Dansk Danseteater (Danish Dance Theatre) is Denmark's national contemporary dance company, founded in 1981 as Nyt Dansk Danseteater by choreographer Randi Patterson and a group of co-founders. Based at the Opera House on Holmen in Copenhagen, the company brings together an international ensemble of hand-picked dancers. Since April 2023, Spanish choreographer Marina Mascarell has led the company, shaping its repertoire around humanist values. Each year the company tours widely across Denmark and abroad, while its free open-air event Copenhagen Summer Dance has drawn broad audiences since 2004.
Dansk Danseteaters Summer Dance 2026 is held August 26-30 in front of the Opera House on Holmen with the performance Le Scénario by Philip Berlin - all performances are free.
Summer Dance on tour visits Aarhus, Mors, Odense and Aalborg in August-September 2026 with Le Scénario.
The performance Before the End, created in co-production with Betty Nansen Theatre and directed by Chilean Marco Layera, is on national tour in Denmark from September 2026.
Dansk Danseteater became a member of the trade and employers' association Dansk Teater as of January 1, 2025.
Marina Mascarells' first original work for the company, Bloody Moon, had its world premiere at Copenhagen Summer Dance 2024 on Ofelia Plads.
Dansk Danseteater's Summer Dance festival takes place in front of the Opera House with the choreography Le Scénario, free performances, and workshops for all ages.
Dansk Danseteater invites children to a fun dance workshop exploring movement, creativity, and imagination.
A performance about humanity's final celebration, created by Betty Nansen Teatret and Dansk Danseteater - both a call to action and a tribute to life.
Humorous dance performance by Chilean director Marco Layera with eleven dancers exploring the moment before collapse. A physical and colourful show about panic, fear and hope.
Children aged 7-9 join a three-session dance workshop at the Opera inspired by DRØM, combining performances and creative movement with professional dancers.
Dansk Danseteater for Børn invites 5-6-year-olds to three dance sessions inspired by CREATURES OF BUTTER, where children watch professional dancers and participate actively in creative movement games.
A three-session dance workshop for children aged 7-9 combining performance samples and creative movement games from CREATURES OF BUTTER, with parental participation at the end of each session.