– Contemporary Dance for Young Audiences in the south of Sweden

Salto! is Dansstationen’s annual dance festival for young audiences, connecting children and young people across Skåne with contemporary dance performances.

Each February, around ten selected dance companies present their work at the Salto! showcase day. Programmers and presenters from municipalities across Skåne attend to discover performances they can book for schools and public venues later in the year.

In October, the selected companies tour the region, bringing dance to children and young people throughout Skåne. Around 15,000 young people experience a dance performance or take part in a workshop through the festival each year.

Salto! is Latin for “I am dancing!”

One of Europe’s largest dance festivals for young audiences

Since its launch in 1997, Salto! has grown into a major platform for dance for young audiences. Today, approximately 150 performances are presented each year, primarily in schools but increasingly in theatres and other public venues as well.

Salto! brings together a network of regional presenters, municipalities, artists and dance companies, creating opportunities for both Swedish and international artists to reach new audiences.

The festival combines artistic discovery, touring and professional networking, helping bring ambitious contemporary dance to young people throughout the region.

How Salto! works

The festival year begins in February, when around ten selected dance companies present their work at the Salto! showcase. Municipal programmers and presenters from across Skåne attend the event and select performances to book for their local audiences.

In October, the booked companies go on tour throughout Skåne, performing in schools and public venues. Dansstationen also presents a selection of performances for the general public, as well as for participating artists and invited Swedish and international presenters.

Salto! operates with a subsidy system for booked performances, making it possible for municipalities across the region to offer high-quality dance to children and young people. Funding is distributed between participating municipalities based on the number of children and young people living in each area.

Organisation

Salto!’s year-round work is coordinated by a dedicated producer who manages the network of presenters, the artistic selection, touring and festival activities.

Salto! is one of two integrated parts of Dansstationen, Malmö’s venue and platform for contemporary dance. Dansstationen is supported by the Swedish state, Region Skåne and the City of Malmö.

Read before applying

The application for Salto! 2027 is open until 31 of October 2026

For more information contact Vanessa Schmidt

Vanessa Schmidt
Producer at Salto!
salto(at)dansstationen.nu