The Guide to Attending ImPulsTanz Vienna International Dance Festival

27 May 2026

ImPulsTanz Vienna International Dance Festival is an annual dance festival every July - August in Vienna, Austria. Spanning 4-5 weeks, it is a training ground and research centre for dancers and movers amateur to professional. They offer over 200 workshops each year, along with performances, auditions, student programs, somatics, physiotherapy, parties, and more.

I attended ImPulsTanz from July 14 - August 2, 2025.

This guide is based on my personal experiences and is in no way intended to discredit, defame, or maliciously criticize the event. Please refer to the organizer’s official website for the latest program updates and festival schedule.

ImPulsTanz is the largest dance festival and one of the oldest in Europe, established in 1984. It's become a central hub for the contemporary and experimental dance scenes, with an international cast of performers, choreographers, teachers, and students.

The Festival is very accessibility-focused, offering a large pool of somatic workshops and all-levels access, including kids' programming.

They stand out remarkably for their free physiotherapy onsite and free child care.

With this guide, I hope you give you raw insight into the quirks and workings of ImPulsTanz and highlight some overlooked tips & tricks that could save you a lot of money.

What is dance travel?

Also known as “dance tourism,” dance travel is the dancer’s key to seeing the world while developing their craft.

dance travel — n. a means of travelling the world using dance as a catalyst and/or foremost purpose; activities can include taking workshops, attending festivals, teaching dance, and more.

There are several steps to follow for attending any dance festival abroad or in-nation:

1. Do your research. Which festival do you want to attend and when? What is the destination like? Do you need a Visa?
2. Get the money, and manage your budget.
3. Sign up. Look up their website.
4. Apply for grants (optional but highly recommended!).
5. Prepare travel essentials like cash exchanges, money debit cards, and travel insurance.
6. Pack light. Pack like a dancer.

Your travel documents

Before you even consider going abroad, check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip. Check your government website for any visas or other documents needed for the destination, as well as risk advisories. Renewing your passport and/or applying for visas will all take some time, so factor this into your planning.

Starting in 2026, many countries also require an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter. Apply for this once your plans are confirmed. It costs a small fee and processes in a few minutes to a few days, depending on your circumstances.

The website

ImPulsTanz's website is located at https://www.impulstanz.com/en/.

I'd say it's slightly less hectic than b12's, but at first glance, it's still very overwhelming. There are pages and pages hidden under umbrella tabs (though they've improved accessibility for 2026). It's best to navigate the different sections from the Menu button in the top left corner.

The most important sections to visit are "Performances" and "Workshops & Research."

The Performances section offers a calendar of all incoming choreographers and their productions. Performances take place all throughout the month, with evening shows timed to start after the last workshop ends on any given day, so students get a chance to make it to the theatre. Discounts are available for select groups and professionals.

The Workshops & Research section gives an overview of all classes, weekend intensives, and research projects available. Go under "Workshops" first to familiarize yourself with the different styles and offerings. Then, you can go back and click on "Calendar" to figure out your personal timetable using the filters.

There are plenty of other fun opportunities to participate, but we'll go into detail on each of those later.

One great feature is the Archive page, where you can see who's taught and/or performed at the Festival before. You'll notice some teachers come back every year (good news if you can't fit all of them into one summer!), and some teachers are brand new (also good news! this keeps things fresh and exciting).

Choosing your workshops

There are infinite ways to choose your workshops at ImPulsTanz, and it all depends on what styles you have in mind, what level you want to take (you can mix and match), and what you're hoping to achieve.

ImPulsTanz is excellent for the self-determining dancer because you're not locked into a specific level. I've attended an intensive before where if you choose advanced modern dance, you must be in advanced ballet, for example.

Each workshop at ImPulsTanz is individual; as long as you can fit them into your schedule, everything's fair game.

In general, the workshops are divided into these categories:

• Technique (open/beginner/intermediate/advanced)
• Accessible/somatic
• Repertoire (advanced+)
• Intensives (taking place only on the weekends, all day)
• Research projects (curated fields of study that require an application)
• Childrens' programming
• Golden Age (seniors 60+)

I've noticed that ImPulsTanz has a greater emphasis on experimental work, and you'll find classes here you won't find at most other festivals. There could be anything from sensual floorplay, somatic drag, and dancing naked with slime (yes!) to your characteristic ballet, jazz, and hip hop.

Popular workshops year-to-year include: