Regaining a sense of belonging
Dancing Beyond Form - Butoh Workshop
A Journey of Body, Voice and Landscape: Open to Everyone 18+, All Body Forms and Movement Capacities
This Japanese dance theatre voice training, led by internationally renowned Butoh artists Shinichi and Dana Iova-Koga, and newcomer musicians from South Tyrol, in the Italian northern mountains invites you to explore your ever-evolving body expressions, where movement, sound, culture, and space interact with each other directly through dance, theater, sound, and the deep connection between the land and its people, shaping how we perceive and interact with our surroundings.
Italy
Regional
South Tyrol, Italy
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Prototype level
No
No
As an individual
An inclusive Japanese dance theatre training rooted in Butoh, designed to foster resilience, adaptability, and a sense of belonging. Combining movement, voice, and connection to nature, it offers a space for self-expression, collaboration, and cultural exploration. The project invites young adults (18+) from South Tyrol and beyond, with a focus on newcomers and emerging musicians (-30) from the region.
BUTOH
Butoh, a Japanese dance theatre, arose post-WWII as a "Dance of Darkness," responding to the war. Far from negative, Butoh focuses on emotions, acceptance, and cultivating a benevolent relationship with oneself, others, and nature. It creates a space where people of all genders, ages, and cultural backgrounds meet as equals, fostering kindness and understanding. By exploring cultural and social histories and environments, participants use internal or external impulses to create movement, sound and new forms of expression.
VISION
The project envisions an annual dance theatre training in South Tyrol, focusing on young adults from the region while welcoming participants globally. Through movement, music, and nature, it explores belonging within a diverse community and South Tyrol’s wilderness, free from digital devices. Newcomer musicians collaborate with participants, creating a synergy between sound and movement. Workshops are held in culturally, historically, or agriculturally significant locations, engaging local experts to reflect on the region’s heritage. Each project culminates in a final performance and exhibition hosted by social and cultural stakeholders in South Tyrol.
PILOT
August 2024, the pilot brought together 10 participants aged 20 to 87 from Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Held at BASIS Vinschgau Venosta, a former caserne turned social hub, the workshop reflected on "Waal Wege," a UNESCO-listed irrigation system.Music, designed by the organizer and realized by Nik Herold, included a jam session using water instruments.
BUTOH
Butoh, a Japanese dance theatre, arose post-WWII as a "Dance of Darkness," responding to the war. Far from negative, Butoh focuses on emotions, acceptance, and cultivating a benevolent relationship with oneself, others, and nature. It creates a space where people of all genders, ages, and cultural backgrounds meet as equals, fostering kindness and understanding. By exploring cultural and social histories and environments, participants use internal or external impulses to create movement, sound and new forms of expression.
VISION
The project envisions an annual dance theatre training in South Tyrol, focusing on young adults from the region while welcoming participants globally. Through movement, music, and nature, it explores belonging within a diverse community and South Tyrol’s wilderness, free from digital devices. Newcomer musicians collaborate with participants, creating a synergy between sound and movement. Workshops are held in culturally, historically, or agriculturally significant locations, engaging local experts to reflect on the region’s heritage. Each project culminates in a final performance and exhibition hosted by social and cultural stakeholders in South Tyrol.
PILOT
August 2024, the pilot brought together 10 participants aged 20 to 87 from Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Held at BASIS Vinschgau Venosta, a former caserne turned social hub, the workshop reflected on "Waal Wege," a UNESCO-listed irrigation system.Music, designed by the organizer and realized by Nik Herold, included a jam session using water instruments.
Butoh
Embodied Experiences
Connection
Landscapes
Presence
THE COST-COVERING FUNDING MODEL includes various pricing categories. Travel costs can be reduced through travel grants, and future funding strategies from foundations or public funding sources could further lower participation fees.
Participants are encouraged to use SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL options to minimize the event’s carbon footprint. The 2025 event requires a one-hour hike to the final location, emphasizing a direct and mindful engagement with nature while avoiding motorized transport.
