Startup Forum Awards 2023
12 June 2023At this year’s Spring Forward in Dublin (27 – 29 April), we held the second edition of Startup Forum where a group of emerging dance presenters were guided through the festival by Betsy Gregory and four Aerowaves Partners. Soňa Jakubove, Sheree Lenting and Jarkko Partenen have been awarded €10K each to realise the proposal they presented.
At this year’s Spring Forward in Dublin (27 – 29 April), we held the second edition of Startup Forum where a group of emerging dance presenters were guided through the festival by Betsy Gregory and four Aerowaves Partners; Catja Loepfe (Tanzhaus Zürich, Switzerland), Markéta Perroud (Tanec Praha, Czech Republic), Pirjetta Mulari (Annantalo, Finland) and Béatrice Horn (Biennale de la danse Lyon, France). The participants were –Agnese Bordjukova (Latvia), Egle Nevedomske (Lithuania), Jarkko Partenen (Finland), Jelena Mićić (Croatia), Luke Murphy (Ireland), Sheree Lenting (Netherlands), Simone Mousset (UK / Luxembourg), Soňa Jakubove (Slovakia) and Tina Hollard (France) – and following the festival they were invited to propose a curatorial project involving the Aerowaves artists.
Soňa Jakubove, Sheree Lenting and Jarkko Patenen have been awarded €10K each to realise the proposal they presented.
Soňa Jakubove proposed ‘Footsteps of Resilience’, a history research project focused on dance professionals in Central and Eastern Europe during the period of communist totalitarianism in the 20th Century. Within this framework, Boglárka Börcsök & Andreas Bolm will present Figuring Age in Trnava, Slovakia. ‘Beyond Borders Lab’, a project by Sheree Lenting, will explore in The Netherlands and Norway the intersection between adoption, and cultural and artistic exchange through dance focusing on Jean-Baptiste Baele’s autobiographical piece Nabinam. Finally, Jarkko Partenen will invite Gaya de Medeiros to present Atlas da Boca in Helsinki, where the Portuguese-based company will stay for an artistic residency and enrich a community building a platform for queer artists.
Footsteps of Resilience - a project by Soňa Jakubove
This project examines how dance professionals in Central and Eastern Europe produced performances during communism in the 20th Century.
Following two thematic lines of research, it will examine how dance professionals worked, and how their approach to creation changed throughout their lives. The first strand will focus on ageing and coping with social changes. The second strand will investigate how dance professionals managed to create new art works during the communist regime in Central and Eastern Europe.
At the heart of ‘Footsteps of Resilience’, is the presentation of Figuring Age by Boglárka Börcsök & Andreas Bolm, a dance performance which examines these topics from a Hungarian perspective.

‘Figuring Age’ by Boglárka Börcsök & Andreas Bolm. © Patricio Cassinoni
Oral history experts will work on this project to produce a series of audio and video recordings of the collected stories. In addition, ‘Footsteps of Resilience’ will include a panel discussion for the general public and a similar event for local and international dance professionals.
Soňa Jakubove (Slovakia)
Sona is the deputy director of the independent cultural centre Maly Berlin in Trnava (Slovakia). She is a production manager, and dramaturg in theatre and dance performances, concerts, art education, and is a coordinator of international art residencies. She is one of the founders of the project Dance Plan for Trnava.
Beyond Borders Lab – a project by Sheree Lenting
The ‘Beyond Borders Lab aims to explore the intersection between adoption, and cultural and artistic exchange through dance. Focused on choreographer Jean-Baptiste Baele and his autobiographical piece Nabinam, the project seeks to provoke and engage the audience while fostering inclusivity and representation. Sheree Lenting’s approach focuses on connecting people through life stories, resonating with audiences and bridging the gap for non-traditional theatregoers.

Jean-Baptiste Baele. Photography: Ortenheim
The project emphasises both the artist’s process and the final piece. Sheree aims to support artists in their creative endeavours, nurturing their growth, and forming lasting relationships between artists and venues. Jean-Baptiste Baele’s choreographic focus on social behaviour, personal history, and physicality will be explored during the dance lab.
The Lab will be organised in Rotterdam and Oslo, bringing together Jean-Baptiste with dancers and makers from both cities who have a background of adoption or foster care. Coaching and masterclasses by renowned experts will be provided. Participants will immerse themselves in Jean-Baptiste’s work, using it as a catalyst for their own creative responses and reflections.
Mental health support will also be available to ensure the well-being of participants. The programme aims to create a vibrant exchange, transcending boundaries between countries, cultures, artists and life stories. It seeks to connect communities, inspire minds, and leave a lasting impact. The lab will culminate in a presentation of participants’ work and Jean-Baptiste’s piece Nabinam, fostering a sense of connection and unity whilst creating a meaningful experience.
Sheree Lenting (Netherlands)
Sheree Lenting is a Rotterdam based dance artist and curator of Surinamese heritage. Using movement and film she brings together multiple art forms in her work. Recognised for her innovative community work, Sheree has been invited as a programmer by both Theatre Rotterdam and Korzo Theatre where she has co-created the programmes FluX and TR Citizens to engage local communities with the theatres.
Photographer: Stacii Samidin
Atlas da Boca in Helskini – by Jarkko Partenen
Jarkko Partenen’s project revolves around Gaya de Medeiros’ work Atlas da Boca and proposes three lines of action: a guest performance, an artistic residency and a community building platform for queer artists . The work will be performed in Helsinki alongside a technical residency to support the development of the company’s upcoming works. The third part of the proposal is a community building platform for queer artists to foster dialogue across borders.
Atlas da Boca aims to broaden perspectives towards queer performance and queer bodies on stage for local audiences. Representation matters and industry professionals and audiences need positive examples of what is possible. The work is simultaneously personal, humorous and sensitive – and these qualities as well as its autobiographical elements, make it accessible for young adults.
The residency and the community building programme are facilitated by WAUHAUS-arts collective and the guest performances are realised in collaboration with Kiasma-Theatre.
Jarkko Partenen (Finland)
Jarkko is a Helsinki based choreographer and curator. He is a member of the W A U H A U S – arts collective. Partanen is one of the founders of Wonderlust, a festival of conscious and diverse sexuality. Currently, he is also studying in a masters programme in curating and exhibition studies at the University of the Arts / Fine Arts Academy in Helsinki.