Keðja is an informal, international network of dance organisations. Together we aim to create open meeting places for those working in dance. Keðja facilitates events that gather individuals from dance communities to meet, share and learn together and empowers dance professionals to connect and collaborate.
The word “keðja” is the Icelandic (and Old Norse) word for chain and is highly associated with the old Nordic chain dances that are still being danced. The name symbolizes that the aim of the project is to connect, attach, encircle and move outwards as well as to strengthen the already existing chains/networks.
Partner Organisations
Key Objectives
Create and facilitate opportunities for dance professionals and organisations to meet and network
Enable sharing of knowledge, ideas and experience
Build capacity across the network
Empower dance professionals and organisations at a grass-roots level
Strengthen and develop the professional dance community
Create and facilitate opportunities for dance professionals and organisations to meet and network
Key Activities
International Events
Organizing larger international encounters (Stretch) that gather dance professionals from all partner countries.
Transnational Events
Facilitating smaller inter-/transnational events serving multiple objectives.
Knowledge Sharing
Creating platforms for sharing experiences and best practices across the network.
Our History
keðja 2012-2015
A platform for the Nordic-Baltic contemporary dance community, focused on developing the concept and possibilities for contemporary dance in the Nordic-Baltic region through encounters, mentoring relationships, Reading Dance Labs, Think Tanks, and Wilderness residencies.
Key Achievements:
- Largest meeting platform for dance artists, educators, producers, scholars, and academics
- Activities in 8 countries involving more than 1,500 dance professionals
- Three major Encounters: Tallinn (2012), Klaipeda (2013), Mariehamn (2014)
- Wilderness Dance residencies in 10 locations
- Mentoring schemes for managers and producers
- Writing Movement labs and publishing initiatives
