VAP at CODA 2025
In October 2025, CODA Oslo International Dance Festival welcomed a group of international artists to Oslo as part of the Visiting Artist Programme (VAP).
Over four vibrant days, the visiting artists took part in The DEN – Dance Expo Norway, a professional platform curated by CODA in collaboration with Dansens Hus, Bærum Kulturhus and Black Box Teater, with support from Performing Arts Hub Norway (PAHN).
The programme brought together Norwegian and international dance professionals for seminars, studio showings, pitches, performances and networking, offering a rich meeting point for artistic exchange and dialogue.
Exploring Norwegian dance and international collaboration
The programme opened on Wednesday 15 October at Bærum Kulturhus with an introduction to Norwegian touring networks and international collaborations. The artists were introduced to initiatives such as Dansenett Norge, Showbox, Europe Beyond Access and the Norwegian-Italian residency programme, followed by a light dinner and mingling session that set the tone for the days ahead.
The evening continued with performances at Studio NPS: Good morning, Sindre by Jean-Baptiste Baele / Nabinam Dance Company and Øy by Janne Eraker and Kristoffer Lislegaard, giving the visiting artists an early insight into the variety and vitality of the Norwegian dance scene.
Thursday offered a packed schedule with pitching sessions at Dansens Hus and studio showings at Black Box Teater, presenting new work by established and emerging choreographers. The day concluded with two festival highlights: AIR BODY SAD by Malik Nashad Sharpe / Norrdans and the world premiere of Psychedelic Cave by Mia Habib Productions.
On Friday, the focus turned to sustainability and international touring through a seminar hosted at Sentralen in collaboration with Europe Beyond Access and TekstLab, before the artists attended evening performances including Trailer Park by Moritz Ostruschnjak / tanzmainz at The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, and a double bill with Infinétude by Alma Söderberg and Taranto Aleatorio by María del Mar Suárez / La Chachi at Black Box Teater.
The final day, Saturday 18 October, offered the group the choice between site-specific outdoor work Sandflukt by Ingri Fiksdal and Jonas Corell Petersen at Bjønndalen Bruk, or MIKE by Dana Michel at Astrup Fearnley Museet, followed by Burn Time by André Uerba at Sentralen and Karaodance by Collectif ÈS at Dansens Hus, closing the experience on a note of energy, playfulness and community.
A space for meeting and reflection
Throughout the week, the VAP artists engaged in meaningful encounters with Norwegian peers, programmers and institutions. The programme provided a valuable opportunity to experience the diversity of Norwegian contemporary dance, while exchanging ideas on mobility, accessibility and sustainability across borders.
The CODA team was proud to host this VAP encounter and to see how the programme fostered new connections and perspectives that will continue to resonate beyond the festival.
Participating artists and supporting partner organisations:
Soili Huhtakallio (Zodiak – Centre of New Dance, Finland)
Anton Ovchinnikov (Lithuanian Dance Information Centre, Lithuania)
Michiel Vandevelde (December Dance, Belgium)
Maurícia Barreira Neves (Festival Dias da Dança, Portugal)