TanzArt ostwest has been bringing together contemporary dance in Europe with its diverse stylistic expressions and structures for over 20 years. Around 40 ensembles and solo artists from the international dance scene are in continuous dialog. Together, around 100 national and international companies and collectives from permanent and independent theater structures are active in the TanzArt ostwest network.

TanzArt ostwest focuses on artistic exchange between dancers, choreographers and companies in an international context, as well as cultivating and expanding a network of partnerships. Originally oriented towards cultural dialog between Eastern and Western Europe, it has since established multiple connections throughout Europe, but also in America and China. Every year, new and very often long-lasting collaborations are established in order to unite and intensify artistic interaction.
In addition, TanzArt ostwest strives to sensitize (theater) visitors to contemporary dance art, or rather to introduce them to it as spectators in the first place, as well as to view and further develop dance art as contemporary art in an interdisciplinary way.

The TanzArt ostwest festival, which has been based in the central Hessian city of Giessen for 18 years - after and alongside other locations - is based on the principle of guest performance exchange: each company involved in the Giessen festival edition participates, where possible, with a guest performance at the other companies' theaters or festivals and also offers the opportunity for external guest performances itself. The festival is internationally recognized as a mirror of contemporary dance.