The project collaborates with „lokall“, a SOLIDARITY-BASED VEGETABLE DELIVERY SERVICE in Bozen-Bolzano, which emerged to address pandemic-related needs. Seasonal and regional vegetables are sourced directly from farmers without plastic, reducing waste and promoting sustainable, local agriculture.
DAILY MEALS ARE PREPARED COLLECTIVELY, fostering community bonds while reducing food waste. Composting onsite ensures organic waste is handled sustainably.
LOCAL ARTISTS AND EXPERTS ARE KEY COLLABORATORS, integrating their knowledge of South Tyrol’s cultural and natural heritage into the project. This strengthens connections to the region while reducing the need for external resources, creating a sustainable, locally rooted framework.
Costumes for individual ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS are made from recycled, donated materials. The instruments are directly sourced from the water, found objects to which we give a new function, and our own bodies.
Butoh invites participants to CONNECT WITH NATURE FROM A NONHUMAN PERSPECTIVE. By exploring the idea of "being" a path, portal, or creature, participants cultivate empathy for natural systems. This intercultural and artistic exploration raises awareness of how contexts and environments shape worldviews, paradigms, and ecosystems.
The project offers a model of how art can foster ecological responsibility, community engagement, and a deep connection to nature and promote lasting behavioral change.
Participants are encouraged to use SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL options to minimize the event’s carbon footprint. The 2025 event requires a one-hour hike to the final location, emphasizing a direct and mindful engagement with nature while avoiding motorized transport.
The project collaborates with „lokall“, a SOLIDARITY-BASED VEGETABLE DELIVERY SERVICE in Bozen-Bolzano, which emerged to address pandemic-related needs. Seasonal and regional vegetables are sourced directly from farmers without plastic, reducing waste and promoting sustainable, local agriculture.
DAILY MEALS ARE PREPARED COLLECTIVELY, fostering community bonds while reducing food waste. Composting onsite ensures organic waste is handled sustainably.
LOCAL ARTISTS AND EXPERTS ARE KEY COLLABORATORS, integrating their knowledge of South Tyrol’s cultural and natural heritage into the project. This strengthens connections to the region while reducing the need for external resources, creating a sustainable, locally rooted framework.
Costumes for individual ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS are made from recycled, donated materials. The instruments are directly sourced from the water, found objects to which we give a new function, and our own bodies.
Butoh invites participants to CONNECT WITH NATURE FROM A NONHUMAN PERSPECTIVE. By exploring the idea of "being" a path, portal, or creature, participants cultivate empathy for natural systems. This intercultural and artistic exploration raises awareness of how contexts and environments shape worldviews, paradigms, and ecosystems.
The project offers a model of how art can foster ecological responsibility, community engagement, and a deep connection to nature and promote lasting behavioral change.
It harnesses the power of dance, sound, and storytelling to reactivate the cultural, social, and natural qualities of South Tyrol. This initiative creates unique and meaningful experiences for participants and the broader community fostering a deep awareness of the region’s heritage while embracing contemporary practices that reflect the area's diversity and aesthetic richness.
At the core of this project is Butoh which emphasizes a connection to both self and environment. Participants engage with the physical and emotional qualities of the land through mindful movement, emotional expression, and creative exploration, contributing to physical and mental well-being. The workshops encourage participants to explore their artistic sides—often forgotten or intimidating to access—by creating movement and music collectively. Through this, individuals rediscover trust and empowerment within themselves and as a group.
The project facilitates social interactions among participants from diverse cultural, linguistic, and generational backgrounds, promoting openness and mutual care. By collaborating on activities such as sound creation, shared meals, and final performances, participants reimagine their relationships with one another, their surroundings, and the nonhuman world. Utilizing local spaces like cultural hubs and historical sites adds depth to the experience, allowing participants to co-create within meaningful contexts that highlight the interplay between tradition and transformation.
