Stretch is an international encounter for dance professionals held in Turku, Finland in October 2019 – Register now!
STRETCH 2019 brings together dance professionals - artists, producers, students, researchers, managers, pedagogues – from the Nordic, Baltic and European countries, and aims to tackle urgent issues in the dance field. The encounter is built on the experience and community that was created during the earlier keðja encounters.
The main theme of the encounter is Expanding Professionalism and the focus will be on capacity building and acquiring new skills, new working and operating models and better communication about dance. All these are key issues when developing the dance field toward a more sustainable direction.
These themes will be dealt with through talks and discussions, workshops and sharing sessions.
The encounter is built on the experience and community that was created during the keðja encounters. keđja presents: Stretch 2019 Turku expands the idea and themes of keðja by stretching skills, the dance field and its structures.
Thursday 17th through Saturday 19th October will be full programme days, so we strongly recommend arriving in Turku on Wednesday 16th and departing on Sunday 20th.
Tips from the programme:
Expanding professionalism: “It’s time to start seeing artists as experts; it’s time to unravel the myth of the independent and free artist and deconstruct the dichotomy between the mythical and the instrumental value of art.” Opening keynote by Kai Lehikoinen (FI), Director of CERADA Research Centre at the University of Arts.
Working internationally in the age of ecological crisis: “Dance is an international art form, so what does working internationally mean in times of climate change? Artists can act as drivers for transition and be at the forefront in tackling these most pressing issues, so how should we prepare for a more sustainable future and which are the first steps to be taken?”
Keynote and panelists to be confirmed.
Where Art relates to the Society – Introducing Dance Dramaturgy as a Practice of Contextualization: “…how to step out of the bubble and relate one’s own work to the society – without compromizing your very own artistic idea. We will introduce and practice different methodologies such as articulating artistic intentions, especially towards the audience, curators and to the ones collaborating with you.” Workshop, facilitator Thomas Schaupp (DE), freelance dance dramaturg, teacher and advisor.
Also movement-based workshops, content marketing and coaching methods workshops, and more to come.
We welcome all professionals and students from the field of dance: from choreographers and dancers to producers and managers.
See the programme here ›
The programme will continue to be updated. Subscribe to Stretch newsletter ›
Register to Stretch Turku: Registration here ›
More information on practical arrangements and traveling here ›
Stretch 2019 Turku is organized by the Regional Dance Centre of Western Finland, and its main partners are Dance Info Finland and the City of Turku. The encounter is supported by Nordic Culture Fund and the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund.
The international partners are Kultur i Väst and Norrlandsoperan (SE), Dansearena Nord (NO), Bora Bora – Dance and Visual Theatre (DK), Danceatelier (IS), Estonian Dance Agency (EE), Contemporary Dance Association and Artist’s Group ”Fish Eye” (LT), The Work Room (GB), Tanzfabrik Potsdam (DE), Dance Theater Ljubljana (SI).
