Experiencing Dansens Hus with kids

When we moved to Oslo with our two-year-old daughter, we were looking for experiences that did not need translation. We did not speak Norwegian yet, but we still wanted to explore the city together and feel connected to our new home. Luckily, we discovered Dansens Hus, which quickly became one of our favorite places in Oslo!

The reason is simple, but also unique: the language of art is universal. Dance can make you feel so many different things (my favorite feeling is freedom!), and there is no right way to understand it. After many visits to Dansens Hus with our daughter, we have found a way to make the experience even more enjoyable. I hope this little guide will be helpful for your family too!

Arriving at Dansens Hus

What surprised me most from the very beginning was how welcoming Dansens Hus is for children. It is not simply “see the performance and leave right after.” It feels more like an invitation to come early, enjoy the space, and discover something unusual together as a family, at your own pace.

When we arrive, families are usually already settling in. Parents with younger children relax with them on soft beanbags. Older children explore the play area or check out specially designed activity booklets, and there are pencils for drawing too. There is also a baby changing area, a café, and tables where families can sit down for a snack. These may sound like small details, but they make a huge difference when visiting with children.

Før forestillingen

Nå er datteren min fire år, og selvfølgelig er hun veldig nysgjerrig (vel, hvem sin barn er ikke det?). Når forestillingen begynner, kommer spørsmålene med en gang: «Mamma, hva skjer her?»

Ærlig talt, bare ved å se på, har jeg ofte ingen anelse heller. Jeg tror det å være litt forvirret er en viktig del av å oppleve samtidskunst! Men for å hjelpe min lille følgesvenn, liker jeg å lese forestillingsbeskrivelsen på nettsiden på forhånd. Selv å vite noe enkelt, som hovedtemaet, hjelper meg med å veilede henne når vi er der.

During the Performance

We often quietly chat during performances, which no one seems to mind at all. I do not tell her, “This means this,” or “The dancers are showing that.” Instead, I let her imagination lead the way, only slightly setting a direction. I might ask questions like:

“What do these movements remind you of?”

“Does the music sound like something? Maybe like an animal or a creature?”

“How does it make you feel?”

“Is it funny, strange, or exciting?”

I think giving children freedom to experience art in their own way matters so much. During performances, there is plenty for them to notice and explore: immersive music, interesting settings and prompts, changes in light, artists’ costumes, and of course, all the movements. My daughter often comes up with ideas completely different from anything I have read in the description!

I also do not expect my daughter to sit still, even for 45 minutes. What makes it easy is the relaxed atmosphere at Dansens Hus. Does your child feel like dancing? Feel free to join in. Does your baby crawl into the middle of the space and start checking out the props? No problem. Artists often interact with children, and participation is welcomed too. And of course, if your child needs a break, you can always step out and come back. No judgement here.

Our favorite part, though, is how interactive the experience often becomes! Before or after the performance, children may get the chance to try out props or create their own art. My daughter absolutely loved exploring all the unusual musical instruments before KRETS, and she had a blast in the paper mess after Club Origami!

After the Visit

Both as a mom and as a teacher, I love continuing the experience through small creative activities at home. When we went to Oil-Dino-Du and made our own magnets in the workshop, we later tested them all around the house and talked about how magnets work. After Club Origami, my daughter became interested in folding paper, so we spent the evening making and flying paper planes. I love how these little follow-up moments help spark her creativity!

And if you are still debating whether to visit Dansens Hus with your kids, here is the main reason why we keep coming back. Contemporary art can sometimes feel too strange or absurd for adults. But for children, it feels completely natural: something playful, unusual, exciting, and full of possibility! Above all, children get to see the world through new lenses, and maybe even discover interests they might carry with them later. Isn’t that one of the best gifts we can offer them? 

That is certainly how I feel. If I am lucky, one day, when my daughter is older, we will return to Dansens Hus together for performances for adults too. And I hope it will feel like a very special bond and shared interest — something we have been building since she was still a little girl.

Olha from @family_in_oslo