The project's inclusive and participatory nature integrates new cultural and social values, encouraging participants to reflect on their lifestyles and communities. This fosters a broader understanding of “us” encompassing both human and nonhuman perspectives. By combining artistic practices with communal experiences, the project aspires to generate lasting impact, creating a platform for personal and collective transformation that anticipates and inspires future cultural+social shifts
At the core of this project is Butoh which emphasizes a connection to both self and environment. Participants engage with the physical and emotional qualities of the land through mindful movement, emotional expression, and creative exploration, contributing to physical and mental well-being. The workshops encourage participants to explore their artistic sides—often forgotten or intimidating to access—by creating movement and music collectively. Through this, individuals rediscover trust and empowerment within themselves and as a group.
The project facilitates social interactions among participants from diverse cultural, linguistic, and generational backgrounds, promoting openness and mutual care. By collaborating on activities such as sound creation, shared meals, and final performances, participants reimagine their relationships with one another, their surroundings, and the nonhuman world. Utilizing local spaces like cultural hubs and historical sites adds depth to the experience, allowing participants to co-create within meaningful contexts that highlight the interplay between tradition and transformation.
The project's inclusive and participatory nature integrates new cultural and social values, encouraging participants to reflect on their lifestyles and communities. This fosters a broader understanding of “us” encompassing both human and nonhuman perspectives. By combining artistic practices with communal experiences, the project aspires to generate lasting impact, creating a platform for personal and collective transformation that anticipates and inspires future cultural+social shifts
TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF COLLECTIVE CREATIVITY.
BUTOH IS A MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE open to everyone, regardless of body form, movement capacity, or experience level. It creates a space where beginners and professionals inspire and learn from one another. Professionals share their expertise, while beginners bring intuitive, unshaped movements that spark creativity and experimentation. Similarly, participants in the music element are supported based on their individual strengths. The workshop provides tools and techniques for movement and sound but encourages everyone to explore and express themselves freely.
THE PROJECT FOSTERS MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS by bringing together participants from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and ages. Through this diversity, participants learn to overcome preconceived limitations shaped by inner voices, external judgments, and societal norms. By engaging with others from different walks of life, they unbox mental constraints, embrace the unfamiliar, and discover the beauty and insightfulness of the unknown.
WORKSHOPS LIKE THIS COST AROUND 900 EUROS, making them accessible only to a privileged few. This project, however, strives to break down those barriers, making Butoh and its enriching techniques available to everyone, regardless of financial status or social background. Past participants have included a cleaning man from Ecuador, a construction worker from Vienna, and a Kenyan individual recognized by Vogue America as one of the 100 most influential personalities in 2019.
TO ENSURE THE PROJECT’S SUSTAINABILITY and longevity, additional financial support is essential. Funding would enable the continued exchange of traditional Japanese knowledge, contemporary dance and music techniques, and South Tyrol's cultural heritage. By fostering a strong sense of community and togetherness among participants from South Tyrol and around the world, the project creates a platform for shared learning, transformation, and inclusivity.
BUTOH IS A MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE open to everyone, regardless of body form, movement capacity, or experience level. It creates a space where beginners and professionals inspire and learn from one another. Professionals share their expertise, while beginners bring intuitive, unshaped movements that spark creativity and experimentation. Similarly, participants in the music element are supported based on their individual strengths. The workshop provides tools and techniques for movement and sound but encourages everyone to explore and express themselves freely.
THE PROJECT FOSTERS MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS by bringing together participants from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and ages. Through this diversity, participants learn to overcome preconceived limitations shaped by inner voices, external judgments, and societal norms. By engaging with others from different walks of life, they unbox mental constraints, embrace the unfamiliar, and discover the beauty and insightfulness of the unknown.
WORKSHOPS LIKE THIS COST AROUND 900 EUROS, making them accessible only to a privileged few. This project, however, strives to break down those barriers, making Butoh and its enriching techniques available to everyone, regardless of financial status or social background. Past participants have included a cleaning man from Ecuador, a construction worker from Vienna, and a Kenyan individual recognized by Vogue America as one of the 100 most influential personalities in 2019.
