Jones the Dance is delighted to announce that it will once again be the UK partner of the European project International Contemporary Dance Collective / iCoDaCo for the 2024-2027 edition, with the support from Arts Council of Wales and Wales Arts International.
The Welsh dance company will form a collective of Wales based, Welsh and Deaf dance artists to join nine other European collectives in one of the most expansive and innovative dance projects, which will see the creation of the world’s first open-source digital platform for contemporary dance. iCoDaCo was originally initiated by Swedish dance company ilDance in 2012 with this its fifth and largest edition and the fourth time Jones the Dance has been a major partner.
iCoDaCo 2024/27 aims to improve the opportunities for contemporary dance artists, their producers, presenters, communities and audiences across Europe and beyond, whilst minimising the impact that dance has on global resources.
The project will bring together the contemporary dance artists in a Wales-based collective as the only collective from the UK. They will join artists from Georgia, Hungary, Sweden, Spain, amongst others from all corners of Europe. They will work locally whilst simultaneously connecting digitally with each other during 15 research residencies. Their research together will forge new knowledge in dance making, methodologies and practices that will lead to the formation of the open-source digital platform for dance that will be available globally as a research and practice tool from late 2026.
This approach will look at innovative ways of dance making in the international context, reducing the environmental impact of touring, as well as considering the costs of international collaboration, and accessibility. Jones the Dance is forging the way in Wales in seeking ways to address the impact Brexit has had on the UK and international cultural sector. The project will explore how dance can be a resource to strengthen the contribution to other sectors such as academia, and health and well-being. The online platform will be launched in 2026, followed by a dance festival across Europe over one month in late spring 2027, showcasing 10 new works created from the project, several of which will be available to Wales’s audiences in 2027.
"Whilst iCoDaCo 2024-2027 is a rather large undertaking, it is realised by mainly small to medium independent organisations across Europe and beyond. The quest we are embarking on, and the partnership configuration directly corresponds to the social, political, economic, and environmental challenges we face in the contemporary dance field and the arts and culture sector.
We need alternative ways to conceive and realise artistic processes that respect the past but allow things to change to offer a more sustainable and durable way of being artists and cultural agents in the 21st century. The palpable vibrancy brought into the project by the devotion, dedication and commitment of the tens of artists involved will result in valuable contributions to contemporary dance, the art and culture sector and our communities as we venture deeper into the 21st century." Israel Aloni, Artistic Director of ilDance & iCoDaCo project.
The Welsh Collective will be led by Jones the Dance’s Artistic Director and choreographer Gwyn Emberton, Deaf dance artist Anna Seymour (dancer with Candoco) and choreographer Jo Fong, with opportunities for other artists to participate at different times. The first residency will take place in Montgomery, Powys with subsequent residencies taking place across Wales with partners National Dance Company of Wales, Theatr Clwyd amongst others, with the collective invited to join the Portuguese, Danish and Czech collectives in 2025 and 2026.
“We just had our first residency week which was very full, and I’m really excited to give dance a big re-think and connect with local and international communities.” Anna Seymour.
“Already I’m overwhelmed by the scale of the project and its reach, it's such a rare project with huge potential. Working internationally and locally I look forward to the learning and the creative legacy of the study.” Jo Fong.
“Being part of iCoDaCo is so significant for Jones the Dance: to be making exciting connections with dance companies and artists throughout Europe, being part of a huge project which will transform contemporary dance and being able to share the work of Welsh artists with the world. We are the only Welsh and UK company to be part of the collective and I couldn’t be more proud of the work of all of the team.” Kate Perridge, Executive Producer, Jones the Dance.
For those curious about the development and making of dance will be invited to talks and workshops throughout the project as well as being able to follow the project online.
Further information about iCoDaCo 2024-2027 can be found at. https://www.icodaco.com
Further information about the Wales Collective can be found at: https://www.Jonesthedance.com/icodaco