Graphics: Cyan.
In the current season, the Staatsballett Berlin invites you to five dates of the discussion round BALLET FOR FUTURE? WE MUST TALK! and thus opens a public debate on fundamental questions about ballet as an art form. On the first date, 14 September 2021, the traditional repertoire will be questioned.
On five dates, the Staatsballett Berlin invites you to discuss the general state of ballet as an art form and to bring up the thoughts and suggestions that move audiences, dancers, critics, activists and academics. With an open mind and with participants from as many different perspectives as possible, questions of age / race / religion / ability / class / gender will be reflected upon in dialogue.
The first event on 14 September 2021 at 7 pm will be a roundtable on the ballet repertoire, which will be critically examined. What may, what can, what should a ballet company perform nowadays? Is it possible to re-evaluate the iconography in a multi-perspective way? How should one deal with the critical content and establish communication about it in the performance?
Claudia Henne, include dance scholars Prof. Dr. Gabriele Brandstetter (FU Berlin) and Dr. Mariama Diagne (currently university assistant for gender studies at the University of Performing Arts Vienna), Ingrid Lorentzen (Artistic Director of the Norwegian National Ballet Oslo), Black Pearl (freelance dancer), Federico Spallitta (principal dancer Staatsballett Berlin), Dr. Christiane Theobald (acting artistic director Staatsballett Berlin) and dance critic Arnd Wesemann (tanz). Christiane Theobald (Kommissarische Intendant Staatsballett Berlin) and dance critic Arnd Wesemann (tanz).
Further dates deal with power structures in theatre (November 2021), training situation (January 2022), audience structure (March 2022) and dancers’ health (May 2022).
Christiane Theobald, acting artistic director and initiator of the series, is looking forward to a lively exchange:
“With the awareness raised on issues of discrimination and diversity in cultural institutions, we want to question what we experience, on stage, in dance and in discourse with our audiences. We invite discussion to reflect with experts on the questions surrounding the future of our art form from as many perspectives as possible and I look forward to a questioning, prismatic breaking down of the iconography of cultural ballet heritage.”
The event will be held in German and English. Admission to the events in the Foyer de la danse is free of charge. Registration at balletforfuture@staatsballett-berlin.de is required. In accordance with current regulations of the Land of Berlin, the event series is open to audiences who have tested negative, have been vaccinated or are recovering, in a chequerboard pattern. A medical or FFP2 mask must be worn from the moment you enter the venue and until you leave, please.
Staatsballett Berlin
BALLET FOR FUTURE? WE NEED TO TALK!
Public debates about the art form of ballet
Topics and dates
14 September 2021, 7.00 p.m.
Deutsche Oper Berlin, Foyer de la danse
Ballet repertoire yesterday, today and tomorrow
04 November 2021, 7.00 pm
Deutsche Oper Berlin, Foyer de la danse
Power and discrimination in the cultural sector
13 January 2022, 7.00 p.m.
Deutsche Oper Berlin, Foyer de la danse.
Training and Mentoring. The path to the stage
03 March 2022, 7.00 pm
Deutsche Oper Berlin, Foyer de la danse.
Visitors and non-visitors. An art world for specialists?
Deutsche Oper Berlin, Foyer de la danse
Best Performance? To the limits of endurance
Admission free, registration required under balletforfuture@staatsballett-berlin.de