Scan Magazine | Festival Profile | CODA Oslo International Dance Festival
Unknown pleasures by CCN – Ballet de Lorraine (FR). Photo: Arno Paul
Dance improvisation on the roof of the Opera House. Photo: Elisabeth de Lange
A festival bursting with movement This year’s summer festivals have come and gone, and you may already be longing for next year. But the wait does not have to be that long – just come along to CODA Oslo International Dance Festival this autumn.
explores the complexity of womanhood, a theme she has magically transformed into a choreographed dance,” de Lange continues.
By Idha Toft Valeur
When the founders of CODA, Lise Nordal and Odd Johan Fritzøe, began to dream about creating a festival all about dance in the heart of Norway, it was with a vision of strengthening Norwegian dance. The goal was to put the spotlight on Oslo and Norway as an international arena for contemporary dance. The CODA festival was soon born, and they held their first festival in 2002. They arranged annual festivals until 2005, when CODA became a biennial event. Nordal was appointed as artistic and administrative director in 2006 and, since 2010, she has been the CEO and artistic director. From here, she has kept the dream and vision of creating a diverse festival for contemporary dance alive. But this year will be the festival’s last under Nordal’s directorship alongside Eckhard Thiemann – associate artistic curator of CODA 2017. This autumn, CODA invites you to extend the months of festival fun as they open the doors to their 11th festival, taking place on 17-28 October. 24 | Issue 103 | August 2017
A programme for everyone The desire to create an international dance festival in Oslo has become a great success. The festival boasts numerous venues across Oslo with varied events for dancers and audiences of all ages. CODA hosts performances, workshops and seminars throughout the 12 days and, to create a dance-inspired melting pot, the festival has invited contributors from all over the world to display a variety of influences and visions. “Among other events, we are excited to invite visitors into the universe of the performance Unknown pleasures by CCN – Ballet de Lorraine, where five choreographers have been invited to share their distinctive creative styles, but their identities will be held anonymously to create a show full of surprises,” Elisabeth de Lange, head of marketing, smiles. “We are also excited to have Rocío Molina join us with her innovative use of the traditional flamenco dance. Moreover, I’m looking forward to Ingun Bjørnsgaard’s premiere of Notes on Frailty, where she
If none of the above tickles your fancy and you prefer spontaneous experiences of different kinds, come along to the roof of Oslo Opera House, where dance students and professionals will perform improvised dancing on both Saturdays of the festival. A beautiful view of the Oslo fjord will provide the backdrop. Dance your way to Dansens Hus Norway and the many venues this October. Join in on the fun and be inspired by all the different dance moves – spontaneous or not. Notes on Frailty by Ingun Bjørnsgaard Prosjekt (NO). Photo: Thomas Bjørk
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