their approach, young people discover, learn to think creatively out-of-the-box and develop themselves through physical expression. Passerelle works with a large team of coaches who represent a unique mirror of the Flemish contemporary dance scene.
• Transformative: Passerelle has an impact on the participant and his or her environment. However, we prefer the term ‘enduring’ over ‘transformative’. Each project has an enduring impact on the individual, the organisations involved and their environment.

Passerelle is constantly expanding by developing new types of dance education in Flanders, possible collaborations with other socio-cultural partners and inspiring cross-overs between different art disciplines. The organisation stands for an optimal artistic and personal experience of each participant.

Passerelle finds it important to respect everyone’s freedom of opinion, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion or convictions. We treat everyone equally and think each culture is an enrichment for society. Therefore, we make sure to provide everyone with the best possible opportunities for self-development, irrespective of their origins. We think openness is an extremely important value and consider freedom of speech a fundamental aspect of our daily activities.