Confluence nr#2 ~ PAF (St. Erme). November 19 till 28, 2025

(Scroll  for Protocols, Practicalities and Crew present on the ground.) 

Following the abundance of our inaugural gathering in September, DAI now returns to the Performing Arts Forum in St. Erme in the North of France for Confluence#2. This time we will embark on focussed research, to be structured by the four curriculum components of our program (Kitchen, COOP, HTDTWT & WEAVER), embracive of all gestures and movements extending within, around and beyond them. 

Two-days of explorative 'acts', coined as the KITCHEN will bring 16 student-presenters in a choreographed conversation with spirited guest respondents Tobi Haslett & Laila Hida. The Kitchen is convened by DAI's artistic director Gabriëlle Schleijpen, with Peter Sattler as production supervisor. Thrilled to have Elisa Giuliano joining us again in flesh to further engage on a series face to face conversations with 2nd year presenters, while we are welcoming (back) Leire Vergara who joins us this time as auditor, in preparation of face to face conversations with 1st year presenters to be scheduled during Confluence#3 in Nida in January. 

How To Do Things With Theory tutors return for two full days of seminars; Dr. Sladja Blazan, Dr. Sarah Lewis-Cappellari, Dr. Amit S. Rai, Dr. Ghalya Saadawi, Dr. Hypatia Vourloumis and Dr. Grant Watson. HTDTWT's education leader is Dina A. Mohamed (this Confluence working remotely). We are excited to salute dear DAI alumn and now PhD candidate Theresa Zwerschke who will join us to contribute to Grant Watson's seminar. 

Six COOP tutorial teams and their guests join us for 3 full days of collaborative study and practice; Noor Abuarafeh, Lydia Amarouche, Frédérique Bergholtz, Eglė Budvytytė, Daniellis Hernandez Calderon, Marina Christodoulidou, Angelo Custodio, Chiara Figone, Aziza Harmel, Egija Inzule, Dirar Kalash, Mokia Dinnyuy Manjoh, Harun Morrison, Nissa Nishikawa, Iman Salem and Jonas Žukauskas. COOP's education leader is Philippa(Flip)Driest.

This year DAI is again gratefully teaming up with 6 wonderful COOP-partners: De Appel Amsterdam (Amsterdam), Archive Ensemble (Berlin, Dakar, Milan), Hosting Lands (Copenhagen), If I Can't Dance I Don't Want To Be Part Of Your Revolution (Amsterdam), Neringa Forest Architecture (Basel, Nida, Vilnius) and SAVVY Contemporary (Berlin). 

WEAVER offers a beautifully wild compilation of student led classes a.k.a. the Factory, as well as this academic year's first iteration of Sophia Zbinovsky Braddel's food research laboratory 'How To Cook Things While Roaming'. WEAVER's education leader is Nikos Doulos                                                    

Palestine Teach Outs second iteration of the academic year 2025-2026 towards the end of Confluence#2 brings a presentation aimed at the entire student body by Dirar Kalash (guest of COOP study group Salt of the Earth). The next and final day of the Confluence we are over the moon to re-connect with Golrokh Nafisi, a longstanding friend of DAI, who on a journey from Tehran to Amsterdam (and back) makes a stop-over in France, especially for us! Golrokh will be accompanied by her partner Ahmadali Kadivar, an archivist of Iranian folk music.

As always, our students are actively contributing to our modus operandi through participation in the COUNCIL as well as the General Assembly.

Last but not least, we are delighted to (re-)introduce Wanderley Santos,  joining us "in real life" on the evening of Saturday 22nd to welcome you to In-space: DAI's online supportive thinking space to reflect on issues around 'your own and others’ experiences as a member of the DAI-community'.

DAI Confluence#2 ~ The Program From Day To Day:

Please check on a daily base, schedules + updates are to be found here.

WEDNESDAY 19 ~ Arrival 

THURSDAY 20 ~ KITCHEN

FRIDAY 21 ~ KITCHEN

SATURDAY 22 ~ HTDTWT 

SUNDAY 23 ~ HTDTWT

MONDAY 24 ~ WEAVER

TUESDAY 25 ~ COOP

WEDNESDAY 26 ~ PTO & COOP

THURSDAY 27 ~ PTO & COOP

FRIDAY 28 ~ Departure all

DAI Confluence#2 ~ How To Live & Study Together at PAF

PERFORMING ARTS FORUM 
15, Rue Haute
02820 St Erme Outre et Ramecourt
France

Please make sure to carefully read the up-dated practicalities & protocols:

PAF PRACTICALITIES

STUDENTS: WHO TO CONTACT; WHEN AND ABOUT WHAT ?

DAI's Code of Conduct for Staff-Student Contacts 

Support Structure ~ Crew present on the ground at PAF:

Hospitality facilitator Kastė Šeškevičiūtė assisted by Lonneke Pastoor.

Senior co-ordinator "roaming" finances, logistics and office management Jacq van der Spek.

Senior co-ordinator for production & workspace facilities & study support: Peter Sattler.

Culinary input (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for this entire DAI Confluence by DAI's 'chef de cuisine' Sophia Zbinovsky Braddel in close collaboration with Holly Taylor and assisted by Koen Scheffer.

Remotely active to co-shape this first Confluence:

Website curator, editor-in-chief Giulia Crispiani, house style designers Lauren AlexanderHanna Rullmann, Names & Faces booklets & more: Ricardo Liong-A-Kong, and last but not least: chair of admissions Marika Vandekraats.

The Back-Office (making it all possible!):

Our bookkeeper Corine van der Wal. Travel Support: Georgia Stellin and Hemminkways. 

Please consult our CREW page for a complete overview and more information about the division of tasks.