Dear audience, dear dance enthusiasts,

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 10th International Dance Theater Festival Erfurt — an anniversary that not only celebrates the tenth edition of our festival but also looks back on eighteen years of artistic encounters, cultural exchange, and international networking in our Thuringian capital. What began in 2008 as a visionary idea has evolved into a staple of contemporary dance, cultural exchange, and international engagement in our cultural landscape. At the same time, with this anniversary edition, we are looking ahead: to shaping the dance culture of tomorrow together and to the vision of developing our future festival venue — the KulturQuartier Schauspielhaus — into a supraregional hub for dance art, dance education and cultural participation.

Ten festival editions signify continuity, but also change. Contemporary dance thrives on constantly reinventing itself, addressing societal developments, and opening up unfamiliar perspectives. We have been committed to this mission since our founding. For us, it is not merely about presenting outstanding artistic works, but equally about creating spaces for dialogue and further development.
This year’s festival is entirely centered around the letter “X.” As a symbol of our tenth edition, it also refers to our festival motto, “x-change”—exchange, encounter, and mutual inspiration. With the goal of fostering lasting partnerships through international guest performances, we create space for new collaborations and projects that extend far beyond the festival period. In the spirit of this dialogue, we view guest performances not as one-time events, but as a starting point for a vibrant, reciprocal culture of invitation.

This idea of exchange is reflected in the diverse program of our anniversary edition. It brings together international guest performances, the internationally open dance competition “contact.energy”, the large-scale children’s and youth production “The Nutcracker”, and a new panel discussion on careers in dance. An inclusive dance project, an exhibition at Haus Dacheröden, workshops and events in public spaces showcase the full spectrum of contemporary dance art. With “Bolero City”, we’re leaving traditional stages behind and bringing dance directly to the people of our city. A tribute to David Bowie, a flamenco evening, the guest performances “Hedera” and “Shocking” and the accompanying film program in cooperation with Kinoklub Erfurt round out the festival’s offerings.

I would like to extend my special thanks to all our sponsors, partners, artists, the festival team and the many volunteers. Without your trust, passion, and dedication, the ten editions of the Erfurt International Dance Theater Festival would not have been possible.
I look forward to an inspiring festival together with you and wish us all unforgettable dance experiences!

Michael Krause
Festival Director