Dance Ecosystem

The dance ecosystem is composed by diverse actors such as artists, producers, intermediaries, local and transnational infrastructures embedded in the institutional and cultural framework.

Dancehouses are considered as a key elements of such ecosystem, since they connects artistic work and development to the wider context.

Houses for dance?

As relevant as Houses in other disciplines, the Dancehouses are a cornerstone of the dance ecosystem as they cater for specific needs.

Dancehouses are essential to the practice and support of dance as an art form; in the same way that structures such as Opera Houses, Theatre Houses and Concert Halls exist to cater for the specific needs of their art forms.

Dancehouses are built for the unambiguous, unmistakable purpose of dance, with the specific infrastructure required for an institution to support dance in all of its many aspects.

Many dancehouses have been created over preexisting buildings: convents, factories, industrial sites… They have been developed recycling architectures and redefining the identity of spaces. In the case of new buildings, the relationship between architecture, needs and contents leads inevitably to explore the subject of sustainability.

Between artists and the sector

Dance artists are extremely mobile and in a very precarious (social and financial) situation. There is an extraordinary financial and logisticalundertaking to make work, supported by dancehouses who help to give structure to as many artists as possible within their limited resources. The constant pressure to be "permanently inventive" goes for artists as well as for the houses.

By providing a specific place for artists to work, create, meet and present their work, dancehouses connect them to the wider dance (and performing arts) sector - being festivals, institutions, theaters, multidisciplinary centers, etc.

A sustainable ecosystem

Know-how shared beyond the dancehouses

While focused primarily on the dancehouses, EDN supports the development of the sector and is building relationships within and beyond Europe.

By working on strengthening professional practice, EDN aims to foster and deepen the members’, and more generally the dance sector’s relevance and visibility in the European cultural landscape. EDN focuses on the issue of developing a sustainable ecosystem for contemporary dance in the European context. The role of artists, dance institutions and policy bodies in securing this ecosystem will also be addressed.

By sharing expertise and knowledge held within the dancehouses, EDN is a gateway to the wider dance sector. From this unique position, EDN collects data and researches to help the development of the sector further.

Resources linked to the dancehouses, their role in the sector and the wider performing arts are gathered in this section.