With a background in Martial Arts competing for the German National Karate Team, Patrick has a particular interest in the application of Sports Science, Sports Medicine and Educational Science. His first involvement in dance started in 2007 when William Forsythe hired him as Director of Sports Science for the Forsythe Company. A year later, he was asked by ballerina Alina Cojocaru to come to London and help her recover from a serious injury. His collaboration with the Royal Ballet began soon after. In 2013 his involvement in the dance world continued to expand when Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of The English National Ballet, hired Patrick’s team. In 2014 Patrick founded his own company: GJUUM, Movement Progressive.
The GJUUM Group is an interdisciplinary team using sports science, sports medicine, psychology, (dance)- eduactional science and social work. GJUUM is consultant to many major dance companies (The Forsythe Company, Royal Ballet of London, English National Ballet, Hofesh Shechter, Opéra de Lyon, National Ballet of Romania, English National Ballet School, Hofesh Shechter Junior Company).
GJUUMs KNOW HOW ranges from planning, installation and operation of healthcare units. Exemplary GJUUM Ltd consulted The Royal Ballet of London with the installation of the Monica Mason healthcare suite. GJUUM consulted the Royal Ballet from the very first step from planning, building and running the healthcare unit including the choice of personnel (scientific mentorship, trainers, coaches, therapeutic personnel, chosing and appointing the clinical director). GJUUM also consulted in implementing an extensive software for evaluation of training and therapy data. Dancers now have access to their personal data on training and therapy from their mobile phone from anywhere in the world.
GJUUM develops dance specific training- and rehabilitation programmes based on sport science and sport medicine critieria and follows an evidence based medicine approach. In the area of research GJUUM gives lectures and workshops for example at the barysnikov centre in New York, Centre National de Danse Paris, TAMED Germany, Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt. GJUUM presents new research and development and is proud of its collaboration with Goethe University Frankfurt.