Municipal Theatre selects delegation of artists to represent Portugal at German dance biennial

DGARTES, Teatro Municipal do Porto and O Espaço do Tempo are joining forces for Portugal's first participation in Germany's leading contemporary dance biennial.

The first Portuguese participation in this year's edition of Internationale Tanzmesse nrw, the most important event dedicated to contemporary dance, which takes place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 28 to 31 August, is being organised by DGARTES, with Teatro Municipal do Porto and O Espaço do Tempo. The Portuguese delegation includes 20 artists working from Portugal.

Ana Isabel Castro, Bartosz Ostrowski, Bernardo Chatillon, Bibi Dória, BRABA platform / Ary Zara & Gaya de Medeiros, Bruno Brandolino, Catarina Miranda, Daniel Matos, Diana Niepce, Gio Lourenço, Gonçalo Alegria, João dos Santos Martins, Joãozinho da Costa, Jonas & Lander, Luísa Saraiva, Natacha Campos, Odete, Tita Maravilha, Vânia Doutel Vaz and Wura Moraes make up the Portuguese participation in this year's edition of the Internationale Tanzmesse nrw, consisting of exhibition spaces, performances, talks, debates and workshops.

Tanzmesse aims to promote international cooperation and contact between artists and professionals in the sector, involving more than 50 countries and a total of 1,500 exhibitors and visitors. The exhibition area is now the focal point of the initiative, where companies, artists, institutions and organisations present themselves through stalls and stands to promote their work and increase their contact network, as will be the case with the Portuguese representation, with its own stand.

'Anda, Diana', by Diana Niepce, and 'La Burla', by Bruno Brandolino & Bibi Dória, are part of the programme. These performances will take place on 30 August at tanzhaus nrw and Fabrik Heeder, respectively. This programme is made up of 19 performances, selected by Tanzmesse's curatorial committee by means of an open call, to be presented on stage, outdoors or online.

Also included in the programme there are Open Studios, where artists present an excerpt of a work still under construction or already being presented, with time for questions from the audience. On 31 August, Vânia Doutel Vaz will participate with the 'The Elephant in the Middle of the Room' project, also selected by the event's curatorial committee.

The result of an international cooperation agreement between DGARTES and the Internationale Tanzmesse nrw, this first Portuguese presence in the event, given its relevance, size and diversity, is a unique opportunity to showcase national productions and mobilise Portuguese dance artists and works, while also promoting the development of partnerships and collaborative movements between the various participating delegations and artists.