Aurora Borealis

Listen, think, talk, develop

The seminars during the 2024 platform will focus on the wider understanding of the Nordic dance scene, specifically including the Artic. The Nordic region is a vast geographical area, with 27 million people sharing 3,425,804 square kilometres.

How do we strengthen the bonds between the periphery and the cities?
How does structures support living off the main road, and still allow for dance to be created?

The seminars are open for anyone interested and working with dance. You don’t need to be registered for Ice Hot to attend.

All the seminars will be held at Vega scene (click for map).


WEDNESDAY 14th

Get to know the Nordics Combined network!

Wednesday 14th February
12:15 – 13:30, Vega scene

ABOUT THE SEMINAR

Performing Arts Hub Norway (PAHN) is hosting a presentation at Vega Scene where organizations from all five Nordic countries give a brief introduction about their work and their upcoming joint-ventures. The event is open for ICE HOT delegates and artists, together with representatives from the Norwegian performing arts field. 

Curious and want to know more about the network and the organizations?
Please join us in an informal setting at Vega Scene. The info session will be short and sweet as we focus on the mingling opportunity at hand accompanied with a light lunch.

ABOUT THE NETWORK

Nordics Combined is an informal network of Nordic agencies/information centers promoting Nordic Performing Arts internationally. Nordics Combined partners collaborate to create and facilitate sustainable networks and artistic market opportunities for Nordic performing artists/companies within the independent performing arts scene. The network initiates and carries out joint projects, coordinates promotional activities, and exchange information.

The network consists of the following Nordic partners:

  • Circus & Dance Info Finland
  • The Swedish Arts Council
  • Swedish Arts Grants Committee
  • The Agency for Culture and Palaces, Denmark
  • Performing Arts Centre Iceland
  • Performing Arts Hub Norway

THURSDAY 15th

Perspectives on Community Engaged Dance Practice

Thursday 15th February
10:15 – 11:30, Vega scene

ABOUT THE SEMINAR

Over the last three years, by hosting residencies and opening up spaces for discussion and knowledge development, the programme has supported dance artists with a practice in community-engaged dance-making to build their professional network, exchange experience with others in the field and develop their practice.
Our Ice Hot panel discussion will reflect on our three years of working together. We will address what we’ve achieved together for artists and their practices, as well as what the partner organisations have learned about their role in their communities and how they continue to support artists to take an active role in the community. 

Initiated by CROWD – international dance exchange, a collaborative network of Nordic and other European dance organisations, together seeking to support dance makers who engage with communities as part of their practice.

This seminar and the wider CROWD programme are supported by Nordic Culture Fund, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland and NRW KULTURsekretariat.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir, CROWD residency artist 2023
Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir (Iceland) is a dancer and choreographer. Five years ago, after 16 years of a successful career at Iceland Dance Company, she suffered an injury that forced her to reconsider her relationship with dance, the body, and her artistic practice. This led her to a master’s degree in Performance Practice at Iceland’s University of the Arts where she further developed her artistic practice and conducted research that revolved around aging, connecting to the body ́s knowledge, history and menopause. Lovísa was selected for CROWD’s residency programme in 2023 and undertook residencies at Dansverkstæðið (IS) and Bora Bora (DK). She was also selected as one of 20/23 Aerowaves artists with her work When the Bleeding Stops and is currently touring with the work.

Tinna Gretarsdottir, Manager at Dansverkstæðið
Dansverkstæðið (Reykjavik, Iceland) has been built with the integral principles of inclusivity and sustainability for the support and advancement of Reykjavík’s freelance dance community.

Jeppe H. Nissen, Producer at Bora Bora 
Bora Bora (Aarhus, Denmark) is an international venue for dance. We aim to support the local community and to build long term relations to international artists and venues. We do this through four main strands of activities: our seasonal programme, our festivals, artistic residencies and community support and talent development. 

Jim Hendley, Producer at FABRIC
FABRIC (England) is a strategic dance development organisation with sites in Birmingham and Nottingham. FABRIC’s vision is to inspire people through dance, transforming lives, communities and places.  FABRIC seeks to engender curiosity, positively disrupt and create joy throughout all its programmes. 

