CODA Oslo International Dance Festival

About CODA

CODA creates unforgettable experiences, stimulates the development of dance as an artform and is a meeting place for seeing, doing and talking about dance.

 

CODA Oslo International Dance Festival was initiated by the choreographers Lise Nordal og Odd Johan Fritzøe in 2002 and has developed into the largest contemporary Dance Festival in the Nordics.

Every third week in October the festival gathers the best of national and international contemporary dance. In collaboration with our five partner venues – Dansens Hus, The Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Bærum Kulturhus, Black Box teater, Riksscenen and Vega Scene – we show a diverse range of performances and films. But dance does not only belong on the stage, and the festival has shown dance at bars, in the streets and other places where you would not expect it.

CODA wants to accommodate a broad target group, from dedicated dance enthusiasts to those who have recently discovered their interest. Our invitation is open to everyone, and we are committed to creating a festival that unites the passion for dance and artistic exploration.

Staff

Stine Nilsen

Artistic Director and CEO

Stine Nilsen

Artistic Director and CEO

stine@codadancefest.no

Ida Louise Sundby

Executive producer

Ida Louise Sundby

Executive producer

ida@codadancefest.no

Maria Terese Engdahl-Høgåsen

Marketing and Communications manager

Maria Terese Engdahl-Høgåsen

Marketing and Communications manager

maria@codadancefest.no

Martine Ugland

Producer

Martine Ugland

Producer

martine@codadancefest.no

Stefan Dombek

Technical Director

Stefan Dombek

Technical Director

stefan@showlab.no

Board

Torger Ødegaard

Chair of the board

Lars Jacob holm

Deputy chair

Pernille Bønkan

Member

Anita Rathore

Member

Pernille Volle Bavridge

Member

Guri Glans

Deputy member

Eivind Bryne

Deputy member

Huy Le Vo

Deputy member

How we program

Stine Nilsen is CODAs Artistic Director and is responsible for the programming of the festival.

Whilst there is no application process to appear in our festival, CODA welcomes artists to send through proposals for consideration. As a contemporary dance festival, we look for work from a range of cultural and choreographic styles that is concerned with the body and its infinite possibilities, articulate and inventive, engaging with the audience and reflecting the world around us.

Companies perform in the festival by invitation, and it is rare that an invitation is extended until we have seen work live, met the choreographer and begun to build a relationship.

We recommend sending through a brief introduction to your work and include a Vimeo/YouTube link whenever possible. If we think your material looks suitable for the festival, we will contact you for further information and we will try to come and see it live somewhere.

We aim to review work as quickly as possible, and to reply to expressions of interest within one to two months.

Programming takes place 1.5-2 years before the next festival, especially for international companies or larger works, and often by the end of March for the following year. Smaller works and outdoor performances may be of interest closer to the festival period, in October every year.

Honorary members

 

LISE NORDAL

Choreographer, dancer, and educator Lise Nordal, together with Odd Johan Fritzøe, was the driving force behind the inception of CODA contemporary dance festival in Oslo, Norway – now known as CODA Oslo International Dance Festival. The festival was established on May 11, 2001, and in the fall of 2002, it opened its first edition at the Oslo Concert Hall with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. In its early years, the festival operated on a volunteer basis, with Lise Nordal playing a prominent role in the artistic programming. Her artistic choices played a significant role in establishing CODA Festival’s reputation as a leading contemporary dance festival in Europe.

In 2006, Lise Nordal was appointed as the artistic and administrative director. In 2010, the position was changed to a fixed-term contract, and she served two terms as festival director & artistic director until August 31, 2017.

Lise’s contributions have been crucial to the establishment, development, and growth of the festival. Her perseverance, courage, and uncompromising approach, combined with strong dedication and the ability to inspire, have propelled the festival to what it has become today.

PHOTO: Tale Hendnes

 

 

ODD JOHAN FRITZØE

Choreographer and dancer Odd Johan Fritzøe, together with Lise Nordal, was the driving force behind the inception of CODA contemporary dance festival in Oslo, Norway – now known as CODA Oslo International Dance Festival. The festival was established on May 11, 2001, and in the fall of 2002, it opened its first edition at the Oslo Concert Hall with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. In its early years, the festival operated on a volunteer basis, and Odd Johan played a significant role as a board member, project manager, important collaborator, and faithful supporter. His connections with dance colleges throughout the country were of invaluable importance in building and developing the CODA workshop for semi-professionals, as well as coordinating all the volunteers involved in the festival’s outdoor events. Similarly, his network within the Norwegian art community led to the initiation of exciting and unique events. His courage, enthusiasm, and problem-solving abilities contributed to making CODA a dynamic, outward-looking – and, above all, a humanistic festival. Odd Johan once stated that he would step back from the festival when Pina Bausch took the stage during CODA. However, the festival had to concede when this significant event took place at the Opera House in 2011.

