Well-being. Well-art. Well-dance

The artist, often perceived as a figure of stark contrasts, stirs extreme emotions both as an individual and creator. In contrast, we know less about dance artists; their presence tends to be more subtle. However, they are not exempt from the stereotypes that portray artists as eccentric, tormented, impassioned, overflowing with profound feelings and melancholy. It’s these traits that garner social recognition and are interpreted as signs of grand genius. While the wellbeing of the audience has a place in artistic and social discourse, the existence and, critically, the nurturing of a dance artist’s wellbeing, their working conditions and culture, has remained largely unspoken. In an era marked by the exposure of repressive situations, we start a conversation centred around the mental health of those who create dance.

We explored these questions with the guests from the UK, Germany and Poland. The panellists shared their insights from different perspectives: as creators, educators, coaches and dance historians.

(based on material provided by the organiser, the Ciało/Umysł Foundation)