For now more than 40 years, dance enthusiasts from South Tyrol and all of Italy, from German-speaking Europe, from Luxembourg, France, Spain and even from the USA, have been pouring into Bozen in July. Here they are offered the opportunity to learn dance, develop their movement skills and see the works of some of the greatest international choreographers onstage. The numbers speak for themselves: In 1985 the number of participants was 96. That number has grown to 900 participants in the years 2007 to 2012! In recent years, the number of participants has settled at around 750 to 800. Over 400 choreographers from 5 continents have presented their work in Bolzano.
Thanks to the cooperation between the Haydn Foundation of Bolzano and Trento, (the organizer of the dance performances) and the South Tyrolean Cultural Institute, (which since 2003 has been responsible for the planning and coordination of all the dance workshops), this event is characterized by a mutual relationship between actively practiced dance for all and shaped by professional works upon the stage.
During the two weeks the workshop festival, a total of about 80 dance courses for adults and 10 kids packages for youngsters (from ages 5 to 14) are offered. Around 30 internationally renowned dance teachers and eight musicians transform not only the district of Gries, where the courses are held in 6 schools, but all of Bolzano into a dance city.
The lecturers of Tanz Bolzano-Bolzano Danza are chosen primarily for their pedagogical and artistic qualifications. Attention is paid to both continuity and renewal. Every year, new instructors who also specialize in the latest styles join our team of teachers who have been at the festival for quite some time. At various levels, beginners as well as professionals can learn from the best teachers. Most of the courses enjoy live accompaniment by excellent musicians.
Sharon Booth is Artistic Director of the workshops Tanz Bozen – Bolzano Danza since 2015.
A native of Canada, she received her professional training at the National Ballet School of Canada, the Banff Centre, and the prestigious Juilliard School in New York, subsequently performing on major international stages. Following engagements with Savage Jazz, Company C Contemporary, and Smuin Ballet in San Francisco, she attained the rank of Principal Dancer at Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal.
Following a significant hip injury, Sharon relocated to Vienna to transition into a new professional field. She became a certified Pilates instructor and currently serves as a guest lecturer and trainer at the Vienna State Opera and various international dance festivals. In 2020, she founded her own dance studio, "InDancity," in Vienna.
In 2025, she further expanded her directorial portfolio by staging the production "Strau$$" for the world-renowned ensemble Mnozil Brass.
Eva Luzia Preindl is the Project Manager of the workshop program Tanz Bozen – Bolzano Danza since 2025.
She studied Theatre, Film and Media Studies as well as German Philology in Graz and Vienna. During her studies, she gained professional experience at the Schauspielhaus Zürich, the Schauspielhaus Wien, and the Volkstheater Wien. At the Volkstheater, she worked within the dramaturgy department before serving as Artistic Production Manager for co-productions, guest performances, and concerts under the artistic direction of Kay Voges.
She has collaborated with numerous national and international artists, collectives, cultural institutions, agencies, and bands (including Rimini Protokoll, Fronte Vacuo, Doris Uhlich, Paul McCarthy, Christian Morin, TQW, Viennale, IWM, Buch Wien, Danger Dan, Calexico, Peaches, and Schmusechor).
Eva currently lives in Bruneck/Brunico.