Odd Johan stepped down from the board in 2012 after 12 years of active involvement in CODA. He has left a remarkable legacy, and the CODA board is pleased to bestow upon him the title of honorary member.

PHOTO: LEE JUNG

 

 

TRINE BENDIXEN

Former cultural director of Bærum Municipality, Trine Bendixen, became a part of the CODA board right from the start in 2000. From 2003, she served as the deputy chair of the board, and from 2007 to 2009, she held the position of the active board chair. Trine played an absolutely central role in the establishment and development of the CODA festival, and she was a crucial collaborator for the festival and, eventually, for its artistic director, Lise Nordal. Lise herself states: “Without Trine’s passion and enthusiasm, her unwavering belief in the festival as an important artistic project, and her positive and constructive role as a creative conversation partner, it is doubtful that the CODA festival would exist today.” Her capacity for work was immense, and she put in a lot of effort even after long working days as the cultural director in Bærum Municipality, on weekends, and during holidays. All of this was voluntary and completely selfless. Through her long career, she had built up a vast network, which she generously shared with CODA during those years. Trine is a bridge builder; she is open and inclusive, and during her nine years with the festival, she became an outstanding dance ambassador for CODA.

In recognition of her longstanding dedication to CODA, the board is delighted to appoint Trine Bendixen as an honorary member for eternity.

PHOTO: HANS FREDRIK ASBJØRNSEN

Accessibility

CODA is keen to be a festival for everyone, including those who need a little extra preparation. We work with established venues in Oslo and the surrounding area with good accessibility in most places. Unfortunately, there will be some restrictions on certain performances. All our shows will have availability information both in the catalog and on the website.

If you have special needs or questions related to accessibility, it is good if you contact us in advance of the festival search. This is so that we can give you the information you need and arrange it in the best possible way. Email achy@codadancefest.

Companion certificate: People with a companion certificate go free. The person being accompanied buys a ticket. Companion(s) can sit together. Send an e-mail to sebastian@codadancefest.no to receive a companion ticket.

Equality and non-discrimination policy

CODA champions a world where all humans are treated equal and given the same opportunities. CODA has zero tolerance for discrimination. Discrimination is defined as the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, race, age, religious belief, functional ability, sex, gender or orientation. CODA also has a zero tolerance for any discrimination or unjust treatment of persons who notify occurrences of discrimination. The parties, and all personnel contracted to them for the activities in this agreement, will accept and abide by the zero-tolerance policy for the duration of the activities named in this agreement.

If a negative discriminatory act has occurred, the parties agree to notify each other immediately and act to protect the discriminated part as well as ensuring the continued development towards equality for all people involved in the activity named in this agreement.

History and by-laws

CODA contemporary dance festival Oslo Norway was founded by choreographers Lise Nordal and
Odd Johan Fritzøe. The board of the Foundation CODA contemporary dance festival Oslo Norway was constituted on 11 May 2001. The first festival took place 24 September – 4 October 2002. The opening production, “Event”, with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (New York), was staged at the Oslo Concert Hall.  CODA produced festivals in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Starting in 2005 the festival took the form of a biennale.

The name, CODA contemporary dance festival Oslo Norway, was changed at the board meeting of
30.08.2006 to: CODA Oslo International Dance Festival. Lise Nordal became CEO and Artistic Director in 2012. Stine Nilsen took over as CEO and Artistic Director in 2017.

The foundation’s objective is to promote the art of dance in Norway by presenting an array of national and international contemporary dance during a festival of a high artistic calibre. The aim of the foundation is to help Norwegian contemporary dance evolve and develop through this festival – by way of performances, course activities, workshops and seminars. The festival shall promote Oslo
and Norway as an arena for contemporary dance.

Artistic Directors and Board members

An interim Board was established in 1999 in the venue of Den Norske Balletthøyskole – the only higher education college for dance in Norway at the time. The board consisted of the following members: Magne Antonsen, Trine Hamre Bendixen, Ragnvald Dahl, Odd Johan Fritzøe, Thor Greni, Johannes Jaastad, Lise Nordal, Randi Punsvik og Susanne Svenseid.

The Board of the charity CODA contemporary dance festival Oslo Norway was constituted 11 May
2001, comprising the following members: Reidar Webster, chair of the Board; Trine H. Bendixen, Ragnvald Dahl, Odd Johan Fritzøe, Elizabeth Føllesdahl, Thor Greni, Kristian Seltu (members) Un-Magritt Nordseth, Johannes Jaastad, Anne- Berit Haavind, Randi Punsvik, (deputy members) Lise Nordal (deputy member & program committee member) Magne Antonsen, deputy member & program committee member, Susanne Svenseid, Festival Director