Anita Clark, Director at The Work Room
The Work Room (Glasgow, Scotland) is an artist-led organisation, committed to supporting a sustainable environment for independent artists working in dance in Scotland. 

Slava Gepner, Artistic Director at TanzFaktur
TanzFaktur (Cologne, Germany) is an independent arts venue promoting contemporary dance, theatre and dance film. They work at a local, national and international level bringing the best of these disciplines to local audiences.

Francis Christeller, Programme Manager at Goethe-Institut London
The Goethe-Institut (Germany and worldwide) is the cultural institute of Germany with a global reach. They promote the German language abroad and foster international cultural cooperation.


Dance in Greenland: Development, Activism and Self-determination

Thursday 15th February
14:00 – 15:00, Vega scene

ABOUT THE SEMINAR

  • How does the development of an independent dance arena in Greenland support the concepts of self -determination and nation building?
  • How the dance arena in Greenland sees itself and its development as a place where dance thrives?
  • How do dancers and performers that are connected to Greenland contribute to this development through activism?

Abstract for Keynote:
As a dancer and cultural activist, a dancer within the African Diaspora, I live within the Indigenous Inuit community, and I see dance and culture through a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural lens. My lived experience is dance through an intercultural, multi- ethnic and diversified perspective.  

Both within the African diaspora and Greenland’s Inuit cultures, there exists similarities of historical oppression, loss of culture, loss of self-determination. But there is the other side of the coin, wherein the two communities celebrate and share a consciousness and understanding that, the art of storytelling is a means to celebrate and protect own culture. These challenges and tragedies can, and are used as the catalyst for expression, as we create our arena, tell our stories, and support our own self-determination within dance. 

The keynote seeks to describe and create touchstones, to broaden the knowledge of for non- Greenlanders about the development, needs and criteria, for creating and sustaining Greenland’s dance arena.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Ruth Montgomery-Andersen is originally from the United States, from a multi – cultural background she lives and works in Greenland, she is a dancer of the African Diaspora, choreographer, activist and researcher within dance, and empowerment. With a doctorate in public health (medical anthropology) she is a nationally respected researcher and cultural activist. She is a multifaceted professional that focuses on a holistic approach to use of art, culture, and cultural awareness. Montgomery-Andersen’s strives to continue to create synergy and collective experiences by using the arts and culture to support cultural awareness and experienced quality of life. She is now the project manager for NuQi – Nunatta Qiteqatigiittarfiat, Greenland’s first dance center, that includes the creation of programming of a dance arena for children/young people and a professional dance forum.

Danjel Andersson, director at Dansehallerne in Copenhagen is a theater scientist, (SU) Critic, writer, (SvD, DN, etc.) editor, (Whistles & Cries), Dramaturge, (Stockholm City Theater, etc.), festival organizer (Perfect Performance, TUPP), theater director (MDT) and DJ. Danjel won the Stockholm Honorary Award 2017 for Performing Arts.

Sarah Aviaja Hammeken was born in Copenhagen, with Danish and Greenlandic roots. She is the choreographer and artistic director of AVIAJA Dance. She graduated from The Ballet Academy in Stockholm and debuted as a choreographer with her first full evening performance From Ice To Steam, in 2016. Sarah Aviaja premiered her latest work SILA at The National Theatre of Greenland in January 2023, followed by a Danish premiere at Dansekapellet in Copenhagen. In June 2023 she was selected to participate in the Emerging Artists & Producers Programme at CPH Stage.
Her production SILA will be presented at Ice Hot February 14th at Den Norske Opera & Ballett.

Sirí Paulsen (GL/DK) is a Greenlandic Inuk and Danish freelance researcher, teacher, director, sound designer and producer. Sirí holds a BA from the University of Wyoming and an MA in Theatre & Performance Studies from Copenhagen University and is currently connected to the cultural centre Nord-Atlantens Brygge in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Ayesha Jordan is a multidisciplinary performer and creator based in Oslo, Norway. Her fields of Interest is applied permaculture studies, regenerative community/ecosystem formation and adaptation, event curation. Her work explores the intersection of these areas with performance art, examining how they can inform and be integrated into performance methodologies.


