SWOP 2026 International Dance Festival for children and young people, May 7th-11th

Performances

All ages

HIT OUT (IT)

A choreographic and musical performance about the magical rhythms of skipping and the joy of moving with equipment and in community

You don’t need a ticket for this performance; just show up and watch.
HIT OUT (IT)
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All ages

THE SWINGS (SCO)

Floating, acrobatic dance duet on giant swings.

You don’t need a ticket for this performance; just show up and watch.
THE SWINGS (SCO)
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All ages

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM (BE/DK)

In a bright suit and wearing an amazing, lifelike animal mask, ‘The Elephant in the Room’ moves between clowning, dance, and mime.

You don’t need a ticket for this performance; just show up and watch.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM (BE)
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All ages

NUDIBRANCHS (DK)

The Nudibranchs invite passers-by into their world with small poetic pauses in the middle of the cityscape. If you surrender to the encounter and connect with the Nudibranchs, you will have a sensory experience and perhaps receive a gift from the depths of the sea.

You don’t need a ticket for this performance; just show up and watch.
NUDIBRANCHS (DK)
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0-5 years

ROCK ME BABY (NO)

Roskilde is obviously the perfect town for a glamrock show for toddlers!

Book tickets for the performance via the next page press “ROCK ME BABY (NO)”
ROCK ME BABY (NO)
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1-5 years

WHAT IS THAT? (DK)

A performance about the driving force of curiosity.

Book tickets for the performance via the next page press “WHAT IS THAT? (DK)”
WHAT IS THAT? (DK)
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3+ years / Kindergarten

IM FLATTERLAND (AT)

In this gentle and sensory dance experience, we are invited into a poetic universe where body, live music, and fabric merge together.

Book tickets for the performance via the next page press “IM FLATTERLAND (AT)”
IM FLATTERLAND (AT)
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6+ years/ From preschool

THE FABULOUS STORY OF BASARKUS (FR)

A whirling and acrobatic performance about a creature with two heads, many legs, and many arms.

Book tickets for the performance via the next page press “THE FABULOUS STORY OF BASARKUS (FR)”
THE FABULOUS STORY OF BASARKUS (FR)
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6+ years / 0-3rd grade

4TH PLACE (DK)

A dance performance that turns competitions upside down. It cheers for the losers and community over the loneliness of first place.

Thias performance is prebooked for 2 schools - read more press “4TH PLACE (DK)”
4TH PLACE (DK)
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8+ years / From 2nd grade

SCHÖN ANDERS (DE)

We gather in groups and clubs. But what happens when a person discovers themselves as a unique individual?

Book tickets for the performance via the next page press “SCHÖN ANDERS (DE)”
SCHÖN ANDERS (DE)
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10+ years / From 4th grade

SIMPLE MACHINES (BE)

A playful, humorous, and picturesque robot ballet.

Book tickets for the performance via the next page press “SIMPLE MACHINES (BE)”
SIMPLE MACHINES (BE)
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12+ years / from 6th grade

REPEATCLUB (BE)

Nine young people dance their hearts out, each displaying their unique strengths and vulnerabilities.

Book tickets for the performance via the next page press “REPEATCLUB (BE)”
REPEATCLUB (BE)
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Other activities

For professionals from different sectors

Seminar "Hosting and Invitation"

Friday May 8th
With keynote Emma Holten and a programme planned to embrace different modalities of working with the theme of Hosting and Invitation.

200 DKK
Read more and book tickets
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CONCERT WITH PÆL (DK)

Saturday May 9th
EXPERIENCE THE SWOP-DANCE AND MUSIC LIVE – with the youth who’ve created it

PÆL
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All Ages

The SWOP 26 - Dance & Music

7th, 8th and 9th of May
Enjoy SWOP 2026´s fantastic dance and music made by local young people

See the video and find out where you can experience it live
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All ages

The Plastic Spirit

May 8th-10th
Step into a wondrous world where discarded items are given new life, and where imagination transforms trash into adventure.

Read more
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All ages

WORKSHOP: Listening to Jump Rope

May 10th
Anyone curious about jump rope is invited to take part in a jump rope workshop with the Italian performance group Parini Secondo, who are also performing at SWOP with the performance HIT OUT.

JUMP ROPE WORKSHOP
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All ages

SILENT DISCO

May 9th
Everyone is invited to a dance party at Rabalderstræde - with headphones!

SILENT DISCO
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All ages

CONCERT WITH LOSTE & Sort Blæk (DK)

May 10th
An energetic and authentic street concert at Dansepladsen!

Read more
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For all ages

NEW GENERATION (UA)

May 10th
Young dancers from Ukraine bring a bright, emotional, and high-energy performance that speaks without words and hits straight to the heart.

You don’t need a ticket for this performance; just show up and watch.
Read more
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For professionals from different sectors

Workshop - participation and choreography

May 10th
This workshop is for dance artists who work with - or want to explore - participatory processes: creating pieces with/for participants, leading workshops, teaching regularly, developing long-term participatory projects, amongst others. It also welcomes dramaturges, curators, programmers, and anyone interested in this approach from a conceptual perspective.

