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 offerings for children and young people in Germany. Through the production, touring and reception of dance pieces, a cooperative, cultural-federalist concept is used to establish and expand the field of dance for young audiences nationwide at a high artistic quality level and to permanently strengthen the visibility of dance as an art form.
Experiencing theater and dance performances is an essential artistic experience for children and young people – making this experience possible for them is a fundamental cultural policy task. explore dance wants to open up access to dance as an art form and participation in artistic experiences to all children and young people, regardless of their place of residence and social background.
The network focuses on the diversity of current contemporary dance styles and innovative formats. In addition to stage productions, the network primarily develops mobile pop-up pieces that provide access to dance as an art form away from the theater stage – for example in schools, museums, cultural centers or in public spaces. Children and young people are actively involved in all phases of the artistic work processes. In doing so the network also strengthens the visibility of dance 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.
Seven years of explore dance show the potential that explore dance opens up for young audiences: 34 dance productions with over 560 performances nationwide and internationally, rehearsal visits, workshops and discussion formats as well as collaboration with over 430 schools and 180 artists bear witness to the network’s success. In addition to the 2019 Perspective Prize of the German Theater Award DER FAUST, the network received the award for outstanding development in dance as part of the German Dance Award 2024.
To download:
- Imageflyer 2025
- Pop Up Flyer
Awards and honours:
- Perspective Prize 2019 of the German Theatre Prize DER FAUST
- Honour for outstanding development in dance as part of the German Dance Award 2024
- Inclusion in the 4th German UNESCO State Report as an innovative example of the promotion of cultural diversity
Associated schools in Potsdam and Brandenburg:
Gerhart Hauptmann Grundschule / Freie Schule / Grundschule am Pappelhain / Comenius Schule / Grundschule im Bornstedter Feld / Grundschule am Jungfernsee / Internationale Schule / Neue Grundschule Marquardt / Neue Grundschule / Rosa Luxemburg Schule / Wilhelm-von-Türk-Schule / Schulzentrum am Stern / Montessori Oberschule / Humboldt Gymnasium / Voltaire Gesamtschule / Joseph Lenné Gesamtschule / Leonardo da Vinci-Gesamtschule / Oberlinschule / Kita Königskinder vom LSB / Kita und Hort Baumschule / Evangelische Grundschule Potsdam / AWO Grundschule Marie Juchacz Golm / Waldorfschule Cottbus / Fred-Vogel Grundschule Fredersdorf Vogelsdorf / Gemeinschaftsschule im Kloster Stift zum Heiligengrabe
Productions 2024/2025
ELISABETE FINGER (BR/D): Kosmokörper (8+) – Pop Up
ZINADA (D/SK): WUW – Wind und Wand (8+) – Pop Up
GO PLASTIC COMPANY (D): Fight for your Fairytale (12+) – Pop Up
ALEXANDER VAREKHINE (D): Wo der Teppich Staub fängt (12+) – Pop Up
CAROLINE BEACH & SAIDA MAKHMUDZADE (D): Was geht, Erdling? (8+) – Pop Up
Productions 2022/2023
HERMANN HEISIG: Happy Sisyphos (6+) – Pop Up
RENAE SHADLER (D/AUS): Horace (6+) – Pop Up
YOTAM PELED (ISR/D): Where the Boys Are (14+) – Pop Up
JENNY BEYER (D): Suite (6+) – Pop Up
ROTEM WEISSMAN (D): Prisma (7+) – Pop Up
ANNA TILL & NORA OTTE (D): Schwanensee in Sneakers (14+) – Pop Up
Productions 2020/2021
LEA MORO (CH/D): Ohren sehen auch (5+)
HERMANN HEISIG (D): Happy sisyphos (8+) – Pop Up
REGINA ROSSI (BR/D): punk, beat…LOL! (13+) – Pop Up
MARTINA LA RAGIONE (IT): This Wall has No Title (12+) – Pop Up
Productions 2020: Choreografic explorations for home
MORITZ FRISCHKORN: Übungen aus der Recherche zu Transformations
LEA MARTINI & DENNIS DETER: Ein Fingerspiel
ANTJE PFUNDTNER IN GESELLSCHAFT: Choreografische Spielanleitung
LEE MÉIR & LEA KIEFFER: Bommeltutorial
LEA MARTINI & DENNIS DETER: Eine Evolutionsreise durch die Geschichte der Welt
Productions 2019/2020
SEBASTIAN MATTHIAS (D): xoxo (14+)
DEUFERT&PLISCHKE (D): Spinnen (6+) – Pop Up
LEE MÉIR (ISR) & ANDRÉ LEWSKI (D): Von hier nach dort (6+)
MAY ZARHY (ISR): Libelle (7+)
CEREN ORAN (TR/D): Fliegende Wörter (6+) – Pop Up
MORITZ FRISCHKORN (D): Transformations (14+) – Pop Up
Productions 2018/2019
ANTJE PFUNDTNER IN GESELLSCHAFT (D): Für Mich (8+)
DENNIS DETER & LEA MARTINI (D): Eine Geschichte der Welt (6+)
DIEGO TORTELLI (IT): Shifting Perspective /14+)
CLÉMENT LAYES (D): ONONON (6+) – Pop Up
ANNA KONJETZKY (D/PL): Move More Morph It! (8+) – Pop Up
LUCIA GLASS (D): Die Choreographie der Dinge und Geräusche (10+) – Pop Up
*********
explore dance - Netzwerk Tanz für junges Publikum e.V. is an association of HELLERAU - Europäisches Zentrum der Künste Dresden, K3 - Zentrum für Choreographie | Tanzplan Hamburg, fabrik (moves) Potsdam and Fokus Tanz / Tanz und Schule e.V. München.
explore dance is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the project partners are co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, the State Capital of Potsdam, the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg, the Cultural Department of the State Capital of Munich, the Bavarian State Association for Contemporary Dance with funds from the Bavarian State Ministry, the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism and the State Capital of Dresden.
With the kind support of the Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne.
