Panel (Un)apologetic Bodies

The keynote and panel aims to bring together speakers from different dance professions to share perspectives on non-normative bodies in dance under a normative gaze. What kind of minorities does that create? How can they maintain power and take up space within the stronghold of a mainstream dance aesthetic? How can they work and create without apologies? How can the sector become better at their role as ally, in supporting non-normative bodies to tell their stories?

Panelists: Sindri Runudde (SE) | Saša Asentić /Per.Art & Tanzerei Berlin (CS| DE) | Brian Solomon/electric moose (CA) | Yanel Barbeito/Unusual Symptoms (ES/CU/DE)

Moderation: Stine Nilsen (NO) / CODA Oslo International Dance Festival

Sindri Runudde

Sindri Runudde is a Swedish and internationally based choreographer and dancer. Sindri's
work spans between different fields that include sound art, visual art and performance. Sindri works from a queer feminist perspective and from lived experience. Since having a visual impairment they are involved nationally and internationally in the disabled/crip dance community. Sindris approach and artistry is unique through the ability to connect deep existential themes to pop-culture and accessible concepts in a very successful way.

Saša Asentić /Per.Art & Tanzerei Berlin

Yugoslavian-Born choreographer, performance maker and cultural worker Saša Asentić has started working in the independent scene in Serbia. Since 2007, his work has been presented internationally. After being a victim of homophobic and xenophobic violence, and fundamentally disagreeing with the corruption in the public sector in Serbia, and right-wing renaissance, he moved to Germany in 2011. He works in the field of contemporary dance, performance and disability arts. He is the co-founder of the inclusive dance companies Per.Art and Tanzerei Berlin.

Brian Solomon/electric moose

Brian Solomon is of Anishinaabe and Irish heritage, born in the remote community of Shebahonaning, located in the Manitoulin district of Northern Ontario, Canada. As a creator his work is multidisciplinary, raw, challenging and present. He has created a community work with over 40 interpreters, solos in trees, and animated installations of landfill. He has taught his practice in numerous shelters, friendship centres, dance and theatre companies and in universities. Brian Solomon is passionate about helping people relearn about their forgotten bodies, and take back the space those bodies occupy.

Stine Nilsen/CODA Oslo International Dance Festival

Stine Nilsen received her First Class BA Dance Theatre from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Movement and Dance in London, and an MA from Middlesex University. She worked as a freelance dancer and teacher in London, joining Candoco Dance Company as Artistic Co-Director 2007-2017. As Artistic Co-Director she was responsible for the artistic vision and commissioning of new works that were pushing the boundaries of dance and who can dance. In 2017 Stine Nilsen took over as CEO and Artistic Director of CODA Oslo International Dance Festival, one of the largest contemporary dance festival in the Nordic countries.