CROWD – international dance exchange is a collaborative network of dance organisations supporting dance makers who engage with communities as part of their practice. TaikaBox has been part of the CROWD network since its inception, hosting residencies in Varjakka in 2021, 22 and 23.
There will be no artist exchange during 2024, as the CROWD partners review the previous programme and develop future activities.
Taking place across Finland, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK from July – October 2023, the CROWD international dance exchange residency programme supported 10 dance artists to explore and develop their practice and understanding of community-engaged dance.
About the CROWD 2023 dance artists:
Marie Hallager Andersen is a Danish performance artist, filmmaker and researcher whose work spans filmmaking and collaboration with artists and academics. Marie will be on residency with Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir at Bora Bora (Denmark) and Dansverkstæðið (Iceland).
Natalia Barua is an award-winning dance artist and choreographer working predominantly in videodance, interdisciplinary performance and participation. Natalia will be on residency with Anni Puuperä at TaikaBox (Finland) and The Work Room (Scotland).
Shaq George was born and raised on Curaçao, at the age of 18 he came to the Netherlands to pursue a career as a professional dancer and is now based in Rotterdam. Shaq will be on residency with Bakani Pick-Up at FABRIC (England) and Dansateliers (the Netherlands).
Chelsea Gordon is a neurodivergent movement artist who is interested in people, the process of decision-making and the expression of identity through movement. Chelsea will be on residency with Hubert Mielke at TanzFaktur (Germany) and FABRIC (England).
Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir is a dancer and choreographer based in Reykjavík, Iceland. Five years ago she became fascinated by menopause and is now on a mission to travel internationally with her work “When the Bleeding Stops”, invite local menopausal women to the stage and take part in changing the narrative on menopause. Lovísa will be on residency with Marie Hallager Andersen at Bora Bora (Denmark) and Dansverkstæðið (Iceland).
Hubert Mielke is a choreographer and dancer from both Poland and Germany. His approach to choreography involves using movement as a means to explore concepts related to time, collective emergence and discordance. Hubert will be on residency with Chelsea Gordon at TanzFaktur (Germany) and FABRIC (England).
Jacqueline Neuenhausen is an urban dancer, performer and choreographer, inspired by different movement techniques and interested in the identity-forming character of dance. Jacqueline will be on residency with Dylan Quinn at Pottporus (Germany) and Dance Limerick (Ireland).
Bakani Pick-Up is a Choreographer, Movement Artist & Improvisation Practitioner. As well as creating their own work they have performed nationally and internationally works by Theo Clinkard, Anthea Hamilton & Fevered Sleep. Bakani will be on residency with Shaq George at FABRIC (England) and Dansateliers (the Netherlands).
Anni Puuperä is a Helsinki-based freelancer dance artist, inspired by collaborative practices and creating art in dialogue. Anni will be on residency with Natalia Barua at TaikaBox (Finland) and The Work Room (Scotland).
Dylan Quinn is an Irish border based choreographer, dance artist, movement director and facilitator, with a specific focus on creating work from his social, political and cultural context. Dylan will be on residency with Jacqueline Neuenhausen at Pottporus (Germany) and Dance Limerick (Ireland).
CROWD international dance exchange was initiated by the Goethe-Institut in 2021 to forge connections between some of the leading dance institutions across Europe, explore and share practice within community-engaged dance and provide a platform for exchange and development for dance artists. It is funded by the Goethe-Institut, Arts Council England, NRW KULTURsekretariat, Nordisk Kulturfond and Creative Scotland.
Since the first residency programme in 2021, the programme has previously supported 16 artists and continued to raise its ambition to explore, develop and share community-engaged dance.
Regular updates and insight into the artists and their residencies will be shared via the crowd.dance website.
The artists who will be working in Varjakka in July, and then in Edinburgh and Glasgow in September
