Memory in motion: mapping Europe’s hidden dance heritage

EU-funded researchers are mapping Europe’s contemporary dance heritage to prevent this elusive and fragile art form from quietly disappearing.

By Maria Vlastara

When a dancer leaves the stage for the last time, their art often vanishes with them. Unlike books, paintings or music, contemporary dance has no universal score or lasting archive. Much of Europe’s modern dance legacy survives only in living bodies.

Now, an EU-funded research initiative called DanceMap