For centuries, dance has accompanied people through their daily lives, at joyful celebrations and ceremonial occasions, in private as well as at magnificent court balls. But how does our dance change when our lives change? When religious wars shake all foundations, old enemies become friends, new worlds are discovered and boundaries are broken down? What influence did the turbulent times of European history between 1400 and 1900 have on the occasions, practices, styles and functions of dance? When and where were there continuities, ruptures or parallel developments? Did they follow fashions and new artistic trends, conquests and migrations or philosophical currents?

Changes and transitions in European social and stage dance in the eventful years from 1400 to 1900 are the focus of the upcoming symposium. We welcome lectures, workshops and other contributions particularly on the following aspects:

• Transitions and evolutions of dance styles
• Reception and adaptation of new dance forms
• Continuity and change in the function of dance
• Interactions between stage and social dance
• Dance theories in the course of time
• Dance in the mirror of art
• Dance and social upheavals
• Dance and politics

Duration: 25 min, followed by approx. 10 min discussion
The lectures can also include short dance demonstrations.

We are looking for contributions that have not yet been presented publicly and that deal with the topic described above. A publication according to current scholarly standards is planned and will appear in 2027. Details under “Publication”.

Speakers of the lectures are exempt from the conference fee (approx. 240.- €). Due to the very limited financial resources, unfortunately no honoraria or travel allowances can be paid by the host.

Size max. 60 x 80 cm

In the poster exhibition, research results can be presented and discussed in text and images. Upon request, summaries of the posters can also be included in the conference proceedings.

We are looking for contributions that have not yet been presented publicly and that deal with the topic described above.

Poster presenters can unfortunately not be exempted from the conference fee. However, they will receive an honorarium of €50.

Duration: 90 min

A thematic combination with a lecture is possible. Due to the implementation in groups of approx. 20 - 40 people, each workshop is held three times. On request, members of our music ensemble can accompany the workshop. Working materials should be prepared for the participants.

We are looking for contributions on the topic that have not yet been presented publicly or are little known.

Workshop presenters are exempt from the conference fee (approx. 240.- €). Due to the very limited financial resources, unfortunately no honoraria or travel allowances can be paid by the host.

However, all presenters have the possibility to apply for a travel allowance from Dance & History e.V., see below.

Duration: 100 - 120 min

A program should contain a few simple, easy-to-learn dances from the topics described above. Each program is taught twice, as the group is also divided here. On one occasion, our music ensemble is available for accompaniment, and on the other, appropriate “canned music” must be prepared. The dances serve as the basis for the dance program of the ball.

We are looking for contributions that match the topic and are not yet well known.

Tutors of the dance evenings are exempt from the conference fee (approx. 240.- €). Due to the very limited financial resources, unfortunately no honoraria or travel allowances can be paid by the host.

All presenters, however, have the possibility to apply for a travel allowance from Dance & History e.V., see below.

Duration: 15 - 30 min
In this category, artistic explorations of the symposium theme can be presented to a specialist audience. On request, our music ensemble can accompany the performance.

We are looking for contributions that relate to the topics described above.

Participants in the short performances can unfortunately not be exempted from the conference fee. However, they will receive a fee of €100. In addition, they have the possibility to apply for a travel allowance from Dance & History e.V., see below.

Deadline for submissions of proposals: May 15, 2025

Please submit the following documents:
- Summary of the contribution proposal (max. 1000 characters)
- Brief personal details (max. 1000 characters)
- Email, postal address, telephone number for queries if necessary

Please send the documents by email to info@historical-dance-symposium.org.

Fortunately, Dance & History e.V. is providing us with a budget for travel allowances this year.

All presenters of lectures, workshops and dance evenings as well as participants in the performances who do not receive subsidies for this conference from other sources and do not have sufficient funds of their own can apply for a travel allowance from Dance & History e.V., mail to info@historical-dance-symposium.org. There is no legal entitlement to a grant.

Following the symposium, a conference volume will be published, edited by Irene Brandenburg and Bruce Alan Brown. All lectures will be edited according to current scholarly standards. In addition, articles on workshop topics and summaries of posters can be included in a further section on request.

In order to make the conference proceedings as widely accessible as possible, it will be published online in open-access format on a suitable platform (such as the open-access publication server of the University of Salzburg). Publication is planned for summer 2027.

Deadline for submission of all contributions for publication: July 15, 2026. Late submissions are subject to rejection.

Irene Brandenburg (Universität Salzburg, Austria)
Bruce Alan Brown (University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Rebecca Harris-Warrick (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA)
Markus Lehner (Herrsching, Germany)
Alessandro Pontremoli (Università di Torino, Italy)
Hanna Walsdorf (Universität Basel, Switzerland)

More information about the committee