Andrea Ostertag

Andrea Ostertag serves as Senior Lecturer and Deputy Department Head at the Department of Elemental Music & Dance Education within the Orff Institute of Mozarteum University Salzburg. With over 30 years of continuous service since 1991, she is a cornerstone of the institute's academic framework.

Her academic credentials include:

• Graduation in Elemental Music and Dance Education from the Orff Institute (1988)
• Master of Arts in Music and Dance Studies from Paris Lodron University Salzburg (2012)

Ms. Ostertag's research centers on elemental music-dance-language integration through Orff Schulwerk methodology, emphasizing transdisciplinary applications in educational settings. Her international work spans five continents, adapting folk dance traditions into pedagogical frameworks while maintaining cultural authenticity. Current projects focus on implementing music-dance curricula in compulsory schools through Kulturkontakt Austria partnerships.

As an academic leader, she heads both the university course "Elemental Music and Movement Education" and the postgraduate "Advanced Studies in Music and Dance Education - Orff Schulwerk". Her teaching extends to Bachelor's and Master's students with specialized focus on dance pedagogy and movement-based learning.

Within institutional structures, Ms. Ostertag organizes the International Summer Course and contributes to the Orff Institute's strategic direction as Deputy Department Head since 2022. Her community engagement includes 24 years with ClownDoctors Salzburg and ongoing Shiatsu therapy practice, demonstrating holistic integration of artistic and therapeutic disciplines.