About us

As the major platform for the performing arts from the Nordic countries in Berlin, NORDWIND is a forum for intercultural dialogue and exchange between artists and professionals in the cultural sector from Germany and the Scandinavian countries. The fruits of this cultural exchange can be seen every other year when artists from Scandinavia present their work to audiences at the NORDWIND Festival, which is taking place for the fourth time in 2011. This year's edition of the festival will feature 21 ensembles with 200 artists from seven countries and a total of 76 performances. As a first this year, the festival will be held in both Berlin and Hamburg. In Berlin there will be performances on all stages of the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, which will serve as the main venue and "festival center," as well as at Dock 11/Eden, RADIALSYSTEM V and HBC. In Hamburg the entire festival program will be shown at the Kampnagel complex. Over a period of two weeks, the festival will treat audiences to a diverse, interdisciplinary program of work in theater, music, dance and performance. In addition, the program includes readings, talks, and discussions with experts from Berlin and Hamburg and guests from Scandinavia, plus a special residence project with artists from Nordic countries in collaboration with artists from Berlin and Hamburg. The 2011 edition of

NORDWIND will introduce some of the most outstanding contemporary artists from the Nordic countries to German audiences and provide them with valuable contacts with the local culture scene. In addition, NORDWIND is co-producing three works this year: Finnish director Kristian Smeds' new, large-scale production of Karamasow Workshop; a production of Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman directed by Vinge/Müller, the Norwegian duo signed by Prater der Volksbühne as in-house directors for the 2011/12 season; and Shake, an adaptation of King Lear by the Swedish-language artists' collective Nya Rampen from Helsinki. The residence program initiated in 2009 will be continued in a collaboration with the Zodiak Center for New Dance in Helsinki, Finland's Dance Arena Festival and the Cable Factory in Helsinki. The residence program aims to foster long-term exchange between dancers and choreographers from Germany and the Nordic countries.