NRW meets… International Dance #1: Take it on tour – Productive networks for international distribution

11 February 2026 | 13.00 h CET

Inputs: Panzetti & Ticconi (artist duo / Aerowaves Artists 2019), Katja Sonnemann (producer and presenter), Stefan Schwarz (program director, tanzhaus nrw)

Moderators: Anna-Mareen Henke, Kerstin Rosemann

International collaboration has been a prerequisite for visibility and artistic development in dance for a long time. This is precisely where the nrw landesbuero tanz 2026 comes in with two digital formats: “NRW meets... international dance” and “Talk & Connect – International Dance Dialogue.” Both series are part of internationales tanzmeeting as a platform for sustainable dialogue and exchange.

The initial session of “NRW meets... international dance” focused on international distribution and sustainable production methods: How can artistic work be made visible sustainably across national borders? Which strategies really work – and where do they encounter structural limitations? It quickly became clear that touring creates reach. But visibility alone is not enough. It requires strategic planning, resilient partnerships, and a realistic understanding of the respective production conditions. 

Three experts – three perspectives

The artist duo Panzetti & Ticconi emphasized the importance of platforms such as Aerowaves – not only as opportunities for presentation, but also as spaces for sustainable exchange. These platforms facilitate contacts that extend beyond a single performance. Producer and facilitator Katja Sonnemann drew attention to peer-to-peer structures and relationship management. In her view, international cooperation is not a sure-fire success. It requires care, time, and resources – and an awareness of different political and financial realities. Stefan Schwarz, programme director at tanzhaus nrw, explained that funding cuts affect not only artists but the entire infrastructure – from production houses to performance venues. This makes it all the more important to strengthen existing networks, involve regional festivals, and strategically expand collaborations.

Strategic networking as a response to structural challenges

These different perspectives make it clear that sustainability in dance means not only ecological awareness, but also structural foresight. Developing existing productions further instead of constantly initiating new projects pools resources and deepens artistic processes.

What stays in mind? International work thrives on reliable, long-term relationships — between artists, production structures, and organisers. It requires curiosity, openness, and a willingness to listen. To a certain extent, this is also what the digital meeting series aims to achieve: a continuous space for resonance in a field that is more dependent than ever on exchange.