The internationale tanzmesse nrw is a biennial marketplace and festival platform for communicating and networking in the field of contemporary dance. At the Tanzmesse international dance companies and artists present their work live on stage and choreographers, dancers, agencies, presenters and cultural institutions worldwide network and co-operate in a lively marketplace.
The internationale tanzmesse nrw also hosts numerous
international gatherings and meetings. The Tanzmesse is a project of the nrw landesbuero tanz, based in Cologne,
Germany.
Photos:
Ursula Kaufmann
History of the Tanzmesse
The Tanzmesse was initiated in 1994 as the “Tanzmesse NRW” in Essen, Germany. The founders of the Tanzmesse NRW were the Gesellschaft für Zeitgenössischen Tanz NRW e.V., Stadt Essen, the Kultusministerium NRW and the Stiftung Kunst und Kultur NRW.
The original goal of the Tanzmesse was to create a platform for dance companies from North-Rhine Westphalia that would introduce and present choreographic work from the region to a larger regional audience as well as to the professional dance world. The Tanzmesse sought to create a presentational duality of performance and discussion. The companies could perform their work as well as talk about their projects in a marketplace environment. In
1997 the second Tanzmesse in Essen expanded the marketplace to include international companies and organizations to become a “World Market of Dance Regions”.
In 2000 the Tanzmesse became the internationale tanzmesse nrw. Dance companies, presenters and dance agencies from 40 different countries travelled to Essen, contributed to the artistic program and began networking with colleagues from Germany. Since then, the tanzmesse has fostered co-productions worldwide and enabled networking within the international dance market for contemporary dance. It also formally became a biennial international event.
In 2002 the internationale tanzmesse nrw relocated to the City of Dusseldorf, the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia, to take advantage of additional stages and the excellent facilities at the NRW-Forum Kultur und Wirtschaft.
The internationale tanzmesse nrw 2008 recently ended its 7th edition hosting performances by 56 German and international dance companies performing in theatres in Düsseldorf and, for the first time, in the neighbouring city of Krefeld. From 27th-30th August, more than 250 exhibitors, including dance companies, agencies and cultural institutions filled the marketplace with lively discussions, exhibits, speakers, and numerous international gatherings.
Today the internationale tanzmesse nrw is an international hub for dance professionals from around the world and for the dance audiences of the region. The Tanzmesse is a festival, marketplace, discussion platform, and network.
The next internationale tanzmesse nrw will take place from 25th to 28th August 2010 in Düsseldorf! Please join us and mark your calendars now.
