Projects
Moving With Time
The "Moving With Time: Stories of Dance Makers" project brings together dance makers of all ages and backgrounds. At its core is the idea of storytelling as a way to strengthen the sense of community among dance professionals and foster intergenerational dialogue. In this way, the project helps envision the possibilities of a desirable future for the dance field.
In 2026 and 2027, eight events will be held in Finland, Sweden, and Norway, each featuring interviews with three different Nordic dance professionals. The themes of the stories revolve around the challenges and experiences of success encountered at different stages of life and career. These personal stories paint a picture of the development of the dance field over the past decades. The events are open to everyone and free of charge, and they will be documented.
Moving With Time – Stories of Dance Makers events are organized as part of the partners’ program.
In collaboration with:
STHLM DANS Festival
Jojo – Oulu Dance Center
Zodiak – Center for New Dance
Dansens Hus, Oslo
CODA Festival
Dansens Hus, Stockholm
Project funded by:
The Retrospective Gestures
“The Retrospective Gestures” is the Ars Navitas project, which brings the history of dance to life through various projects. It is based on a proposal by the steering group of Virve Sutinen’s SKR writing project regarding what kinds of retrospective reviews, events, and performances should be made possible, what form they would take at different stages of an artist’s career, and what funding and collaboration models are needed to implement them.
In collaboration with other actors in the field, the project aims to develop ways to make the history of dance and its embodied heritage visible to the public. It brings together dance artists, researchers, curators, audiences, and dance communities and organizations to develop new practices for documenting and archiving the intangible and tangible history of dance.
The Retrospective Gestures project is advised by experts in dance, audience engagement, advocacy, and communication: dance historian Tiina Suhonen, PhD, and Adjunct Professor Kaija Kaitavuori; expert Paula Tuovinen; and graphic and concept design professional Mika Aalto-Setälä.
Writing project
Virve Sutinen’s writing project documents and publishes artists’ experiences of retrospective work and its significance. While retrospectives are common in the visual arts, they are rare in contemporary dance. Only a few choreographers have the opportunity to revisit earlier works or maintain a repertoire. To audiences, contemporary dance—which is tied to the present moment—often appears ahistorical. Through retrospective work, dance creators pass on practices and knowledge to new generations. By highlighting key figures and works from recent history, we can foster an understanding of dance tradition and increase its visibility and accessibility. For the artist, the opportunity to reflect on their own history, works, and career also raises the question of what constitutes an artist’s legacy and how it is archived.
The Ars Navitas website will feature interviews with artists about their retrospective work and its significance for their artistic practice and career development. In addition, these pages feature examples of various ways and methods to highlight past work and its artistic significance.
The purpose of this writing project is to lay the groundwork for the Retrospective Gestures project. This process is guided by a group of professionals in the field. The steering group includes Sanna Rekola, Executive Director of Ars Navitas; Mikael Aaltonen, Program Manager at Tanssin talo; curator Satu Herrala; Ari Tenhula, Executive Director of Zodiak – Center for New Dance; and Raija-Liisa Seilo, M.A. The steering group will make a proposal regarding the types of funding and collaboration models needed to implement retrospective reviews, events, and performances.
Project funded by:
