vandansamlingen

vandansamlingen is a Nordic cultural term used to describe a collection or program of artworks in which water acts as the central motif or material. The concept spans choreographic works, live performances, installations, and audiovisual pieces that explore water’s movement, sounds, textures, and symbolic meanings. In practice, vandansamlingen can take the form of stage productions, site-specific performances near rivers or fountains, as well as video projections and interactive installations. Projects gathered under this umbrella are often presented at dance festivals, museums, or cultural centers and commonly involve collaboration among choreographers, composers, visual artists, and scientists.

Etymology and usage: The word combines vand (water), dans (dance), and samlingen (the collection). As a concept, vandansamlingen describes both the overarching idea and specific programs or archives that assemble water-themed dance works. The definition remains deliberately broad to accommodate experimental approaches to choreography, scenography, and audience engagement.

Origins and scope: The term has circulated in contemporary Nordic art contexts since the late 20th and early 21st centuries, reflecting interest in fluidity, environmental considerations, and interdisciplinary collaboration. It is not tied to a single organization; rather, it appears in various contexts as a label for commissions, festivals, or institutional showcases that foreground water as a source of movement and meaning.

See also: water in art, dance and performance, environmental art, site-specific performance.