FRIDAY 16th

Perform Europe – Find partners, reimagine touring & apply for our Open Call

Friday 16th February
09:00 – 10:00, Vega scene

ABOUT THE SEMINAR

Perform Europe is back – the European funding scheme which wants to reimagine how we tour and collaborate. The call for applications is open until 31 March 2024

Perform Europe will support sustainable, inclusive, balanced and innovative touring of performing arts works in the Creative Europe countries

This info session will offer Ice Hot participants an opportunity to learn about the planned activities and the Perform Europe Open Call, which will grant € 2,1 million to a minimum of 35 touring partnerships. The new Perform Europe Matchmaking Tool and the Perform EuropeToolkit will also be introduced. Members of the Perform Europe consortium will lead the session and beneficiaries of the previous addition of Perform Europe (2020 – 2022) will share insights from their experience with the program. 

This session is intended for both those who are already planning a Perform Europe partnership application as well as those who have not yet started that process but are interested to know more.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Facilitated by:
Eva Broberg
Network manager of European Dance Development Network

Ása Richardsdótttir
Secretary General, IETM Belgium

With contributions from:
Anikó Rácz
Artistic director SÍN Arts Centre Budapest Hungary

Gintare Masteikaite
Director Lithuanian Dance Information Centre / New Baltic Dance Vilnius, Lithuania

Kamma Siegumfeldt
International projects and administration, Helsingør Teater / PASSAGE Festival, Helsingør, Denmark


Accessibility in the Nordic Dance Field: Status – Challenges – Concrete actions

Friday 16th February
12:15 – 13:15
, Vega scene

ABOUT THE SEMINAR

In this informative seminar we reflect on accessibility in the dance field from a Norwegian point of view with Scandinavian and European perspectives. What do recent published research reports on the topic tell us? How can we concretely act on this?

We will introduce: The latest research, Artists, and Networks
The aim is to inspire and give specific tools on how to work with accessibility on stage and for the audience, both performances for both children and adults.

Europe Beyond Access is the largest trans-national disabled art program. It consist of seven main partners:
British Council (GB & PL); Onassis Stegi (GR); Holland Dance festival (NL); Kampnagel (DE); Per.Art (SR); Skånes Dansteater (SE) og Oriente Occidente (IT).

ABOUT THE PANEL

Stine Nilsen is Artisitic Director and CEO of CODA Oslo International Dance Festival. She studied at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Movement and Dance, London, and worked as a freelance dancer before joining Candoco Dance Company, taking over as co-director between 2007-2017.
Nilsen is the moderator, and will highlight the key question: Accessibility on stage and for the audience: Deaf, disabled, and neurodiverse artists and audiences.

Kaja Jorem is a Senior Advisor at Arts Council Norway and works as National coordinator for diversity in arts within the council. She was the leader of Interkultur and worked with culture and business for the last 15 years.

Saskia Wieringa is the Artistic producer at Dansens Hus Oslo, from 2004. She is head of programming for children and youth and in charge of the project «Stor kunst for små barn» (Great art for small children). From 2024 the project continues as «Stor kunst for ALLE små barn» (Great art for All small children). Wieringa holds an MA in Arts/Dance from the University of Utrecht, Netherlands.

Sebastian Tjørstad is an actor, comedian and dancer, and has toured with Den Kulturelle Skolesekken (a national program for arts in education), both with dance performances and stand-up musical shows. As an activist he aims to make arts in Norway more accessible for artists and audiences with disabilities. He passionately tears down barriers to create a more inclusive arts scene.

Mira Helenius Martinsson is Artistic Director and CEO of Skånes Dansteater (SE). She is a former dancer, teacher, producer, coordinator, and was head of dance at Norrdans and Dans Västernorrland at Scenkonst Västernorrland. Skånes Dansteater leads the Europe Beyond Access network.


