During the winter of 2024 and the spring season of 2025, the Regional Dance Center of Ostrobothnia, in collaboration with Danscentrum Norr and Dans i Västerbotten, will organize residency exchanges between Umeå/Västerbotten and Vaasa/Ostrobothnia.
The networking collaboration, Nordic regional (net)working, launched in the autumn of 2022, brings together dance professionals from three dance organizations sharing a similar regional landscape in the field of professional dance. The Regional Dance Center of Ostrobothnia, Danscentrum Norr, and Dans i Västerbotten aim for artist-driven collaboration between countries through work exchanges, residency activities, skills development, joint projects, and production of works.
Through an open call, dance artists residing in Finland applied for residency periods in Umeå/Västerbotten, while dance artists residing in Sweden applied for residency periods in Vaasa/Ostrobothnia. Residencies could be applied for individually or as a duo. Rehearsal and performance spaces were determined in dialogue with the selected residency artists.
Through the Nordic regional (net)working network, Marit-Shirin Carolasdotter from Umeå will work in Vaasa (11/2024 & 3/2025), as will the Rauhala sisters Kajza and Anna from Skellefteå (3/2025). The Regional Dance Center in Ostrobothnia will provide a residency space that includes rehearsal space at Wasa Teater. Traveling to Umeå from the Regional Dance Center of Ostrobothnia to work will be Janne Aspvik and Markku Essel (11/2024) as well as Kati Raatikainen and Elina Hauta-aho (3/2025).
The residency exchange is funded by Svenska Kulturfonden, the Sweden-Finland Cultural Foundation, Umeå municipality, Dans i Västerbotten, the Regional Dance Center in Ostrobothnia, Dans i Västerbotten, and Danscentrum Norr.
During the Ostrobothnia Dances event, produced by the Regional Dance Center in Ostrobothnia from March 12–15, 2025, workshop and networking days for dance professionals will be organized, with network members from Västerbotten in Sweden participating. All residency artists will meet at the Ostrobothnia Dances event.
Photos: Elina Hauta-aho, Kati Raatikainen, Hector Palacios, Catherine-Maria Chapel, Kevin Pollard, Anna & Kajza Rauhala