About

SVALHOLM DANS - Danish Cultural Exchange & Performing Art is a non-profit association based in Aarhus, Denmark.
We build innovative and global platforms for art and cultural exchange.
Through our international cooperation we forge valuable strong ties across cultural and geographical borders between Denmark and other nations.

We have extensive experience in developing projects in collaboration with professional cultural organizations, international artists and Danish embassies around the world. We have previously cooperated with The Danish Embassy and the Danish Institute in France, Greece, Lebanon, Syria and Morocco.
Our highly committed board members are: Chairman Erik Meistrup (professional board member of several Danish cultural organizations, former art critic, Director of a local TV-station a.m.), Hans Christian Korsholm Nielsen (former Director of The Danish Institute in Damascus), Christian Lindholm Larsen (innovator and entrepreneur) and Thomas Raaber (Executive Assistant Manager of a five star Hotel in Abu Dhabi).
Nønne Mai Svalholm is Director of SVALHOLM DANS - Danish Cultural Exchange & Performing Arts. She is an Intercultural Mentor for Performing Arts at the Danish Arts Council and is a pioneer with vast experience in presenting Danish culture and performing arts in collaboration with official cultural organizations, both nationally and internationally.
Nønne Mai Svalholm is former Artistic Director for young talents at the Royal Danish Ballet in Holstebro, and a former teacher both there and at the Royal Danish Ballet in Odense.

Nønne Mai Svalholm is Artistic Director of SVALHOLM DANS. In addition to being a choreographer she is Intercultural Mentor for Performing Arts, the Danish Arts Council. She has several years of experience in developing activities for and with youths in Denmark and beyond; in particular with intercultural and cultural exchange projects in the Middle East. Nønne Mai Svalholm is former artistic director of GKD, the Royal Danish Ballet School in Holstebro (Denmark), and former teacher at the Royal Danish Ballet Schools in both Holstebro and Odense (Denmark).Nønne Mai Svalholm collaborates closely with other artists, cultural organisations, and schools and academies for young talents in Denmark and abroad.

Erik Meistrup has been Chairman of SVALHOLM DANS since 2008. He is a board member of several other cultural organisations including Randers Art Museum, the Danish Poster Museum and the Old Town Museum of Aarhus. For the past ten years he has also been part of the Acting Judge at the city court, Aarhus. From 2001 to 2011 he was Director of Mediehus Aarhus, a local TV-station where he has produced a number of programmes on art and culture, science matters and public debate. For the past 15 years he has been an art critic, a freelance curator of art exhibitions and editor of the Art Newspaper in Denmark, for which he has written a number of articles, reviews and books about art and artists.

Thomas Raaber Svalholm is Executive Assistant Manager of the five star Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – member of Small leading Hotels of the World “SLH”. Thomas Raaber Svalholm graduated in International Economics, Marketing and European Culture from Aalborg University (Denmark), and holds a degree in Hospitality Management / Business Administration. His Curriculum includes; positions at Radisson SAS hotels in Reykjavik, Leeds and Bratislava, Director of Operations at restaurant/cocktail bar Stiften and Restaurant Tværgade (Denmark), City Hotel Manager at CABINN, Denmark from 2008-2011, and more.

Christian Lindholm Larsen’s work and interests are centered on the region of Mid Jutland, Denmark, where he grew up and lives to this day. He is a self-starter, an innovator and entrepreneur with a broad field of interests. He has been member of the Board of Directors of several companies and real estate businesses including SVALHOLM DANS Danish Cultural Exchange & Performing Arts, Befro Invest, Norventum Fund No. 1 A/S, Mindit Aps, Cvl Ejendomsinvest A/S, Whiteout Music Aps, Scp Invest VI A/S, Cvl Invest A/S, Bøgh & Larsen Kaffecompagni Aps, Lindholm & Larsen Ejendomsinvest Aps and Cvl Administration Aps.

Hans Christian Korsholm Nielsen is former Director of the Danish Institute in Damascus (2007-2010). He is an anthropologist from the Department of Ethnography and Social Anthropology, University of Aarhus (MPhil 1992; PhD 2000). His research has been focused on Yemen where he has worked on urban society matters, primarily in the old part of the capital, Sanaa; and Egypt where he has worked on local politics and traditional law for a number of years, especially in southern Egypt. Hans Christian Korsholm Nielsen has published several books and articles on the Middle East and he is the co-editor of the book: “Middle Eastern Cities 1900-1950. Public Places and Public Spheres in Transformation” Proceedings of the Danish Institute in Damascus.