We start new under the name DANSE DANZA TANZ!
After 3 editions in 4 theaters and regions of Switzerland, 23 works created from 1913 to 2010 reinterpreted, almost 5000 people – artists, stage professionals, almost 200 dancers, the theater and festival teams and all the audiences touched by its action for almost 5 years, we are re-starting with a lighter and more intensive version.
We have created and made available comprehensive documentation of the 23 works whose reinterpretations we produced between 2018 and 2023. For each work, there is a dedicated web page with links to the artists‘ and groups‘ websites where they exist. All videos of the reinterpretations are available for free consultation. Each web page can be exported in PDF format for free download. Each work is presented with the same structure: original work, artist, reinterpretation, group, links and, if available, information on the production and distribution of the work. >>>Documentation
As a reminder, we imported this idea from France, where danse en amateur et répertoire, a support program sponsored by the Centre national de la danse de Pantin, has existed since 2009. patrimoine, danse! is the Swiss version, with the same principle: ensure that non-professional dance groups of at least 5 motivated and experienced people work with professional choreographers on their past works, and produce reinterpretations in the form of short pieces of no more than 15′, which are presented together to the public during a festival. Based on the immense, and still largely unknown to the public, diversity of the landscape and history of dance, generically referred to as „contemporary“ for just over 100 years, the project-festival opened up this space of possibilities and demonstrated its creative potential by building bridges across borders.
What has fascinated us over all these years are the multiple formations and articulations between past, present, future, professional, non-professional, generations and origins that have emerged. A diversity that reflects Switzerland, Europe and the Great Continent that is the Earth we inhabit together. We plan for this idea to continue to create these engagements, connections and opportunities in the Swiss dance landscape and even beyond the borders, at least to Germany and Austria.
* the artists‘ and companies‘ repertory works – as such, their video recordings and photographic images – are the exclusive and full property of their official legatees: all this magnificent and often rare material has been made available to us exclusively within the framework of calls for projects, so that motivated groups of dancers can discover these original works and imagine reinterpretation projects. This material is preserved and can be reactivated if the artists so wish.
Contact : Toma Péronnet / admin(at)dansedanzatanz.ch / 076 526 78 44 (F/D/E)REMINDER OF THE FESTIVAL-PROJECT PRINCIPLES
We present here what took place during the 3 editions.
At the origin of each reinterpretation project is an original professional work created in Switzerland, whose premiere took place at least 10 years before the date of public presentation at the festival. The reinterpretation work is carried out by the dance group and its director under the artistic responsibility of the artist – named coach because of the two skills required, creativity and pedagogy, who is either the author of the original work or a recognized legatee.
Artistic, dramatic and pedagogical choices were made in harmony with the group’s composition and direction, according to free parameters. Each project was a new constellation and a new adventure! An important condition of participation was to stay as close as possible to the original work. As most of the original works were long plays, the transition to the short play format (maximum 15′) was often a key point in the dramaturgical decisions and choices.
The association kulturerbe, tanz! paid the coaches for a maximum of 60 hours‘ work at 100 fr an hour, and financed the June festival as a professional event: preparation, stage technique, communication, festival management. It welcomed all the groups, depending on their distance from the festival site, and organized collective meals and evening parties after the premieres. For the participants, it was an intensive immersion in the world of professional dance, with a run-through, dress rehearsal and two public performances.
The highlight of the festival and the project was the group exchange. This took place over an afternoon or morning, and enabled each group to present its work to the other groups. It was a unique, rare and exceptional moment. Imagine almost 100 people of different origins, ages and training, together on a stage, listening to each other and exchanging words and, above all, dance movements! A concentrate of what only dance can bring.
To give the festival greater regional visibility, dance workshops were organized during the season of the last edition. They were free and open to all. Certain artists presenting reinterpretations of the works were free to present their choreographic art to the public during each of the 3-hour workshops!
Funding for the project-festival was plurially ensured by all the regions from which the artists, works and groups originated, and which accepted the principle. A distribution key was proposed. A number of public and private institutions gave us comprehensive and repeated support. The task of finding funding, in two or three languages depending on the project, was a complex one, requiring a great deal of understanding of the diversity of cultural support structures in each target town or region. Sometimes it was the artistic work, sometimes the mediation work, sometimes both that had to be highlighted.
Between 2017 and 2024, the following institutions supported the project:
Bundesamt für Kultur / Office fédéral de la Culture, Pro Helvetia, loterie romande délégation valaisanne, loterie romande délégation jurassienne, Regionalkonferenz Kultur Region Luzern RKK, Burgergemeinde Bern, Oerlti Stiftung, Hirzel Stiftung, Stanley Thomas Johnson Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Migros Kulturprozent, Kanton Aargau Swisslos, Kanton Basel Stadt Kulturpauschal, Kanton Basel-Landschaft Swisslos, Kanton Fribourg, Canton du Jura, Kanton Luzern Swisslos, Kanton St Gallen, Kanton Solothurn Swisslos, Repubblica e Cantone Ticino Swisslos, Canton de Vaud, Kanton Wallis , Stadt Bern, Ville de Biel-Bienne, Ville de la Chaux-de-Fonds, Stadt Luzern FUKA Fonds