An online conference co-organised by
AREAL | space for choreographic development & European Dancehouse Network
We are living unprecedented and difficult times in which the body is obliged to take distance, the touch is forbidden, the mobility of artists is limited and most of dance projects are happening online. How do artists and independent professionals work in these times of change without obscuring, colonizing and further marginalizing the people and territories that were already confined in the margins? How do we embrace and understand alternative modes of working when the spaces where marginalized cultural professional have been working are at risk of being overwhelmed and uncredited? How do we decolonize our own minds and our work, free of our own problematic practices and move towards collaboration, cooperation and generative, generous practices?
The international conference “Re-thinking dance – New ways of working together internationally in dance” aims to create a space for reflection regarding the above questions and more as well to look into the future of dance during this pandemic time. The conference is the result of cooperation between AREAL Bucharest and European Dancehouse Network. Initially it was planned to take place live in Bucharest during a showcase initiated by AREAL | space for choreographic development, a collective initiative launched in 2020 in Bucharest by 4 dance structures, in connection with the opening of a new dance space. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus crisis, the opening of the space was postponed for 2021 and we can only meet and talk online.
We invite everyone interested to join our efforts to re-think the future of dance. The discussion will kick-off with a short introduction of the Romanian dance scene by Alexandra Balășoiu (Indie Box, co-founder AREAL), Simona Deaconescu (director Tangaj Dance and Bucharest International Dance Film Festival) and Vava Ștefănescu (manager National Dance Centre in Bucharest). Subsequently Pia Kramer will briefly introduce the European Dancehouse Nework and a new initiative – Perform Europe – a new Consortium of Performing Arts Networks (IETM, EDN, EFA, Cirostrada and IDAS -Consulting), who recently won the tender for a Platform for the cross-border distribution of European Performing Art Works.
Furthermore guest panelists from Austria, Germany, Serbia and Czech Republic Marijana Cvetkovic (Station/Belgrade), Gisela Muller (Tanzfabrik Berlin), Karin Pauer (choreographer, Vienna), Yvona Kreuzmanova (Tanec Praha/Prague) are invited to share their thoughts on the proposed topic as well to give a short update on their own current situation and projects. After a small break, we open floor to all participants to contribute with their thoughts on how to re-think dance of the future, but also on what kind of measures and initiatives the contemporary dance field needs urgently today. The conference and discussions will be moderated by Cosmin Manolescu, an artist and manager who played an important role in the development of contemporary dance in Romania.
Conference programme | November 14, 2020, 12:00-15:00 (Bucharest time)
12:00 – welcome speech by Cosmin Manolescu (Gabriela Tudor Foundation) and Pia Krämer (European Dancehouse Network)
12:10 – short introduction on the Romanian dance scene by Alexandra Balășoiu (AREAL), Simona Deaconescu (Tangaj Dance), Vava Ștefănescu (National Dance Centre Bucharest)
12:30–13:45 – Panel discussion – speakers: Marijana Cvetkovic (Station/Belgrade), Gisela Muller (Tanzfabrik Berlin), Karin Pauer (choreographer, Vienna), Yvona Kreuzmanova (Tanec Praha/Prague)
13:45–14:00 – break
14:00–14:50 – Open discussion on the topic – New ways of working internationally in dance
14:50 – Conclusions
The conference will be held in English and take place on the ZOOM platform, being open to a maximum international 50 participants – dance artists, artists, presenters, producers and dance journalists interested in the topic. The registration is open at https://forms.gle/k6kFc2bagMhZcLU57. All those who registered will receive the Zoom meeting link on November 11.
Participants to the conference can also get access to watch online the full programme of the Body Season of films and performances collective season initiated by AREAL and presented together with Creart/Teatrelli, Tangaj and National Dance Centre Bucharest, between November 12-16, 2020, including:
– Daughters, a performance by Simona Deaconescu & Tangaj Dance
– Urban Giff Show, a performance by Florin Fieroiu, Teatrelli production
– 85 percent of what you see, a dance performance by Cristina Lilienfeld, AREAL artist (premiere)
– INHABITED, a dance film presented by Smaranda Găbudeanu & PETEC Association
– Recorded Body, a film programme proposed by AREAL
– A place in time / Omnia, concept and choreography by Jan Burkhardt & Sigal Zouk, a dance film produced by National Dance Centre Bucharest (2020).
The links can be sent to all those interested who registered for the conference. For more information about the conference please contact Cosmin Manolescu, at cosmin@arealcolectiv.ro.
The Re-thinking dance | new ways of working internationally in dance conference is organised by Gabriela Tudor Foundation on the behalf of AREAL, in collaboration with European Dancehouse Network, Goethe Institut Bukarest and the Austrian Cultural Forum in Bucharest and is part of the “4 Bodies | Collective for dance” cultural programmd and of the “Body Season” cultural project cofunded by the the Administration of the National Cultural Fund.
AREAL| space for choreographic development is a collective initiative launched in 2020 by Gabriela Tudor Foundation, Indie Box, Delazero Association, Association for Theatre and Books and choreographer Andreea Belu, aiming to support collaboration, artistic creation, professional development and the dialogue between artists, public and the contemporary dance scene. The values of AREAL are research, creative processes in studio, mobility, interdisciplinarity, alternative education, awareness, well-being, time for reflection, meeting and dialogue space between dance makers, presenters and the public (www.arealcolectiv.ro).
More information on Romanian contemporary dance scene is available in the study The Contemporary Dance Scene in Romania – a research made by from the ecology of culture perspective by Ștefania Ferchedău & Raluca Iacob, produced by GT Foundation.
European Dancehouse Network is a European dance network created in 2009 and co-funded by European Union which today counts on 45 members in 26 countries. More information about EDN – www.ednetwork.eu