TO ENSURE THE PROJECT’S SUSTAINABILITY and longevity, additional financial support is essential. Funding would enable the continued exchange of traditional Japanese knowledge, contemporary dance and music techniques, and South Tyrol's cultural heritage. By fostering a strong sense of community and togetherness among participants from South Tyrol and around the world, the project creates a platform for shared learning, transformation, and inclusivity.
After speaking to to Basis, AFZACK and Deutsches Landesamt für Kultur the project will concentrate especially on young adults from South Tyrol and their relationship South Tyrol. Working in an intercultural and interdisciplinary setting, participants explore themes of belonging, collaboration, and creative expression. A workshop I held in January 2025 supported by Erasmus+, revealed significant interest from young South Tyrolians in Butoh and contemporary dance techniques as tools to explore identity and connection. Building on this foundation the project creates a globally inclusive environment while strengthening ties within South Tyrol.
South Tyrol, a region shaped by mountains and valleys, faces limited exchange between its communities due to historical, linguistic, and infrastructural factors. The project bridges these divides by uniting people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, fostering mutual understanding and trust. It also provides opportunities for South Tyrolean university students—many of whom leave the region—to reconnect with their home through a globally relevant initiative.
The workshop's outcomes are shared with the public through exhibitions and performances in cultural and social venues such as BASIS Vinschgau Venosta. These events allow citizens to engage with the creative processes and results.
Public involvement expands the project’s impact, encouraging dialogue among diverse stakeholders and showcasing the transformative potential of art and culture.
By offering an annual space for reflection, the project enables South Tyrolians to address pressing needs and challenges tied to the region’s growth and transformation. Themes such as rural-urban dynamics, cultural heritage, and societal change are explored through the body’s direct and present expression. Collaboration with stakeholders from fields such as culture, education, social work, and research sparks rich dialogue and contributes to South Tyrol’s regional development.
South Tyrol, a region shaped by mountains and valleys, faces limited exchange between its communities due to historical, linguistic, and infrastructural factors. The project bridges these divides by uniting people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, fostering mutual understanding and trust. It also provides opportunities for South Tyrolean university students—many of whom leave the region—to reconnect with their home through a globally relevant initiative.
The workshop's outcomes are shared with the public through exhibitions and performances in cultural and social venues such as BASIS Vinschgau Venosta. These events allow citizens to engage with the creative processes and results.
Public involvement expands the project’s impact, encouraging dialogue among diverse stakeholders and showcasing the transformative potential of art and culture.
By offering an annual space for reflection, the project enables South Tyrolians to address pressing needs and challenges tied to the region’s growth and transformation. Themes such as rural-urban dynamics, cultural heritage, and societal change are explored through the body’s direct and present expression. Collaboration with stakeholders from fields such as culture, education, social work, and research sparks rich dialogue and contributes to South Tyrol’s regional development.
Butoh artists from Japan and the USA bring expertise that blends traditional practices, such as kung fu, with contemporary influences from artists like Anna Halprin. Their involvement connects South Tyrol to a global artistic community. The global perspective introduces innovative approaches to body expression, fostering dialogue between traditional & contemporary techniques.
Emerging South Tyrolean artists, including musicians, & videographers, contribute fresh perspectives.
The project facilitates partnerships among key regional organizations:
BASIS Vinschgau Venosta (founded 2019) hosted the pilot project in 2024, supporting its realization, assisting with funding applications & providing an exhibition space.
UNIBZ Art Faculty (founded 2002) refined & challenged the concept, ensuring a thoughtful approach.
Museion Contemporary Art Museum offered exhibition space for the final performance and video installation, expanding cultural reach.
AFZACK (founded 2012) is hosting the 2025 event and providing exhibition space, anchoring the project in the local community.