Choreographing Climate Justice

Friday 16th February
15:30 – 16:30
, Vega scene

ABOUT THE SEMINAR

In 2023, Rosendal International Theatre in Trondheim worked with Norway-based climate justice organization Klimakultur to develop and publish a Creative Climate Justice guide for the Norwegian Performing Arts field. The work coincided with Rosendal Theatre’s own organizational work on what it means for a performing arts organization to take more responsibility for nature and the climate. 

This session will introduce the guide and hold space for a conversation around what it can mean to choreograph climate justice.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The seminar is lead by Alexander Roberts, artistic director of Rosendal International Theatre


SATURDAY 17th

The Central Periphery: Possibilities and opportunities at the edge

Saturday 17th February
10:30 – 11:30
, Vega scene

ABOUT THE SEMINAR

Elle Sofe Company has the pleasure of guiding you through this seminar of The Central Periphery. Invited guests are asked to share their valuable experience of creating art in the periphery, working, and living at the edge of society. 

As challenges of distance, costs and cultural differences may prevent citizens of larger cities to reach out for collaborations, the artists of the periphery are seeking each other, finding new pathways of collaborations and networks. There are vast opportunities in this, and we would like to invite you to an insight into the possibilities that open when seeking new collaborations outside of the central routes. 

Hailing from Gouvdageaidnu, a village of 3000 inhabitants, Elle Sofe Company has reached out, creating groundbreaking work that makes a difference. Look to the north, the west and east – where the central peripheries are.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Maiken Garder is CEO and producer at Elle Sofe Company, based in Hammerfest, Sápmi Nothern Norway. Garder focuses on the strength and potential  of art from the periphery, outside the cities. Powerful arts is made where people live and breathe, and reflects their lives. GArder has extensive experience from the performing arts scene, and has held several workshops, lectures and artistic talks.

Jørgen Knudsen has degrees in chemical engineering, history of arts and theatre. He is currently the Artistic Director and CEO of Black Box teater in Oslo.
He’s main artistic work is related to the art collective Baktruppen (1986-2011), and as a composer within several genres, mostly in theatre and dance, both in Norway and abroad. Currently he is most active in the Norwegian-Polish duet Nor_Pol. Their last album is Construction (2020). From 2012-2015 he worked as director for the festival DanseFestival Barents in Hammerfest, Norway, and from 2015-2021 he was the performing arts consultant and senior advisor at Arts Council Norway.

Gunn Hernes is from Norway but lives on the Faroe Islands and is the director of the Nordic House in Torshavn. She covers multiple artistic fields, and the arts centre focuses on local and Nordic collaborations. She has worked in public service and as project manager in perfroming arts and music, based in Bergen, Norway, and Reykjavik, Iceland. She works for the local perspective in the green transformation.

Liv Aira lives in Sweden, and works as a dancer and choreographer, reflecting on the Sápmi heritage in her arts. She is the founder and director of Invisible People Contemporary Dance Company, touring with the dance and joik performance Ájttega and the performance Akti Lij for children. She started Låvda – Sápmi manuscript and indigenous people festival Skájdde in Storforsen nature reserve, housing 20 000 people a year. She is currently working on the first Sápmi dance centre in the world, located in Jokkmokk, Northern Sweden. She holds a BA in dance, and an MA in choreography from the Institute of the Arts, Barcelona.

Yelena Arakelow hails from Switzerland, and is based in Reykjavik, Iceland from 2015. She holds a BA in dance practice from Iceland University of Arts. Her multi-disciplinary work on bodily excistence and expectations in dance has been shown across Iceland and Europe. She supports and invests her time in new local dance artists, and dream of a better scene for new emerging dance in Reykjavik.

The reasoning for creating the The North Atlantic Islands Dance Network (NAI) initiative is to connect professional dance artists living in North Atlantic islands. The goal is to create a network for sharing of resources and supporting innovative initiatives. The network was established by and for freelance dance artist on the Faroe islands, Greenland, and Iceland, with a special focus on emerging artists