Italy-Norway Dance Residencies is a collaborative project between NID Platform, MiC, PAHN – Performing Arts Hub Norway, the Italian Cultural Institute in Oslo, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Rome, initiated in 2022. Throughout 2024 – 2025, eight artist residencies will take place: four Italian dance companies will visit Norway, and four Norwegian dance companies will visit Italy. These are supported by the Italian Cultural Institute in Oslo and the Norwegian Embassy in Rome, as well as the Italian Ministry of Culture and Performing Arts Hub Norway.

The project involves key cultural partners from both Norway and Italy, including Bærum Kulturhus – Dance in Southeast Norway, BIT Teatergarasjen, DansiT – Choreographic Centre, Davvi – Centre for Performing Arts, Anghiari Dance Hub, L’arboreto – Teatro Dimora, Fabbrica Europa, and Fondazione I Teatri. The goal is to further develop the programme in the period 2026–2027.

PAHN has played a key role in gathering and selecting collaborators from the Norwegian arts scene and facilitates open calls for residencies in Italy. The Embassy has assisted with coordination, especially in the initial phase, and has been central in establishing contact between the Italian partners (NID & the Italian Cultural Institute) and PAHN. The participating artists/companies have been selected from a variety of applicants, and the partners have been involved in the selection.

Mutual exchange – new impulses and networks
The exchange programme, strengthens the ties between the performing arts communities of the two countries and offers artists access to new impulses and professional networks. The project opens new doors for artistic collaboration, creating a solid foundation for further international cooperation in the field of dance. The residencies provide the artists with opportunities for immersion, networking, and professional exchange with Italian performing artists.

Premiere, open showing and DansiT-SAlong
Three Norwegian artists will travel to Italy in September 2025: Mia Habib Productions, Grov Productions, and Lisa Colette Bysheim. Moco Movement Collective was the first Norwegian company to visit Italy, taking part in a residency at Fabbrica Europa (Florence) in May. Mia Habib Productions will premiere Psychedelic Cave on 16 October at Dansens Hus.

“The stay was fantastic! Inspiring, good communication with the residency host, great working conditions, valuable networking, nice apartment and location. We're now in dialogue with them about returning to the festival in 2026!”, says Victoria Jane Harley from Moco Movement Collective.

Four Italian artists will visit Norway, and already on 26 September Nicola Galli presented her work at Bærum Kulturhus – Dance in Southeast Norway. The residency programme concludes with Silvia Gribaudi’s stay at DansiT Choreographic Centre in Trondheim in October. Gribaudi will partcipate in the DansiT-Salong at Rosendal Theatre on 30 October.

Parini Secondo and Marco D’Agostin from Italy completed their residencies at BIT Teatergarasjen and Sprang Ål respectively, the latter hosted by Bærum Kulturhus.

Banner photo: Lisa Colette Bysheim: Photographer: Dev Dhunsi