With a strengthened dance art in mind
A cultural life with both breadth and depth is a cornerstone for an attractive Norrbotten. But such a cultural life can only be achieved if the cultural creators here have good conditions and opportunities to work. The Dansutveckling Norrbotten project investigates what is required to develop the art of dance in the county. – The entire chain must be strengthened, says Rebecka Strand, dance consultant at Region Norrbotten.
There is a large and growing interest in dance in Norrbotten. More and more organizers want to buy dance performances. Interest in living and working as a dancer in the region is increasing. In this way, there is potential in dance as an art form in the county. But there are also difficulties that mean that there are very few professional dancers and choreographers in Norrbotten.
Within the framework of the three-year project Dansutveckling Norrbotten, a survey of needs and conditions has now been carried out.
– There are certain parts that have emerged as extra challenging, such as access to premises adapted for dance. Then there are not that many employers for dance, so everyone has to work as a freelancer. It is also difficult to tour in Norrbotten, with our long distances. Today, much of the coordination around a tour lies with the individual dance artist. Producers are needed who can relieve both dancers and buyers of performances, says Rebecka Strand, who works at the Norrbotten Region's cultural unit as a dance consultant.
Rebecka Strand works to promote dance in Norrbotten.
In addition to this, several dance education programs have been closed in Norrbotten in recent years. In the long term, this may affect regrowth. All these difficulties have the effect that dance productions from Norrbotten are rarely seen in other parts of Sweden. This creates an image that you cannot work with dance here.
– More dance performances produced in Norrbotten must be given the opportunity to tour. We must also go out to the rest of Sweden to show that it is possible and that dance art exists here, says Rebecka Strand.
The three-year project is funded by the Swedish Arts Council and Region Norrbotten and aims to have more professional dancers and choreographers live and work here. The dialogue with dancers, organizers and other stakeholders is of great importance - the efforts must hit the right note and make a difference. Since the dance map in Norrbotten has changed a lot in the last fifteen years, the project is also an opportunity to develop how Region Norrbotten works to promote dance.
Interviews are an important part of mapping
The project is now ending its first year. The project leaders from Danscentrum Norr, Marie Andersson and Karolina Kowalska, have interviewed, among other things, people active in the region, dancers who have chosen to leave the county, dance teachers, cultural institutions, the municipalities' cultural coordinators and young dancers. Now that the obstacles have been identified, work on interventions has begun.
– We have started a compilation of venues. It will also be published on the web where dance professionals can find information about booking. Some venues will be available for rent at a subsidized price. We have also started a course in producer coaching in collaboration with the Dance Initiative.
Marie Andersson (left) and Karolina Kowalska are project managers for Dance Development Norrbotten.
In a few years, Rebecka hopes that things will look brighter for dance in Norrbotten.
– Then I hope that it will be easier to tour with dance and that more dance performances can be created. That the whole chain will be strengthened, that the chain will be connected. And also that young dancers will have the opportunity to see more people who work with dance. And of course I hope that there will be more people who stay here or move here and work with dance.
“Norrbotten is inspiring”
From the many interviews conducted, it has also emerged that Norrbotten also has advantages that could be developed to make the county more interesting for dancers and choreographers.
– Dance artists feel that Norrbotten has a strong community. It is easy to make contact and build relationships. We actually have very nice venues that can be used for dance that are empty for large parts of the year, where coordination is needed. Many state in the interviews that Norrbotten as a region is inspiring. There are some who have moved here, some who return and some who stay. Norrbotten's nature is an inspiration for the artistic work. It is also very attractive, says Rebecka Strand.
Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa
FACTS: Dance development in Norrbotten
Dance Development Norrbotten is a three-year regional development project run by the dance consultant at Region Norrbotten in collaboration with Danscentrum Norr. The project is funded by the Swedish Arts Council and Region Norrbotten.
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