For the Tanzquartier Wien, modul-dance represents a logical continuation of its cooperation policy on a European level. Since way back in 2005-2008 the Tanzquartier Wien has led the project IDEE – Initiatives in Dance through European Exchange, and the resulting experience of exchanges, mutual information, and cooperation were crucial to our active participation in this even bigger project and taking a leading and financially important position within it. In fact, one of the most positive experiences was, in spite of the significant differences existing between the participating dancehouses, their (financial) situation and their structural possibilities, to quickly construct a common foundation based on trust. And the annual selection of artists also became more and more professionalized, to the extent that in the end such a wide range of artists and ideas were proposed that we regretfully could no longer promote, co-produce or present them all – so we had to have a selection process. And with fifty-two artists and concepts selected, four-and-a-half years was almost not enough!
One tinge of regret remains, however: the far too short duration of the project. Now that all means and modes of cooperation have been established, that we respectfully trust each others’ artistic proposals, that the communication channels are mature – the project comes to an end. We have got to know so many new artistic characters, seen so much interesting work – and have received an important and deep insight into the artistic scenes of other countries and their aesthetics; we have got to know new subject and talent that we would not have otherwise known; we are in contact with dancehouses and countries that will be important to us for future collaborations and further projects. We will keep in touch! So thanks for the numerous contacts and discussions, for the exciting artistic works and insights into the dance and political scenes in sixteen European countries. How else can contemporary dance develop, if not like this?
203_Insights_By Walter Heun
That said, we are extremely grateful that through the support of modul-dance and cooperation with our dancehouse partners we have been able to make new productions by Anne Juren, An Kaler and The Loose Collective a possibility and that these three artists or collectives have been able to show their pieces throughout Europe, to introduce themselves both to our colleagues and organisers, and in front of new audiences, and to significantly expand their career paths together in Europe. And, equally, that the Tanzquartier Wien has been able to host such interesting guest artists as Tânia Carvalho, Fabrice Lambert, Jefta van Dinther, Alessandro Sciarroni, Julia Cima, Eugénie Rebetez, Arno Schuitemaker, Cie. Chatha, Sofia Dias & Vítor Roriz, Gunilla Heilborn, Hooman Sharifi, David Wampach, Leja Jurišić, Agata Maszkiewicz and Maud Le Pladec, with a variety of formats, or modules. We presented sixteen pieces – either in Hall G or in the Studios. And we were able to send nine artists from Austria to a partner dance house for a week, to work on their pieces and receive a major impetus for their artistic development. A great success!