22nd International Conference "Performing Arts Between Tradition & Contemporaneity"
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Three-day gathering brings together global performing arts community for workshops, presentations, and creative exchange at historic Schloss Laubegg.
The International Conference "Performing Arts Between Tradition & Contemporaneity" was founded in 2003 to create a space for serious dialogue between traditional performance practices and contemporary artistic innovation. Over 22 editions, it has become a respected gathering point for performing arts professionals worldwide who refuse to see tradition and innovation as opposing forces, but rather as complementary elements in a living, evolving artistic practice.
Application Details:
Dates: December 18-22, 2025
Location: Schloss Laubegg, Austria
Capacity: Approximately 50 participants
Who This Performing Arts Conference Is For
This gathering is designed for theatre artists, directors, dancers, choreographers, circus artists, movement and drama teachers, researchers, and producers who are deeply committed to their craft and hungry for genuine artistic exchange. Whether you're a seasoned professional seeking fresh perspectives, a mid-career artist exploring new directions, or an emerging practitioner ready to engage with the international community, this conference welcomes those who approach their work with rigor, curiosity, and openness.
Limited to approximately 50 carefully selected participants, the conference maintains an intimate scale that allows for real connections and meaningful collaboration. Selection is based on experience, artistic practice, and motivation to contribute to this unique community. This isn't about credentials or status - it's about bringing together people who have something substantial to share and the generosity to learn from others. The result is a group where every voice matters, every contribution counts, and authentic dialogue can flourish.
Format and Programming
The 3-day program features an intensive mix of workshops, presentations, research talks, and work-in-progress showings. Unlike conventional academic conferences or commercial festivals, this gathering embraces a fluid structure that allows for spontaneous collaboration and deep engagement. Mornings might begin with rigorous physical training rooted in traditional techniques, afternoons could unfold with theoretical discussions on performance philosophy, and evenings often transform into informal showings where artists test new ideas in a supportive environment.
Participants aren't merely attendees - they are active contributors to the conference's living fabric. Whether leading a workshop on Noh theatre principles, presenting research on contemporary dance dramaturgy, or sharing a developing solo performance piece, each person's contribution enriches the collective experience.
The Magic of Schloss Laubegg
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Austrian Alps, Schloss Laubegg provides more than just a venue - it offers an atmosphere that catalyzes creativity. The castle's historic walls have witnessed centuries of cultural exchange, and today they host a modern continuation of that tradition. The intimate scale of the venue means spontaneous conversations over coffee can turn into artistic partnerships, and late-night discussions about movement philosophy often lead to impromptu studio sessions.
This is not a conference where you attend panels and return to your hotel. This is an immersive experience where you live, work, eat, and create alongside your peers. The isolation from urban distractions becomes a gift, allowing participants to focus entirely on their craft and their connections with fellow artists.
What Participants Say
Past attendees describe the conference as "transformative," "exactly what I needed," and "the place where I found my artistic family." Many return year after year, not out of obligation, but because they've discovered a rare space where they can be vulnerable, take risks, and grow without the pressure to produce or perform for external validation. The relationships forged here often become the foundation for years of future collaboration and mutual support.
In an increasingly fragmented cultural landscape, finding "your people" - those who share your artistic values, your curiosity, your commitment to craft - has never been more vital or more challenging. This conference has become known as a place where such connections happen organically. Artists who met here have gone on to create companies together, collaborate on international projects, and support each other's work across continents.
The conference attracts a truly global community. Past editions have welcomed participants from over 30 countries across six continents, representing an extraordinary diversity of performance traditions and contemporary practices. Whether you're a butoh dancer from Japan, a physical theatre director from Brazil, a circus artist from France, or a movement researcher from South Africa, you'll find peers who understand your language - both literally and artistically.
Call for Applications: Participants and Presenters
Applications are now open for both participants and presenters (workshops, talks, demonstrations, and work-in-progress showings). Whether you wish to attend and absorb, or share your practice with the community, or both, the conference welcomes your application.
Those proposing workshops or presentations should describe what they wish to offer, their approach, and what participants might gain from the experience. The conference values both practical, embodied work and theoretical, research-based contributions - ideally, offerings that bridge these domains.