Collaboration among stakeholders creates a platform for exchange and interdisciplinary innovation. By uniting organizations focused on creativity, development, and community growth, the project amplifies cultural initiatives. Each stakeholder benefits by expanding networks, fostering dialogue, and reaching broader audiences.
It invites young South Tyroleans to participate alongside international artists, nurturing belonging while positioning the region in a global cultural context. Public exhibitions and performances engage the community, sparking dialogue on themes such as belonging, identity, and cultural heritage.
Strengthening South Tyrol’s cultural landscape, addresses rural-urban dynamics, and provides a sustainable framework for collaboration, reflection, and growth. It lays the foundation for future initiatives, bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering a strong sense of communit
Emerging South Tyrolean artists, including musicians, & videographers, contribute fresh perspectives.
The project facilitates partnerships among key regional organizations:
BASIS Vinschgau Venosta (founded 2019) hosted the pilot project in 2024, supporting its realization, assisting with funding applications & providing an exhibition space.
UNIBZ Art Faculty (founded 2002) refined & challenged the concept, ensuring a thoughtful approach.
Museion Contemporary Art Museum offered exhibition space for the final performance and video installation, expanding cultural reach.
AFZACK (founded 2012) is hosting the 2025 event and providing exhibition space, anchoring the project in the local community.
Collaboration among stakeholders creates a platform for exchange and interdisciplinary innovation. By uniting organizations focused on creativity, development, and community growth, the project amplifies cultural initiatives. Each stakeholder benefits by expanding networks, fostering dialogue, and reaching broader audiences.
It invites young South Tyroleans to participate alongside international artists, nurturing belonging while positioning the region in a global cultural context. Public exhibitions and performances engage the community, sparking dialogue on themes such as belonging, identity, and cultural heritage.
Strengthening South Tyrol’s cultural landscape, addresses rural-urban dynamics, and provides a sustainable framework for collaboration, reflection, and growth. It lays the foundation for future initiatives, bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering a strong sense of communit
Butoh embodies a collage of diverse disciplines. Its foundation includes Japanese martial arts, meditation practices, qi gong, and Daoist internal arts,kong fu, while also drawing from influences like Argentine tango, Beatles, clowning, physical theater, and even striptease, how early Butoh artists financed their careers. Often rooted in dancing within nature, Butoh is inherently interdisciplinary and deeply connected to context and environment.
Multiple fields to explore the relationship between body, sound, land, and community. Body expressions are expanded through voice and sound, while the land’s history and its influence on human connections are examined with the guidance of regional experts. Including musicians, visual artists, and local historians who share insights into South Tyrol’s cultural and ecological heritage, enriching the creative process with a strong sense of place.
Horizontally, participants, emerging artists, and peers collaborate in a shared space, learning from each other’s experiences. Vertically, the project connects individuals operating at different scales—local, regional, and global—by involving international Butoh artists, South Tyrolean musicians and designers, and institutions like BASIS and Museion. This multilevel engagement ensures that global practices shape local contexts and local insights contribute to global dialogues.
The convergence of diverse knowledge creates a dynamic environment which explores how global techniques like Butoh interact with local landscapes and community traditions. This process fosters a deeper understanding of how global issues, such as cultural preservation and ecological awareness, manifest on a local scale—and vice versa. By integrating movement, sound, storytelling, and community-building, DANCING BEYOND FORM becomes a platform for shared learning and reflection. It demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration bridges scales and fields, inspiring both personal and collective transformation.
Multiple fields to explore the relationship between body, sound, land, and community. Body expressions are expanded through voice and sound, while the land’s history and its influence on human connections are examined with the guidance of regional experts. Including musicians, visual artists, and local historians who share insights into South Tyrol’s cultural and ecological heritage, enriching the creative process with a strong sense of place.
Horizontally, participants, emerging artists, and peers collaborate in a shared space, learning from each other’s experiences. Vertically, the project connects individuals operating at different scales—local, regional, and global—by involving international Butoh artists, South Tyrolean musicians and designers, and institutions like BASIS and Museion. This multilevel engagement ensures that global practices shape local contexts and local insights contribute to global dialogues.
