Berlin Dances to Erase Differences

“Dance in August” Festival in Berlin takes place this month

August 22nd, 2016

Silvia Muci, Berlin Global

Once again, the city of Berlin will play host to one of the most important contemporary dance festivals in all Europe. For over three weeks (12 August - 4 September 2016), the Hebbel am Ufer theatre (HAU) and other venues will be hosting performers and choreographers from across the world.

Bulgaria, Nigeria, Scotland, France, the USA, Italy and Canada: are just some of the countries taking part in the Dance in August Festival. The tightly scheduled event involves many world-class professionals who often take this opportunity to debut their shows.

Most of the performances are, in fact, related to social issues. The Scottish choreographer Claire Cunningam will present a show - Give Me a Reason to live - which is accessible to people with a hearing impairment. It deals with the concept of “difference” through imagery from the paintings of the Early Netherlandish painter Hieronymus Bosch, in which the representation of bodies of disabled people is a central feature.

The Nigerian poet, community organizer, producer and cultural strategist Jaamil Olawale Kosoko from Detroit has created a performance in memory of his brother, who died in violent circumstances before his time. This tragedy gave birth to #negrophobia, a show which tells an individual, and at the same time a universal story, which raises many question about African-American men and their relationship with their environment.

But this Festival does not solely revolve around performances. In fact, several spaces for dialogue have been organized in order for participants to share their impressions and comments. The audience will have the opportunity to attend two different types of social exchange: the first is the Meeting of Minds, during which artists and guests from various disciplines talk about the meaning of their performances directly after they are performed.

The second space is called Dance Circle, which is a meeting of spectators in which everyone is at the same level: everybody can express his questions and thoughts on the basis of the show. The significance of this Festival lies in showing the world that dancing is not just something to feel, dancing is food for thought.

References:

• http://english.tanzimaugust.de/home/
• https://www.berlin.de/en/events/2844810-2842498-dance-in-august.en.html

See more at: http://www.berlinglobal.org/index.php?berlin-dances-to-erase-differences