We are pleased to announce the second iCoDaCo conference, “Body Politics in Contemporary Dance”, which will take place online on Monday, 8 December 2025 from 16:00 to 18:00 CET.
An online event held in collaboration with HowlRound. Live Captioning in English: The National Captioning Institute.
The body has always been a site of political expression, a canvas for resistance, and a medium through which power, identity, and agency are negotiated. In contemporary dance, the body is not merely an instrument of artistic expression but also a vehicle for challenging norms, interrogating power structures, and redefining societal boundaries. From disability aesthetics to gender fluidity, from decolonial movements to environmental activism, dance artists are increasingly using their practice to engage with urgent political and social questions.
This online conference, organised by iCoDaCo in collaboration with Europe Beyond Access, brings together dance artists, choreographers, researchers, and cultural practitioners to explore the theme of Body Politics in Contemporary Dance. The event will examine how dance as an art form can disrupt, provoke, and reimagine the political dimensions of embodiment.
Through inspiring keynote presentations, artist talks, and interactive discussions, this conference will explore the dynamic relationship between dance and political activism, with a particular focus on disability, race, gender, and class. It will also highlight innovative artistic practices that challenge and redefine conventional representations of the body.
The event will feature guest artists from iCoDaCo and Europe Beyond Access, two initiatives that are at the forefront of supporting experimental, inclusive, and politically engaged dance practices in Europe. By centring the voices of artists who are pushing boundaries—both aesthetically and politically—this conference aims to inspire dialogue, foster solidarity, and provoke critical reflection on the future of dance as a tool for social change.
Why Body Politics?
The politicisation of the body is not a new phenomenon, but in recent years, it has taken on new urgencies. The global rise of authoritarianism, the backlash against gender and queer rights, the climate crisis, and the ongoing struggles for racial and disability justice have all brought the body to the forefront of political discourse. Dance, as a visceral and immediate art form, is uniquely positioned to respond to these challenges—not only as a form of protest or resistance but also as a means of reimagining what bodies can do, how they can move, and who gets to occupy space.
This conference will delve into the intricate relationship between dance and political activism, focusing on how contemporary dance artists engage with and respond to the political dimensions of the body. For artists in this field, the body is not merely a vehicle for artistic expression but is also deeply influenced by the political, economic, and cultural contexts in which they create and perform. The body becomes a site of negotiation, where questions of identity, power, and agency are constantly at play.
The event seeks to unpack these layered dynamics, exploring how dance can challenge conventional representations of the body and redefine its role in a world marked by growing polarisation. What does it mean to create work that is politically engaged in such a climate? How can dance disrupt normative narratives and reclaim the body as a space for resistance, advocacy, and transformation? These are the questions at the heart of the conference, as it examines the ways in which artists navigate the complexities of creating work that is both artistically bold and socially resonant.
By bringing together artists from iCoDaCo and Europe Beyond Access, this conference will foster critical dialogue on the potential of dance to interrogate power structures, amplify marginalised experiences, and inspire collective action toward a more inclusive and equitable cultural landscape.
Event Structure
1. Introductory remarks (16:00 – 16:10 CET)
2. Inspiring presentations (16:10 – 16:30 CET)
Following the introduction to the conference, the opening segment will showcase two speakers—an artist from iCoDaCo and another from Europe Beyond Access. Each will explore the concept of ‘body politics’ through the lens of their artistic and research practices, offering unique insights into how their work engages with, challenges, and redefines the political dimensions of embodiment in contemporary dance.
Their presentations will set the tone for the broader discussions that follow, grounding the conference in real-world artistic experiences and critical reflections.
3. Breakout sessions (16:30 – 17:00 CET)
The second segment will be interactive, inviting participants to engage in smaller breakout discussions on key aspects emerging from the presentations. These discussions will be facilitated by moderators, with the goal of highlighting the diverse ways in which contemporary dance can interrogate, challenge, and reimagine the political dimensions of the body, offering practical insights and thought-provoking reflections on how artistic practice intersects with broader social and cultural discourses.
[short break]
4. Interactive discussion (17:10 – 17:50 CET)
The guest artists—two from iCoDaCo and two from Europe Beyond Access—will each share their takeaways from the breakout room they followed, drawing on their personal and professional experiences of engaging with body politics in their work.
5. Closing remarks (17:50 – 18:00 CET)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.