Foto: Eva Radünzel
In the performing arts and cultural sector, many comprehensive recommendations for action and tools have already been developed that address the topic of parenthood and care work, which we would like to present here. Many thanks to all the initiatives and colleagues for these comprehensive elaborations! We also share a summary of current developments in the performing arts and networks and initiatives worldwide.
At the symposium ‘Dance & Parenting – Strategies for Fair Care Work in Culture’ organised by Tanzbüro München in September 2025, it became clear that the topic needs more visibility. For this reason, we have created a new section on best practice examples where you can find information: How have other carers in dance solved this issue? What topics have they dealt with? Where can I find contacts to exchange ideas?
The German Dance Association is committed to keeping the topic permanently on the agenda in the dance scene, among sponsors and in cultural policy so that long-term improvements can be made.
Policy toolkit as a target group-specific management tool for work-life balance
Frauenkulturbüro NRW
Recommendations for parent-friendly production in the performing arts (PDF)
Elisa Müller, Emilia de Fries on behalf of LFDK NRW and with BFDK
Well-founded studies and research data on dance and parenting from the United Kingdom
PiPa - Parents and Carers in Performing Arts
Catalogue of measures for improving work-life balance in institutionalised theatres
Bühnenmütter e.V.
Factsheet "Schwangerschaft und Spitzensport"
Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft
In this context, we refer you to the comprehensive website of CARING CULTURE LAB. CARING CULTURE LAB is an independent, community-supported initiative.
‘As a collective of collectives, we act as an independent umbrella organisation for initiatives in Germany, Austria and Switzerland – with the aim of bringing more care into the cultural sector.’
Culture.Care: www.culturecare-bm.de
Over the next three years, the Culture.Care project will support seven theatres in Germany in their efforts to develop structures and attitudes that promote better work-life balance. The project is sponsored by Bühnenmütter e.V.
Symposium: Dance and Parenting – Strategies for Fair Care Work in Culture
18 and 19 September 2025 in Munich | Documentation (german Language) | Further information
Tanzplattform Deutschland 2026 | Dachverband Tanz & Tanzbüro München
12 March 2026 | 11 am to 1 pm | Dresden | Further information
In cooperation with Simone Schulte Aladag (jury member) and Tanzbüro München, a space will be created on the topic of dance and parenthood, where participants can exchange ideas.
Tanztriennale 2026 | Forum | Panel Discussion
Create visibility, change structures: Future prospects for dance professionals with care responsibilities
19 June 2026 | 12–1:30 pm | Hamburg
Further information available here
Tanzpakt Fachtag: Dance and Care | Tanzpakt and TanzSzene Baden-Württemberg
28 June 2026 | 10 am -1 pm | Ulm | Further information and registration here
Documentary: ‘A pregnancy diary’ (trailer) with dancer Emmanuelle Rizzo. A film by Alpay Akcan & Mikael Champs.
DIS-TANZ-SOLO Projects:
Dance & Motherhood – A research film by Johanna Kasperowitsch (German)
Juliane Bauer conducted a survey on the physical changes experienced by professional dancers after giving birth in the dance scene: Click here for the survey results.
Training programme - Juliane Bauer has published various exercises from the therapy plan for mothers with rectus diastasis and pelvic floor weakness.
DIS-CONTINUITY - Results of the interview and dance solo research ‘Dance, Mother, Victim? - Bullshit!’ by Katja Scholz
DIS-TANZ-SOLO supported the conception of the performance disposable heroines by Katja Scholz, trailer
PREGNANCY AND BIRTH IN A DANCER'S BODY - Text by Johanna Elisa Junghans
Parenting & the arts. Tool for Action research to promote family-friendly working in the performing arts. by Johanna Roggan
The community of interest advocates for improved working conditions for dance-creating parents. The volunteer participants of the Ag, which was founded in November 2020, meet online once a month. In a joint exchange, current deficits in the dance scene and the funding system are identified and concrete solutions are developed. In order to establish a network with relevant actors and activists, guests from the scene and cultural politics are invited to the discussion rounds.
TanzNetzDresden has been working intensively on the topic of dance and parenthood since 2021 and has already held a number of comprehensive events on this subject.
In September 2025, Tanzbüro München organised the symposium ‘Dance & Parenting – Strategies for Fair Care Work in Culture’. The results will be available here soon: Symposium 2025
motheringintheperformingarts.wordpress.com/about-beyond-reproduction/
www.oko.com/pl/wydarzenia/matki-tancza-osoby-rodzicielskie-w-choreografii/
www.dancemama.org/internationalparentinganddancenetwork