This project explores what causes people's actions - through movement, sound, light and images.

The project was motivated by the curiosity of artists in Russia, Ukraine, Sweden and Norway to use their different cultural backgrounds and different means of artistic expression. By meeting with new people and finding new places, they have a chance to reach new areas in their artistic expression. Different expressions and cultural backgrounds give them an interesting but challenging starting point for collaboration.

In the MOVE project, artists create common ground through their shared experiences; a palette of memories, emotions, people, sounds and visions that they use as colours and reference points, independent of art form or cultural background.
MOVE wants to find new audiences in the four participating countries.

Stage art has the capacity to communicate.But why does one work of art communicate to some people while not to others? MOVE wants to get to know their audience and through this have a better starting point for communication.

Through their meetings with people, they want to provoke questions and exchange motion and emotions. By exposing culture and artistic expressions from each country to foreign environments, they aim to add new dimensions. For the audience this can bring new perspectives on their own culture.

MOVE also aims to disseminate further knowledge of contemporary dance from the Nordic countries to Ukraine and Russia. Organisers want to work for the development and growth of the art scene in Russia and Ukraine and also bring artistic expression back to Scandinavia. Due to economic reasons and visa procedures, it is difficult for young semi-professional dancers in the former Soviet Union to go to Western Europe.

As part of the process, MOVE includes site-specific installations, club gigs, street performances and workshops. MOVE has completed its artistic research through residencies in Sweden (2006) and Ukraine (2007). In 2008 organisers have moved their process to Russia (June-July) and Norway (Sep-Oct).

The final outcome is “What moves you?”, a performance about motion and emotions that will premiere during a residency at Dans I Nord in Piteå, Sweden on 12 September 2008 followed by a development in northern Norway. Further touring with “What moves you?” is planned for 2009 and 2010.

MOVE co-partners provide production and performance facilities for "What moves you?" including studio facilities and local cultural know-how. They also take responsibility for local marketing and contact with local artists.

The reason for the different participating artists is diverse artistic expression by young talented artists. By having a MOVE participant from each participating country, organisers thereby have a link between the project and their partners.

MOVE has until now operated on a large scale through voluntary work by the participants. Exchanging favours has also played a big part. For activities in 2006-2007, the organisers received funding (which mainly covered travel expenses) from: the Nordic Culture Foundation, Arts Council Sweden and the Swedish Institute. Partners also provide local funding and general facilities.

For further operation in 2008, more stable funding is secured from Nordic Culture Point and Arts Council Sweden.