Danse Scene

Interest Groups
Organisations
Companies
Venues
Awards
Archiving
Mediation

Interest Groups (IG)

Find out more about the → AG IG

Local networks of dance professionals, the so-called "IGs", offer profound knowledge about and for the independent dance scene in their respective region. They are the best source of information for questions and concerns of dance professionals and at the same time important multipliers:

For dance professionals who are members of both one of these organisations and Danse Suisse (dual membership), Danse Suisse grants a reduction on the annual fee for the membership.


Meetings with local dance-IGs


Despite the fact that many dancers and choreographers often change their place of residence in the course of their career and work abroad from time to time, it is important to build long-term connections and sustainable networks as far as possible.

Danse Suisse works closely with local organisations/IGs and concentrates resources. Danse Suisse organises regular working meetings with all local dance interest groups in Switzerland, which serve to exchange information across regional borders. Different needs of dancers and choreographers are collected and common solutions are worked out. All partners can benefit from synergies, especially in the dissemination of information (dance and cultural political concerns, performances, professional trainings, further education, seminars). Danse Suisse also supports regional dance political concerns.

Organisations

Switzerland has a wide network of associations and organisations that are responsible for specific tasks and topics in the theatre and dance scene or have points of contact with dance. We are connected with them and join forces whenever it is a matter of pursuing common concerns and using synergies.


The organisations include:

Companies

Institutional companies

6 theatres have their own resident dance companies:

Independent companies

In addition to the resident dance companies of the major theatres, there are also numerous freelance companies and dancers (approximately 300) active in Switzerland and abroad. The independent scene is well networked in the form of regional IGs, which offer well-founded knowledge about and for the independent dance scene in their respective regions. Around 232 companies are registered as members of the IGs (current list here).

Performing Arts Selection presents a selection of Pro Helvetia companies and venues that contribute to the diversity of the Swiss performing arts scene.

Venues

Theatre list with DS discount

As a member of Danse Suisse, you will receive a discount for the theatres listed here.


Festivals & Platforms

Awards

Swiss Performing Arts Awards 2026: Dance in the Spotlight


The Swiss Performing Arts Awards recognise the diversity and quality of Swiss cultural creativity. Among this year’s award winners are numerous figures from the worlds of dance and choreography: Mélissa Guex, Cosima Grand and Catol Teixeira will each receive a Swiss Performing Arts Award. ‘the wizard is not real’ by Lisa Laurent has been named Swiss Dance Production of 2025. The June Johnson Newcomer Prize 2026 goes to the dancer and choreographer Ludovico Paladini. The Swiss Grand Prix for the Performing Arts / Hans Reinhart Ring is awarded to the actress and performer Michèle Gurtner.


Danse Suisse extends its warmest congratulations to all the prize-winners. The awards highlight the artistic diversity and innovative power of the performing arts and bring national attention to dance.


The prizes are awarded on the recommendation of the Federal Jury for the Performing Arts. Anne Bisang, Anne Davier, Petra Fischer, Andreas Klaeui and Simon Waldvogel joined the jury in January 2026.


The awards ceremony will take place on 6 November 2026 in the Alte Reithalle at the Bühne Aarau theatre in the presence of Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider. Registrations are open until 29 October 2026.

Archiving

  • SAPA, Swiss Performing Arts Archive (formerly Swiss Dance Archive) - competence centre for the preservation of the intangible cultural heritage of dance.

The SAPA Foundation is the national competence centre for the archiving of choreographic works.


In dance, video recordings have become an indispensable part of everyday artistic life. They document rehearsals, serve as promotional material and are usually the only witnesses of artistic work alongside photographs, even years later.

Unfortunately, the lifespan of videos is limited. Due to rapid changes in technical standards, a camera that was just used can become an object worthy of a museum almost overnight, and a recently made video recording can no longer be viewed due to a lack of playback equipment. Every copy in analogue tape formats also means a high loss of information.

From a legal point of view, it must also be clarified that a video recording may be viewed at a later date as a testimony to the artistic work and used for research purposes, for example.


Guide for video recording of choreographic works (in German):

The guide provides information about the most important problems and risks and points out possible solutions.


Guide for the transfer of choreographic works to the SAPA Foundation (in German):

Do you own records and have documents that are important for Swiss dance and Swiss dance history? Hand over your holdings to the SAPA Foundation!

Mediation

Dance Mediation Network Switzerland


Are you a dance mediator looking for a dynamic network?


The Swiss Dance Mediation Network Tanzvermittlung Schweiz promotes dance as an art form and aims to strengthen broad cultural participation with and through the art form of dance. Its vision is to improve understanding of the diverse field of dance mediation in Switzerland and to ensure its long-term quality. To this end, it offers regular opportunities for exchange and professional development for dance mediation specialists and develops tools for quality assurance and evaluation. The aim is to increase and consolidate the visibility and recognition of the diverse work carried out by dance mediators. The objective is to facilitate access to artistic dance for broad sections of the population. To this end, more institutions should participate in dance mediation projects and programmes, whilst funding bodies should recognise the importance of such projects and provide funding for them.


Tanzvermittlung Schweiz develops its activities in close collaboration with Danse Suisse, the professional association for Swiss dance practitioners; consequently, Danse Suisse is the relevant professional association for dance mediators– just as it is for dancers, choreographers, dance teachers, managers, dramaturgs and others – representing their professional interests and concerns at various levels.

Members in particular, but also all others in this group, have access to suitable contacts for advice on matters relating to their day-to-day work and professional careers. Please make use of our network; simply contact us at info@dansesuisse.ch.


Further information on dance mediation, particularly regarding mediation projects and content in the independent scene, can be found on the websites of Reso and the association Kulturvermittlung Schweiz. As a cross-disciplinary network, Kulturvermittlung Schweiz is dedicated to all aspects of arts mediation.