DDF News — 18 Nov 2024
Dance Festivals Network Europe and the Turin Declaration on dance launched at Big Pulse Reflections
Partners of Big Pulse Dance Alliance along with artists, curators, producers, administrators, communications officers and policymakers from across Europe and beyond came together in Turin from 23 – 24 October for a two-day professional forum focused on the importance of European collaboration for the future of the dance sector.
Hosted by Teatro Stabile and Torinodanza Festival, it was an engaging and insightful time that brought beautiful moments of connection and sparked inspiration and opportunities for future collaboration.
The programme of events included panel discussions, workshops and creative presentations, as well as a keynote speech from Georg Haeusler, Director for Culture, Creativity and Sport in the European Commission. Following vibrant presentations and informal talks, participants at the conference were also treated to evening performances and installations at Fonderie Limone – Monumentum DA by Cristina Rizzo, Big Pulse co-production Lapiz Lazuli by Euripides Laskaridis, as well as a performance installation of City Horses by Byström Källblad, another Big Pulse co-production.
Turin Declaration
With a focus on the importance of collaboration to best support the future of the dance sector, it was fitting that the two-day forum closed with the presentation of the Turin Declaration.
This Turin Declaration reflects the collective wisdom and forward-thinking strategies developed over the four years of the Big Pulse Dance Alliance project, funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. It provides recommendations for policymakers, cultural leaders, and dance professionals to ensure that European contemporary dance remains a leading force in the global arts scene, enriched by sustainability, diversity, innovation, and transcontinental collaboration.
Dance Festivals Network Europe
The Big Pulse Reflections platform was also the perfect opportunity to announce and celebrate the launch of the newly formed Dance Festivals Network Europe (DanceFestNet), a coalition of European dance festivals dedicated to advancing contemporary dance’s role in building a sustainable, inclusive and innovative future.
Prioritising themes such as mobility, sustainability, social inclusion and energy transition while working across disciplines and borders, DanceFestNet promotes the unique ability of dance to bridge cultural divides and enhance societal engagement, creating a dynamic network that supports responsible, forward-looking practices in the arts.
Dance Festivals Network Europe partners:
Biennale + Maison de la Danse de Lyon (France)
Bratislava in Movement (Slovakia)
CODA Oslo International Dance Festival (Norway)
Dance Fest Skopje (North Macedonia)
Dance Umbrella (United Kingdom)
Dance Week Festival (Croatia)
December Dance (Belgium)
Dublin Dance Festival (Ireland)
Festival Sismògraf (Spain)
Julidans (The Netherlands)
International Dance Festival TANEC PRAHA (The Czech Republic)
Lithuanian Dance Information Centre (Lithuania)
One Dance Festival (Bulgaria)
Reykjavík Dance Festival (Iceland)
STHLM DANS (Sweden)
Tanz im August / HAU Hebbel am Ufer (Germany)
Torinodanza Festival (Italy)
Zodiak – Side Step Festival (Finland)
Associate and collaborating partners:
Danscentrum (Sweden)
Dansa Metropolitana (Spain)
Europe Beyond Access (Europe)
STL – Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava (Estonia)
PID – Iberoamerican Dance Network (Europe & Latin America)
An additional four festivals are also in the process of confirming membership in 2025.