The Society for Dance Research (gtf) fosters research in the field of dance and supports communication among researchers and practitioners. Inspired by UNESCO, it was founded in Cologne (Germany) on May 31, 1986 and, based on the German-speaking world (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), it seeks to establish a broad network through international cooperation.
The gtf sees itself as a place for dance studies discourse and deals with current topics. It stands for an open concept of research and integrates scientific findings and dance practice in artistic, pedagogical and therapeutic fields. With this approach, it primarily appeals to dancers, choreographers, dance educators, dance therapists and dance scholars, as well as people with an interest in dance from the fields of journalism, theater, film, television, art and music.
It is based on the cooperation of its members and offers them space for project groups. It facilitates the exchange and networking of early-career scholars.
The gtf organizes conferences and symposia, some of them in cooperation with other associations and institutions, and provides an institutionalized framework for lectures, labs, workshops, lecture performances, presentations and discussions. It publishes the contributions to the symposia in the annual Yearbook Dance Research.
It represents the interests of dance research in the political and cultural public at national and international level (Deutscher Kulturrat, Dachverband Tanz Deutschland, International Theatre Institute ITI, Conseil Internationale de la Danse CID).