About us
The aim of the explore dance network, which was established in 2018 by several federal states, is to develop a sustainable structure for the production of contemporary dance pieces for young audiences and to fill the gap that still exists in the cultural. Through the production, facilitation and reception of dance pieces, the cooperative, federalistic cultural concept of explore dance establishes and expands the field of dance for young audiences throughout Germany with a high level of artistic quality.
Giving children and young people access to cultural participation is one of the most fundamental tasks of cultural policies. However, in the field of dance, this has so far mostly been through the funding of temporary projects that do not allow for a sustainable continuity of work.
explore dance wants to give all children and young people access to dance as an art form and enable them to participate in artistic experiences, regardless of where they live or of their social background. In doing so the network also strengthens the visibility in the long term: contemporary dance is to be anchored permanently and on an equal footing with other art forms and genres in the standard programme of cultural activities available to children and young people.
explore dance is therefore developed into a national network of dance for young audiences, which will enable children and young people to enjoy and actively participate in dance as an art form on the basis of an innovative structure that spans all of Germany’s federal states.
Since July 2022 and the start of the second funding phase of TANZPAKT Stadt-Land-Bund, the network has expanded to include a fourth partner, HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts. Until the end of 2023, explore dance devoted itself to expanding the range of offerings for children and young people through extensive touring of the mobile pop-up dance productions that were being created. For this purpose, experienced choreographers and teams in all four partner cities developed dance pieces that also provide access to the art form of dance away from theater stages – for example in school rooms, museums, cultural centers or public spaces. Children and young people were actively involved in all phases of the artistic work processes.
With the promise of new federal funding for 2024, the work of explore dance is now secured for another year, so that a new stage production and five more pop-up productions will be added to the program in 2024. Six years of explore dance show the potential that dance opens up for young audiences: 34 dance productions with over 500 performances all over Germany and abroad, as well as numerous rehearsal visits, workshops and discussion formats as well as festivals and specialist meetings in all four partner cities testify to the success of the network, which, after the Perspective Prize of the German Theater Prize DER FAUST 2019, is now receiving another top-class award: the honor for outstanding development in dance as part of the Deutsche Tanzpreis 2024.
From the start of the second funding phase of TANZPAKT Stadt-Land-Bund in July 2022 onwards, the network will expand to include a fourth partner: HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts. explore dance will devote itself until the end of 2023 to expanding our programmes for children and young people by extensively touring multiple commissioned mobile pop-up dance productions.
Nine experienced choreographers and teams are developing dance pieces in all four cities that provide access to the art form of dance beyond the theatre stage – for example: in school classrooms, museums, public spaces or cultural centres. Children and young people are actively involved in all phases of the artistic work processes. Festivals with expert meetings bundle the productions and offer space for nationwide and international exchange, as well as dialogue on cultural and educational policies.
fabrik moves Potsdam
fabrik moves is a subsidiary of fabrik Potsdam and holds the project explore dance Potsdam. The fabric Potsdam – International Centre for Dance and Movement Art – is a house for professional dancers and dance companies, while also simultaneously a house for all, who want to watch and understand dance, as well as give it a try for themselves.
K3 | Tanzplan Hamburg
K3 – Zentrum für Choreographie | Tanzplan Hamburg at Kampnagel is a competence centre for expertise in the field contemporary dance and choreography, artistic research, and dance outreach.
Fokus Tanz/Tanz und Schule e.V.
Tanz und Schule e.V. ist ein gemeinnütziger Verein. Unter dem Label Fokus Tanz vermittelt der Verein durch Projekte und Vorstellungsangebote zeitgenössischen Tanz an Kinder und Jugendliche.
HELLERAU – European Centre of the Arts Dresden
From July 2022, HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts Dresden will join the project. The co-production and guest performance house is today one of the most important centres for contemporary art in Germany and Europe.
