Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden

Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden is a cultural institution based in Baden and the initiator of a unique dance platform in Switzerland. The institution celebrates and cultivates the diversity of professional dance through the interaction of different musical and dance directions and styles. In cooperation with the Museum Aargau, Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden has been curated by choreographer and former artistic director Brigitta Luisa Merki since its foundation in 2007. Filipe Portugal took over as artistic director in January 2024.

Every two years, renowned international choreographers, visual artists, dancers, musicians, and composers of various styles create productions for the atmospherically unique stage space of the Klosterkirche Königsfelden (monastery church Königsfelden). In alternate years, large international productions and educational art projects are created with children and young people from Aargau.

In 2020, Residenzzentrum tanz+ was founded, which is an independent institution with studios and a guest house for dance, choreography, music, and performing arts under the association roof of Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden. The initiator of the interdisciplinary residency project is the choreographer Brigitta Luisa Merki, artistic director of the dance festival Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden. Thanks to the support of Swisslos Aargau as well as various foundations and private donations, the year-round residency programme began operation in March 2021.

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.

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

Filipe Portugal
Artistic Director
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Salomé Martins
Deputy Artistic Director & Project Manager Residencies
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Hannes Fister
Managing Director
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Marianne Merlo
Finance
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Judith Mey
Production Management Festival 2025 & "Mind the Gap"
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Odilia Hiller
Marketing & Communication
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Sinikka Jenni
Fundraising
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Valentina Pedica
Kids Company
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The venue: Königsfelden Abbey Church