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Making dance visible together

Dear members of the German Dance Association,

Dear dance professionals,

Let us work together to showcase the diversity of dance in Germany!

On 29 April, we celebrate International Dance Day.
Two years ago, we launched the #TogetherWeDance campaign for this day. We want to build on that this year.

And we want to combine this with a second event.


21 May is World Cultural Diversity Day.
This year, the German Cultural Council has initiated the action day ‘Cohesion in Diversity’ We want to join this initiative.

Dance means diversity. Dance thrives on the diversity of styles and aesthetics. Dance is connected with the diversity of dancers, diversity in age, origin, culture, social situation, physique, and also diversity of religions.

Together with you, we want to show that diversity in dance also creates cohesion, that we can be proud when we succeed in achieving cohesion in diversity. 

Our suggestion:

On World Dance Day – and in the weeks before and after – post reels and photos of your work in dance – as an ensemble, as artists, as dance schools and educational projects, as dance teachers, as dance journalists and dance scholars, as dance archives, dance venues, dance colleges.

Who are the people who dance? Where do they come from? Who do they dance with? And what effect does this have on the people who watch dance, experience dance and dance themselves?

Let us show what diversity means in dance and how diversity can strengthen our cohesion.

The diversity of our society is reflected in the diversity of artistic forms of expression. It is shaped by the international exchange of (dance) artists and all people living in Germany. Cultural diversity in Germany also includes the culture of people living here in exile.

Our role as DTD:

On World Dance Day (29 April) and Cultural Diversity Day (21 May), we want to showcase your contributions online – at www.dachverband-tanz.de, www.tanz-digital.de and on our social media channels.

And we are planning two online formats to discuss the topic of ‘Cohesion through Diversity’ on 29 April and 21 May. 

Send us material and information:

  •     Photos no larger than 1 MB in jpeg format (at least 300 dpi) or a short video (2 min. as a YouTube video with a link to embed)
  •     Copyright information
  •     Names of the people pictured and the name of the ensemble/dance school/institution
  •     Your powerful statement on the topic of diversity in dance

Photos, videos and texts should be sent to us by 24 April at presse@dachverband-tanz.de.

Connect with us on social media:

  •     Feel free to invite us as a collaboration partner and use #TogethWeDance.

Spread the word about the initiative:

We would be delighted if you could forward these suggestions to your distribution lists and send us specific offers of cooperation!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the PR team at oea(at)dachverband-tanz.de.

Kind regards,
Your Office of the German Dance Association 

 

 

Creative Cross Collaborations Berlin

New cross-sector project for Berlin in the fields of performing arts, visual arts, and film/media

Art, culture, and the creative scene are among Berlin’s key resources. Creative Cross Collaborations Berlin (CCCberlin) addresses three core sub-sectors of this cultural and creative landscape. The project aims to strengthen the potential of cross-sector encounters and interdisciplinary collaboration among artists, creatives, and producers based in Berlin, working in the fields of performing arts, visual arts, and film/media. Through events and advisory services, the project fosters cross-sector collaborations and develops long-term strategies for audience development and market expansion.

Next event:

„Standing Strong“: Strategies for resilience
25 February 2026 | 1:30 pm - 4 pm | online

Our event ‘Standing Strong’ examines the topic of resilience from two perspectives:

  1. Cultural policy level – strategies for making the arts and culture scene as a whole more resilient.
  2. Individual level – stress management and strengthening resilience in everyday working life.

Experience exciting ideas, practical tips and inspiring discussions – for individuals as well as for the community of creative professionals.

Click here to visit the website

Projects

Through initiatives and projects, Dachverband Tanz Deutschland advances the nationwide issues of dance and its impact in many areas of society. Here we present our ongoing projects and funding programs.

Icon Dialog, 2 Tänzer, 2 Sprechblasen

Congress on Ethics in Stage Dance

Save the date!
May 30, 2026
Ethics in Stage Dance - First Constituent Congress

We, the Ethics Commission of the DTD, in cooperation with the GDBA and the companies of the theaters in Dortmund, Düsseldorf, and Essen, cordially invite you to the "Ethics in Stage Dance - First Constituent Congress," a space for exchange, participation, and shared responsibility for the future of our profession.
The event will take place on May 30, 2026, at the Ballettzentrum Westfalen Dortmund with invited guests.
To ensure that the congress truly reflects the perspectives of all dance professionals, we want to make sure that at least two dancer representatives from each company participate, as well as, ideally, ballet masters and ensemble directors. The dancer representatives should be appointed by the ensemble itself so that they can authentically represent the interests of their colleagues.

More information

Work Areas

The Federal Association for Dance in Germany acts in the long term as a network partner for dance professionals, cultural practitioners, civil society actors, and policymakers. The fields of work include all issues related to the development of dance art and its visibility - from dance education, production and presentation of dance, dance research and dance science to documentation, public relations and presence of dance in the media. Furthermore, the DTD strives for a comprehensive participation of all citizens in the diversity of the art of dance.

 

GERMAN DANCE AWARD 2026

Choreographer Christian Spuck receives the German Dance Award 2026.
Butoh dancer Tadashi Endo is posthumously honoured with a lifetime achievement award.
Prof. Dr Gabriele Brandstetter, Professor of Dance Studies, receives the award for outstanding development in dance.

The German Dance Award honours outstanding dance personalities in Germany. In spring, the jury selected the winners for 2026.
The German Dance Award 2026 for Christian Spuck is endowed with €20,000. The award for Prof. Dr Gabriele Brandstetter is associated with a grant of €5,000. Tadashi Endo, who died on 25 May 2025, will be honoured posthumously.
 
The German Dance Award and the honours will be presented on Saturday, 28 February 2026 at the Aalto-Theater Essen.
For the first time, the award ceremony will not take place at the start of the theatre season, but at the beginning of spring. This creates a better organisational situation for the host theatre, for the Dachverband Tanz as organiser and for the invited ensembles, free from the density of premieres at the start of the season.

All information on the award winners and the dance gala can be found at www.deutschertanzpreis.de

 

WE ARE "DIE VIELEN", TOO!

We at Dachverband Tanz Deutschland support the SHIELD & SHINE campaign – because we are also "DIE VIELEN" who stand up against racism, exclusion and right-wing extremism. We call on all our members, colleagues and friends in culture and politics to join the campaign and organise local protests, discussions and visibility.

German Dance Association

Get to know us!

Dachverband Tanz Deutschland acts as a long-term network partner for dance professionals, cultural practitioners, civil society actors, and politicians at the state, federal, and EU levels. In this context, Dachverband Tanz Deutschland carries out networking, advisory and mediation work for professional dance practitioners, associations and art and educational institutions. On the individual project pages you will find detailed information about the projects and individual events and workshops.

 

Tanz Plattform Deutschland
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