The convergence of diverse knowledge creates a dynamic environment which explores how global techniques like Butoh interact with local landscapes and community traditions. This process fosters a deeper understanding of how global issues, such as cultural preservation and ecological awareness, manifest on a local scale—and vice versa. By integrating movement, sound, storytelling, and community-building, DANCING BEYOND FORM becomes a platform for shared learning and reflection. It demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration bridges scales and fields, inspiring both personal and collective transformation.
After discussions with BASIS, Museion, and UNIBZ, it became clear that the August 2024 "Dancing Beyond Form" project was the first of its kind in South Tyrol. Its holistic approach combines dance, sound, community sharing (such as communal meal preparation), and a diverse participant group, culminating in a final open performance and a public exhibition. The exhibition bridged the creative process with public engagement, sparking curiosity and dialogue. The project stands out by integrating movement, music, and storytelling with communal living and collaboration, creating a transformative experience. Unlike mainstream practices, which often cater exclusively to professionals, this project is inclusive, welcoming participants of all body forms, movement capacities, and backgrounds. It offers a participatory framework that redefines accessibility and inclusion in the arts.
Additionally, "Dancing Beyond Form" provides South Tyrol with an annual research space to reflect on challenges and needs during its transformation. Using the body as a tool for expression, the project explores themes such as belonging, cultural identity, and ecological awareness in a direct and impactful way.
The project’s interdisciplinary collaboration brings together stakeholders from social, cultural, educational, and research fields, fostering exchange across sectors. This approach enriches the creative process and ensures that the final performances and exhibitions are both artful and socially relevant.
By connecting local and global perspectives—rooted in South Tyrol’s unique cultural landscape while involving internationally renowned Butoh artists—the project creates a dialogue between tradition and contemporary practice. "Dancing Beyond Form" is a transformative platform that combines creativity, research, and community-building, offering a new paradigm for how art engages with society to inspire reflection and lasting impact.
Additionally, "Dancing Beyond Form" provides South Tyrol with an annual research space to reflect on challenges and needs during its transformation. Using the body as a tool for expression, the project explores themes such as belonging, cultural identity, and ecological awareness in a direct and impactful way.
The project’s interdisciplinary collaboration brings together stakeholders from social, cultural, educational, and research fields, fostering exchange across sectors. This approach enriches the creative process and ensures that the final performances and exhibitions are both artful and socially relevant.
By connecting local and global perspectives—rooted in South Tyrol’s unique cultural landscape while involving internationally renowned Butoh artists—the project creates a dialogue between tradition and contemporary practice. "Dancing Beyond Form" is a transformative platform that combines creativity, research, and community-building, offering a new paradigm for how art engages with society to inspire reflection and lasting impact.
The "Dancing Beyond Form" methodology is rooted in inclusivity, interdisciplinarity, and embodied exploration. The project combines artistic practices, communal participation, and cultural reflection to create a holistic personal and collective transformation framework.
Key elements of the methodology include:
Japanese Dance Theatre Training: Rooted in Butoh, participants explore movement and body expression, connecting emotions to their environment.
Vocal Coaching: Participants develop their voice as an extension of their body, creating an integrated relationship between movement and sound.
Shared Sound Creation: Through collaborative sessions, participants experiment with sound, using their voices and materials to craft unique sonic expressions. This idea originated from my wish to make jam sessions accessible to non-musicians, with very simple upcycled, partially self-invented instruments based on water and got developed through Nik Herold and Paul Kofler, and technical equipment from BASIS Vinschgau towards a complex recording system, where 6 microphones where able to be played on with instruments simultaneously and recorded.
Regional Experts: Local musicians, visual artists, and historians contribute their knowledge, enriching the creative process with insights into South Tyrol’s cultural and ecological heritage.