Read more and book tickets
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FOOD & DRINK

May 7th-11th
Karibu and Ibiza Bowls will be serving delicious food and drinks during the festival

Read more
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Welcome to SWOP - International Dance Festival for Children and Young People 2026

We have made a fantastic programme of dance performances from Denmark and Europe, for people of all ages. Whether you’re 1, 6 or 17 years old, SWOP has a performance for you. And they’re all suitable for adults too.
We hereby launch the performances of this year’s programme. You can look forward to our updates as more activities are added to the programme. Ticket sales starts on March 13th. All tickets are free!
If you are a professional guest who would like to watch performances at SWOP, you can read more and sign up for our professional festival programme here…

About SWOP

SWOP is a festival that’s all about swopping and exchanging like crazy! Swopping performances, ideas and knowledge across regional, national and international borders and of course… swopping dance moves!
SWOP Festival is an international dance festival in Roskilde for children and young people.  The festival is biannual and has existed since 2012. It offers a wide range of performances from around the world as well as a wealth of different activities.
Do you want to be part of the SWOP family? Become a volunteer! Read more…
Read more about SWOP

More info

Tickets
Tickets for SWOP are free of charge and must be booked directly through our website.
Booking opens on March 13th.
The SWOP app

Download the SWOP app to get a good overview of the festival programme. The app has a map of the festival’s venues and you can like your favourite performances and activities to get them in one place.
 

Practical info about venues

It is generally possible to walk and cycle in Roskilde. All venues are within cycling and walking distance from each other. Check Google Maps for more info. If you want to take the train and/or bus to and in Roskilde, you can find more info on Rejseplanen.

Aaben Dans
Address: Rabalderstræde 10, 4000 Roskilde.
Info about transport, parking and access for disabled people here. There is a toilet at Aaben Dans that is accessible for people with disabilities.

Roskilde Library
Address: Dronning Margrethes Vej 14, 4000 Roskilde
Info about accessibility for people with disabilities here and parking here. There are toilets at Roskilde Library.

Musicon: Including Hal 9, Søjlepladsen, Kunstsmedjen and Roskilde Festival Højskole
Hal 9: Lydmuren 18, 4000 Roskilde
Søjlepladsen: Penselstrøget 44, 4000 Roskilde
Kunstsmedjen: Bagtæppet 8, 4000 Roskilde
Roskilde Festival Højskole: Basgangen 20, 4000 Roskilde
There is wheelchair access at all venues. Info about parking here. There are toilets at all venues.

Stændertorvet
Address: Stændertorvet 1, 4000 Roskilde.
It is possible to get around with a wheelchair. Info about parking here. There are toilets (including a disabled-friendly one) on the square.

Become a volunteer
Every year the festival has a wonderful team of volunteers who help out during the festival with a variety of tasks.
Read more about volunteering at SWOP here…
If you are interested in volunteering or just want to hear more, please contact our volunteer manager Danielle at danielle@aabendans.dk.
For professional guests
We are looking forward to seeing you in Roskilde when SWOP Festival unfolds a beautiful dance – and art programme for the young audiences and the rest of us.
We have carefully planned a tour-de-SWOP for you and the other professionals where you will be able to attend all performances during the weekend May 7-11th.
Read more and sign up for our professional festival programme here…
Sponsors
Augustinus Fonden, Den A. P. Møllerske Støttefond, en privat fond, Kulturministeriets ekstraordinære Driftstilskud, Roskilde Kommunes Musikbypulje, Roskilde Kommunes Pulje til kultur- og idrætsarrangementer, Statens Kunstfonds Projektstøtteudvalg for Scenekunst, Wilhelm Hansen Fonden and William Demant Fonden.

And thanks for the collaboration with: ARGO, Fauda, Foreningen for Aktører på Musicon,  Kunstsmedjen,  Klub Øst og Klub Nord i Roskilde, Kulturskolen Roskilde, Roskilde Bibliotek, Roskilde Danhostel, Roskilde Festival, Roskilde Festivalhøjskole, Roskilde Kommune, Veje og grønne områder og ikke mindst alle vores aktive frivillige.

The team behind SWOP

Producer: Pernille Møller Taasinge

Production management: Elke Laleman og Morten Kolbak
Host- and project manager: Tina Skjoldager Fangel

Volunteer responsible: Thomas Nørskov og Danielle Grandeville

SoMe: Liv Anastasia Ikkala

Dancer, accommodation etc: Ole Birger Hansen

Curation: Gino Coomans, Pernille Møller Taasinge, Thomas Eisenhardt og Lisbeth Klixbüll

Technicians: Morten Kolbak, Elke Laleman, Thomas Dotzler, Imre Zsibrik, Brian Cord’homme, Karl-Johan Elsborg, Matilde Juul Gomes og Kramler Hummelgaard

Seminar: Micaela Kühn Jara og Alfredo Zinola

SWOP dance: Thomas Nørskov

SWOP dance instructors: Thomas Nørskov, Lars Bjørn Hansen og Signe Errboe

Photo: Ditte Valente

Video: Laura Kähne, Adam Klixbüll Eisenhardt, Rasmus, Tobias

Graphics: Line Thornberg

Evaluation: Christian Henkel Lund Nielsen

Cleaning: Lene Steffensen

Elephant keeper: Ida

Volunteers: Birgitta Dehn, Dorthe Sandahl, Frans Henriques, Gitte Nyborg, Liane Mlynec, Marianne Jørgensen, Marianna Rees Stock, Stine Løike, Susanne Buus, Edith Brandrup Elkjær, Agnes Lassen Mannov, Hjalte Elias Petersen, Frida Jørgensen Juste, Alma Ruggaard Lundorf, Aslak Hvidtfelt Stanek, Kaya Ankerbo Brown, Mads Winther Tipsmark, Dagmar Rosenørn, Ingrid Bækgaard Lassen, Luna Winther Lyster

Artistic director: Thomas Eisenhardt

Development director: Pernille Møller Taasinge

Director: Lisbeth Klixbüll