The 1st International Congress on Dance for Children and Youth was held in Granada from July 5 to 7.
The event featured performances by the companies ak entrepôt, de Stilte, and Company Chameleon.
In addition, attendees were able to enjoy drama workshops with Mijke Harmsen, dance workshops with Jack Timmermans, and a family workshop led by Sanja Tropp Frühwald.
The celebration of the 1st Dance Congress arises from the need expressed by ASSITEJ Spain among different artists, companies and collectives to structure an international network that allows for exchange and research on dance for children and youth.
When we at ASSITEJ Spain had to redefine the lines of action for the years 2018-2020, it was necessary to focus on dance. We could not have started in a better way. At ASSITEJ we are fully convinced of the need to work together, both nationally and internationally, and we are sure that participating in the creation of the Young Dance Network will allow for greater development and knowledge of the situation of dance for children and youth both inside and outside our country.
When we received the information that an International Network was being established
of Dance for Children and Youth (Young Dance Network), the interest of ASSITEJ Spain was immediate and they were offered the necessary support to help with its establishment and development.
One of the needs raised by the network, through Omar Meza, was a forum for meeting and discussion, and we immediately enlisted the support of the Granada International Music and Dance Festival, which offered to host the event.
The 1st Congress on Dance for Children and Youth was born with the firm commitment to continuity and to establish itself as the leading international forum for dance for children and young people. The congress is scheduled to be held every two years to capture and serve as an international showcase for the work carried out throughout the year by ASSITEJ Spain, seeking to strengthen and unite the dance sector for children and young people in our country.
It was born from the will of different dance professionals from around the world and chose to celebrate the 1st International Dance for Children
and Youth organized by ASSITEJ Spain as a key point to establish its foundations and officially establish itself as the ASSITEJ International Network in 2020 during the Japan Congress. Thus, during the three days of the Congress, they met to define their structures and objectives.
The meeting served as the definitive embodiment of the project to integrate a dance network within the framework of ASSITEJ International, with its own unique identity and identity. The Congress held in Granada facilitated this gathering by providing the necessary space, coverage, and attendance for its meetings, as well as the dissemination of its work and lines of work.
In addition to the meetings and activities of the International Dance Network, meetings were scheduled with Congress registrants to present their project and invite all dance professionals gathered there to join this initiative. This resulted in a rich exchange of views and ideas for continued progress.
PRESENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DANCE NETWORK
The presentation of the International Dance Network was led by Omar Meza, Gabi dan Droste, and Alfredo Zinola, from ASSITEJ Spain and Germany (and representatives of the Young Dance Network).
Forming an international dance network for children and youth is essential for the exchange and circulation of information,
Since it promotes cooperative work rather than individual work, this approach will strengthen and professionalize the sector, generate new experiences and exchanges, and raise new questions and issues that expand all boundaries, both physical and conceptual. In this way, new professionals will begin to research in this direction, giving rise to new and interesting forms of development in the performing arts for children and young people. Through this session, as an introduction to the Network for attendees, a call was made to all professionals interested in the field of dance for young audiences to attend the event.
During the event, representatives of the Network encouraged all participants to introduce themselves and share their ideas with the goal of promoting and giving visibility to dance for children and young people around the world.
The welcome event was attended by Eulàlia Ribera, President of ASSITEJ-Spain; Louis Valente, Secretary General of Assitej International; and Ana Díaz, representative of FEX, the extension of the Granada International Music and Dance Festival, which hosts the Congress.
