Tanz und Kunst Königsfelden - Who We Are

Tanz und Kunst Königsfelden stands for interdisciplinary Gesamtkunstwerk of art that are performed annually in the Königsfelden monastery church in Windisch. In cooperation with the Museum Aargau, the dance festival, which is unique in Switzerland, realises international productions under the artistic direction of Filipe Portugal that represent the diversity of professional dance and develops sustainable, educational art projects with schools in Aargau. The in-house Residenzzentrum tanz+ in Baden offers residencies to international and local artists in the field of dance and performing arts throughout the year.

Tanz und Kunst Königsfelden has been one of the canton's nine cultural beacons (Leuchttürme) since 2012. The offices are located in the Merker-Areal in Baden, the rehearsal studios and storage rooms in the Oederlin-Areal in Baden.

Artistic Director Filipe Portugal

Filipe Portugal was born in Lisbon, Portugal 1978 and began his dance studies at the National Conservatory in Lisbon with Georges Garcia as his main mentor. After his graduation he was invited by the director Jorge Salavisa to join the National Ballet of Portugal, starting his career as a professional dancer. Six years later he joins the Ballet Zürich under the direction of Heinz Spoerli, where he becomes a principal dancer.

Between these two companies he had the opportunity to dance pieces by choreographers such as George Ballanchine, John Cranko, Patrice Bart, Jiri Kylian, Matz Ek, William Forsythe, Hans Van Manen, Nacho Duato, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Marco Goecke, Crystal Pite, Edward Clug, Douglas Lee, Martin Schläpfer, Nils Christie, Heinz Spoerli, Christian Spuck, Vasco Wellenkamp, Rui Lopes Graça and others. This was followed by choreographies for Ballet Ireland, Stuttgart Ballet and the Portuguese National Ballet, among others.

He made his choreographic debut in Portugal for a choreographic workshop with the piece ‘Anfractus’, which was the one chosen to be part of the Company's repertoire. Later, already in Zurich, he began creating pieces for the Ballet Zürich and the Junior Ballet under the direction of Heinz Spoerli and later Christian Spuck.

Team & Office

Filipe Portugal
Artistic Director
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Salomé Martins
Deputy Artistic Director & Project Manager Residencies
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Marianne Merlo
Finance
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Judith Mey
Production Management Carmen 2025
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Odilia Hiller
Marketing & Communication
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Sinikka Jenni
Fundraising
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Karl Egli
Technical Director Carmen 2025
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Valentina Pedica
Kids Company
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The venue: Königsfelden Abbey Church

Königsfelden Abbey was founded around 700 years ago. Until the Reformation, nuns and monks commemorated the deceased Habsburgs here. Today, the abbey church is known throughout Europe for its stained glass windows and is one of the ten cultural-historical sites of the Museum Aargau. Tanz und Kunst Königsfelden, a cultural beacon of the canton of Aargau, is allowed to stage its productions in the monastery church every year.

The monastery church is currently being renovated and will not be open to the public again until July 2025. Tanz und Kunst will ‘open’ the abbey church exclusively with the Carmen 2025 festival from 23 May to 21 June 2025. Be there and book your tickets now!