Dance, Dance and !mehrtanz……The Lofft’s Tanzoffensive=Great Stuff!
annette lopez neal, photo: maeshelle west-davies
I remember talking to a former ballerina and dance teacher after a performance of a modern dance piece. Her criticism? Improper technique. For some contemorary dance that’s a hard one because many times you are trying not to look as though you are performing, but rather being and doing. That doesn’t mean you don’t need help in learning about your body and where the energy comes from. Yesterday I got to watch a workshop where Annette Lopez Neal worked with dancers to improve their technique by understanding the moments and the sensations that should go with them. She’s here all week as part of the workshop series from !mehrtanz and connected to the Lofft’s Tanzoffensive.
annette lopez neal, photo: maeshelle west-davies
a bargain at 7€
Jelena Kostić's March, photo: rob hogeslag
TONIGHT’ TANZOFFENSIVE brings us the German premiere of March from serbian born Jelena Kostić. She is the artistic director and choreographer at Kostić, Foundation for Contemporary Art situated in Tilburg, Holland.
“With themes like collective political protest, being an alien in unfamiliar surroundings and gender/sex, Jelena Kostić creates art that means to make her international audience reconsider life itself. Her choreographies do not as much focus on dance aesthetics, the perfect physique or sublime technical skills. The performers are rather like cinematic characters, adapting to their role similar to actors. They limp, move about clumsily and are far from perfect. Their dance is sometimes brutal and confronting, then light and hilarious.
Cooperating with a small group of dancers, film makers and other creative professionals, Jelena Kostić keeps working meticulously on her own dance vocabulary, which blends surprisingly easy with the theatrical components and the social subjects that are so typical for her work.
As a director Kostić aims for a complete theatrical experience that dissolves the borders between drama, choreography, vocals and music. The contrast of sobriety and laughter is an important aspect of the performances: irony and other humoristic techniques are used as a balance for personal and social engagement as well as philosophical and moral values.
Jelena Kostić’s March, photo: rob hogeslag
A significant issue for Jelena Kostić is to explore new narrative directions within the realm of dance. The first performances already showed a particular use of anecdotic theatrical elements but since then she has been searching the limits to stretch the concept of storytelling. This results in a less literal approach: it has become a technique that she can fade in and out to suggest the presence of a story, rather than to give it away. This surreal effect is enhanced by involving other disciplines like film, visual arts and originally composed music as a major influence; all with the intention to move the spectator between a sense of comfortable reality and the alienation of abstraction.”
This is definately a must see. But if you can’t come tonight, you’re in luck because it will be performed again on Thur.
shows start at 8.00
16€/10€
Party til you drop tonight at African Point
It’s a full moon and there is something great to celebrate! Here comes one more Leipzig success story for the books. A couple of years ago, nigerian born Anthony decided to do what he loved: cook. He wanted to offer inexpensive filling food that he had grown up with. I was lucky that he opened his cafe, African Point, in my neighborhood. I really like the fried bananas!
Africa Point was more than a cafe. It was a meeting point for Africans and others who wanted a laid back and friendly atmosphere. People could eat and drink and dance to African music late into the night. There was only one problem….there were so many people coming that they outgrew the space.
Tonight is opening night of the new African Point Restaurant and Dance Bar at Rosa-Luxemburg Str 10. It’s a 5 minute walk from the main station and there’s lots of room to dance to the Nigerian and African music. There will be African food on sale, a fully stocked bar and ……..here’s a sample of the kind of tunes you’ll be shaking your booty to:
dontom vcd.mpg
Ice Prince ft. 2face Idibia – Wussup Wussup
Mentorx – African Beauty (official video)
Don’t miss
“THE GENESIS IN ORANGE ARENA” Mit DJ Tommy Randy
The Lofft’s Tanz Offensive has People Flocking to Leipzig
The Lofft is arguably the best place in town for cutting edge dance. Today marks the beginning of their contemporary dance festival, Tanz offensive.
Tanz Offensive 5-12 May, photo: Maeshelle West-Davies
The festival will consist of 5 German and International productions along with films at Augustus Platz, workshops, talks and even a festival lounge (with a BBQ). Wow!
up:
daily workshops with Annette Lopez Leal