Final Performance: Participants showcase their journey in an open performance, offering a space for self-expression and public engagement.
Final Exhibition: The creative outcomes are presented in a public exhibition, fostering dialogue between participants and the wider community.
Key elements of the methodology include:
Japanese Dance Theatre Training: Rooted in Butoh, participants explore movement and body expression, connecting emotions to their environment.
Vocal Coaching: Participants develop their voice as an extension of their body, creating an integrated relationship between movement and sound.
Shared Sound Creation: Through collaborative sessions, participants experiment with sound, using their voices and materials to craft unique sonic expressions. This idea originated from my wish to make jam sessions accessible to non-musicians, with very simple upcycled, partially self-invented instruments based on water and got developed through Nik Herold and Paul Kofler, and technical equipment from BASIS Vinschgau towards a complex recording system, where 6 microphones where able to be played on with instruments simultaneously and recorded.
Regional Experts: Local musicians, visual artists, and historians contribute their knowledge, enriching the creative process with insights into South Tyrol’s cultural and ecological heritage.
Final Performance: Participants showcase their journey in an open performance, offering a space for self-expression and public engagement.
Final Exhibition: The creative outcomes are presented in a public exhibition, fostering dialogue between participants and the wider community.
The entire concept of "Dancing Beyond Form" is adaptable and can be replicated in various locations and contexts. Key transferable elements include:
Methodology: The combination of movement, sound exploration, and shared communal practices can be implemented anywhere.
Processes:Activities like collaborative meal preparation, shared sound creation, and final performances/exhibitions can be tailored to local contexts.
Learnings: The focus on inclusivity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and connection to local culture can be applied to other groups and communities.
The primary challenge lies in identifying skilled trainers or training new facilitators to guide participants effectively through the process. This model might also be a cross-divisional model that can be connected to other cultural practices, workshop models, and dance-performative styles.
Methodology: The combination of movement, sound exploration, and shared communal practices can be implemented anywhere.
Processes:Activities like collaborative meal preparation, shared sound creation, and final performances/exhibitions can be tailored to local contexts.
Learnings: The focus on inclusivity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and connection to local culture can be applied to other groups and communities.
The primary challenge lies in identifying skilled trainers or training new facilitators to guide participants effectively through the process. This model might also be a cross-divisional model that can be connected to other cultural practices, workshop models, and dance-performative styles.
"Dancing Beyond Form" addresses several global challenges by providing innovative, community-centered solutions rooted in South Tyrol’s unique context:
Globalization and Fear of the Unknown: The project fosters intercultural exchange by bringing together participants from diverse cultural backgrounds and generations. By encouraging dialogue and collaboration through art, it builds empathy and reduces fear of unfamiliar perspectives.
Generational Conflicts and Communication Barriers: The project creates a shared space for participants of all ages to collaborate, fostering mutual understanding and breaking down generational stereotypes through collective creative processes.
Urban Exodus of Educated Youth: By offering young South Tyroleans opportunities to engage in globally relevant, creative practices within their home region, the project encourages them to stay connected to their roots while contributing to local cultural growth.
Systemic Inequality: The inclusive nature of the project ensures access to participants of all body forms, movement capacities, and social backgrounds, addressing systemic barriers to participation in cultural activities.
Alienation from Nature: Through Butoh and site-specific practices, the project reconnects participants with nature by fostering a non-anthropocentric perspective. The body becomes a medium to explore and appreciate the natural environment, countering the alienation caused by anthropocentric thinking.
By addressing these global challenges through local engagement, "Dancing Beyond Form" offers scalable solutions that can inspire similar initiatives worldwide.
Globalization and Fear of the Unknown: The project fosters intercultural exchange by bringing together participants from diverse cultural backgrounds and generations. By encouraging dialogue and collaboration through art, it builds empathy and reduces fear of unfamiliar perspectives.
Generational Conflicts and Communication Barriers: The project creates a shared space for participants of all ages to collaborate, fostering mutual understanding and breaking down generational stereotypes through collective creative processes.
