Article by Beatrix Joyce // Jul. 25, 2017
Next month, Berlin’s biggest contemporary dance festival Tanz im August returns with a full programme of new works by international choreographers. For its 29th edition, the festival will present a total of 28 productions, carrying influences from a diverse range of disciplines such as flamenco, tango and butoh.
In the spotlight will be the Spanish, radical performance artist of the ’90s, La Ribot. The comprehensive retrospective ‘Occuuppatiooon!’ will include several of her performance works from the past two decades, most notably her six-hour durational performance ‘Laughing Hole’ (2006), presented at Sophiensaele. There will also be a selection of her video works on display at Galerie Barbara Weiss, various artist talks throughout the programme and a catalogue expanding on her artistic practice.
Another renowned Spanish choreographer, Rocío Molina, will present the German première of her piece ‘Caida del Cielo’ at Berliner Festspiele. Molina has received critical acclaim for her unique approach to flamenco due to her virtuosity and conceptual risk-taking. In a further exploration of the Hispanic traditions, choreographer Mathilde Monnier will present ‘El Baile’ in collaboration with author Alan Pauls. The piece is a contemporary take on the story of Buenos Aires: in true Argentinian spirit, through the art of tango.
Other highlights include British choreographer Michael Clark’s 2016 piece ‘to a simple, rock ’n’ roll… song’ and two new productions, ‘Kreatur’ and ‘Women’ by Sasha Waltz. The Berlin dance scene will be further represented with works by Jefta van Dinther, Lea Moro and returning artist Eszter Solomon. Aside from the performances, the public is invited to participate in a series of audience engagement formats and, through the foundation of the Bibliothek im August, a library providing books that have been chosen by this year’s Tanz im August artists.
