Guest Choreography
New choreography for Deutsche Tanzkompanie
‘Fire, air, water and earth are in man, he consists of them. From fire he has warmth, breath from air, blood from water and flesh from earth; in the same way also from fire his sight, from air his hearing, from water his movement, from earth his uprightness.’ Hildegard of Bingen
The Deutsche Tanzkompanie’s cycle of the elements continues – and with it the search for new ideas; another attempt to explore what holds the world (and us humans) together at its core. After FIRE and WATER in the last two years, the Deutsche Tanzkompanie turns its attention to AIR.
It is what we literally need to breathe. This is reflected in the ideal of gentle, flowing and agile movements. Air also stands for freedom, for detachment, even for the lightness of being. But floating does not mean being weightless. When we trace the pulse of life, we also become aware of the unpredictability of the wind – lively and irrepressible. Its power drives us on, makes us fly higher and higher. Up to wind spirits, mythological figures. Like gods?
If the air is the ‘mediator’ among the elements, it can also be a destroyer. A storm arises – a force that can awaken the fight for survival or bring about change. Or the return to togetherness and harmony with and in nature and among people.
As a whole, the theme of air is so versatile and changeable that it harbours great potential for dramatic dance. In this commissioned work, choreographer Gaetano Posterino explores the diverse aspects of air in a full-length dance epic with a large, five-part arc.
The dance production is funded by the state government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Foundation for Traditional Dance in the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, the cities of Neustrelitz and Neubrandenburg.
Rehearsals will begin on 6 January 2025 and more information will be available here and on social media soon.
Deutsche Tanzkompanie Neustrelitz
World premiere: Schauspielhaus Neubrandenburg, 14 March 2025
Further planned performances: Landestheater Neustrelitz, Theater Putbus, open-air e.g. festival stage at Schlossberg Neustrelitz
Staging and choreography: Gaetano Posterino
Choreographic assistance: Vinícius da Silva
Cast world premiere: Emma Lucia Barattini, Sara Branco, Giorgia Enrico, Nicola Clarissa Gehring, Aidan Grierson, Luka Magalhaes, Noé Placencia, Charles Riddiford, Axel Rothe, Katherine Rooke, Linn Rümpler, Daisuke Sogawa
Libretto: Oliver Hohlfeld
Costum design: Nicola Clarissa Gehring
Stage design: Axel Rothe
Light design: Gaetano Posterino
Duration: approx. 80 min plus pause
Tickets: Programme Deutsche Tanzkompanie
Previews:
TV journalist Meike Beuckmann on meike.präsentiert, 11 Jan 2025: „‘In the rehearsals for the third part of the elements cycle, dancers immerse themselves in the world of ‘air’ under the direction of internationally renowned choreographer Gaetano Posterino. With elegance, precision and creative passion, a fascinating dance poem is created that expresses the complexity of the element. The intensive rehearsals not only demonstrate the ensemble’s dedication, but also Posterino’s unique signature, which transforms movement into poetry. An impressive process that noticeably increases the anticipation of the premiere!’
Nordkurier about ‘Zyklus der Elemente: Luft’, 11 Jan 2025: ‘Light-hearted or breathless: dancers promise ‘air’ with a wow effect: Gaetano Posterino has a difficult task: to arouse excitement and desire for what he has planned, but not to give too much away about the surprises he wants to give the audience with ‘wow effects’. The Italian succeeds in doing this with a cheerful lightness that fits perfectly with the theme of the evening on which Posterino is just starting to work with the Deutsche Tanzkompanie. […] Harmony between people is also a basic motif of his production, which is musically supported by the gentle sounds of nature and melodic instruments. A wind machine will also play a key role, as will a vertical platform on which the dancers appear to fly, or Perspex cubes in which conflicts between humans and nature culminate in a fight for survival.’
Strelitzius about „Der Zyklus der Elemente: Luft“, 06 Jan 2025: ‘The prospect of a wow or two with ‘Luft’: German dance company hires renowned choreographer for Elements cycle. The name alone elicits a wow. None other than Gaetano Posterino is rehearsing ‘Luft’ with the Deutsche Tanzkompanie, the third piece in the company’s element cycle. The choreographer and dancer, who is at home on stages all over the world, provided the traditional introduction to the work for the ensemble and press this afternoon and promised more wows once his vision of the material has been realised. […] Marco Zabel, Managing Director of the Deutsche Tanzkompanie, was delighted to have Posterino on board. The intensity with which the guest got involved with the company in such a short space of time was remarkable.’