Urban Exodus of Educated Youth: By offering young South Tyroleans opportunities to engage in globally relevant, creative practices within their home region, the project encourages them to stay connected to their roots while contributing to local cultural growth.
Systemic Inequality: The inclusive nature of the project ensures access to participants of all body forms, movement capacities, and social backgrounds, addressing systemic barriers to participation in cultural activities.
Alienation from Nature: Through Butoh and site-specific practices, the project reconnects participants with nature by fostering a non-anthropocentric perspective. The body becomes a medium to explore and appreciate the natural environment, countering the alienation caused by anthropocentric thinking.
By addressing these global challenges through local engagement, "Dancing Beyond Form" offers scalable solutions that can inspire similar initiatives worldwide.
The following two projects, planned for 2025 & 2026, explore further how this initiative can be implemented in South Tyrol in a socially & sustainably impactful way.
AUGUST 2025
To make this annual dance event more sustainable and impactful for the region, the 2025 project will focus on young adults from South Tyrol, it remains open to participants from around the world. AFZACK will host the event at the Pforzheimer Hütte, a cultural and self-catering hut with over 200 years of history. Vocal coach and newcomer artist Martina Effy, will support the program, and Julia Indersen, a Zelig Film School graduate, will document the process. It will be exhibited in Basis, Museion & AFZACK.
AUGUST 2026
The 2026 project will be hosted by SMACH, a public art project and biennial open-air exhibition that combines art and nature to promote awareness of the historical, cultural, and traditional aspects of South Tyrol. Music will be led by Verena Mur, who focuses on intercultural networking and creating new soundscapes. Participants will collaborate on a shared musical journey, exchanging songs and ideas from different countries and cultures, fostering understanding and creativity.
FUTURE RESEARCH INTERESTS
A key focus is to deepen dance and music research with young people in South Tyrol. To continue fostering the community of South Tyrolians who participated in previous workshops, deepen their knowledge, and build on the exchanges from the one-week intensive program to create their own work. The focus is moving from learning and copying to creating as a collective.
Future plans include collaborating with neuroscience experts, such as Tessa Höhn, a climate neurotechnologies researcher who studies brain behavior and body movement, and Saskia Weller, a neuroscientist who studies Alzheimer’s and the impact of movement. These collaborations would explore the therapeutic potential of dance and music, advancing research in the intersection of art, science, and mental health.
AUGUST 2025
To make this annual dance event more sustainable and impactful for the region, the 2025 project will focus on young adults from South Tyrol, it remains open to participants from around the world. AFZACK will host the event at the Pforzheimer Hütte, a cultural and self-catering hut with over 200 years of history. Vocal coach and newcomer artist Martina Effy, will support the program, and Julia Indersen, a Zelig Film School graduate, will document the process. It will be exhibited in Basis, Museion & AFZACK.
AUGUST 2026
The 2026 project will be hosted by SMACH, a public art project and biennial open-air exhibition that combines art and nature to promote awareness of the historical, cultural, and traditional aspects of South Tyrol. Music will be led by Verena Mur, who focuses on intercultural networking and creating new soundscapes. Participants will collaborate on a shared musical journey, exchanging songs and ideas from different countries and cultures, fostering understanding and creativity.
FUTURE RESEARCH INTERESTS
A key focus is to deepen dance and music research with young people in South Tyrol. To continue fostering the community of South Tyrolians who participated in previous workshops, deepen their knowledge, and build on the exchanges from the one-week intensive program to create their own work. The focus is moving from learning and copying to creating as a collective.
Future plans include collaborating with neuroscience experts, such as Tessa Höhn, a climate neurotechnologies researcher who studies brain behavior and body movement, and Saskia Weller, a neuroscientist who studies Alzheimer’s and the impact of movement. These collaborations would explore the therapeutic potential of dance and music, advancing research in the intersection of art, science, and mental health.
