Building a Dancehouse explored the development of houses for dance and structures in Europe. The philosophical approach will be the starting point of the investigation: the first network, the values that inspired its first founders and the cooperation between many directors… And linked to the architectural aspect of building a dancehouse.

Many dancehouses in Europe have been created over preexisting buildings: convents, factories, industrial sites, brick houses, distilleries, to name some examples. They have been developed recycling architectures and redefining the identity of spaces. Few houses are now in the process of being built and the relationship between architecture, needs and contents leads inevitably to explore the subject of sustainability.

The Atelier was articulated in two morning sessions:

• 20 August: Session focused on the philosophical values inspiring, in the past and the present, the building of a dancehouse and its European network. The session was moderated by Dany Mitzman (freelance journalist).
• 21 August: Session focused on the experiences of commissioning a new building, recycling an old building, defining the identity of a space and its sustainability. The session was moderated by Gabriel Smeets (artistic director of Cullberg Ballet).

This Atelier took place in a series of editorial meetings aimed at considering and tracing the European, as well as the international, dancehouses history. The first exploration began at tanzhaus nrw Düsseldorf in May 2015.

The Atelier was documented extensively:

• Read the report of day 1 by Lara Crippa
• Read the report of day 2 by Rita Borga
• Watch videos of all panel discussions here

Additionally, you can download the programme of the Atelier which includes an introduction of all speakers, as well as the presentation of the Dance House Helsinki currently under construction.

Presentation of the plans for Dance House Helsinki

Picture: James Batchelor (Australia), "Metasystems". Performed during b.motion 2015 on piazza Liberta.