Think Tanks 2008
The development of the concept of the Dance Congress 2009 began with four open Think Tanks, which took place from August until November 2008 during the following festivals:
International Summer Festival, Kampnagel Hamburg (August 17th, 2008)
Tanz im August, Podewil Berlin (August 22nd, 2008)
DANCE, Bavarian National Ballet Munich (October 26th, 2008)
Fest mit Pina, Tanzhaus NRW Düsseldorf (November 14th, 2008)
More than 100 dancers, choreographers, dance pedagogues and theorists, journalists, presenters, curators, producers and others accepted the invitation to contribute their ideas, questions, positions, methods and visions from current artistic productions and the contexts of their work.
According to the open space method developed by Harrison Owen in the USA around 1985 for large conferences, the participants had the chance to suggest topics for various work groups under the guidance of a facilitator. The entire agenda of the respective Think Tanks thus developed in “real time” based on the concerns and self-management of the participants.
The following four fields of interest emerged in the process:
However, the Think Tanks were not merely a preparatory phase unconnected to the actual Congress. As platforms and forums for exchange and discussion among dance practitioners coming from a multitude of fields and cities, they are also an integral part of the Dance Congress 2009 itself.
International Summer Festival, Kampnagel Hamburg (August 17th, 2008)
Tanz im August, Podewil Berlin (August 22nd, 2008)
DANCE, Bavarian National Ballet Munich (October 26th, 2008)
Fest mit Pina, Tanzhaus NRW Düsseldorf (November 14th, 2008)
More than 100 dancers, choreographers, dance pedagogues and theorists, journalists, presenters, curators, producers and others accepted the invitation to contribute their ideas, questions, positions, methods and visions from current artistic productions and the contexts of their work.
According to the open space method developed by Harrison Owen in the USA around 1985 for large conferences, the participants had the chance to suggest topics for various work groups under the guidance of a facilitator. The entire agenda of the respective Think Tanks thus developed in “real time” based on the concerns and self-management of the participants.
The following four fields of interest emerged in the process:
- Dance and Politics involved e.g. discussions on funding structures and production networks, as well as the significance of dance in various areas of life and society.
- Creation and Reflection of Dance focused on artistic practice and methods
- issues concerning the transcription and handling of Historical Legacy were discussed in groups focusing on knowledge and treatment of the past
- and the fourth field of interest covered the topics of Primary and Continuing Education, as well as general possibilities of Communicating Dance Knowledge
However, the Think Tanks were not merely a preparatory phase unconnected to the actual Congress. As platforms and forums for exchange and discussion among dance practitioners coming from a multitude of fields and cities, they are also an integral part of the Dance Congress 2009 itself.