How Zurich Tanzt the city’s annual dance programme redefines how we experience dance festivals today
The brand new and updated edition of the city's established dance festival which is on online and in the city until the end of the month, takes over our screens, while introducing us to cultural centres and districts. The festival's team has put a lot of energy into redesigning the festival in order to make it as participative as possible despite the current situation. Instead of a three-day program, the festival used virtual and physical spaces for three weeks this year.
Zurich Tanzt encouraged participants to dance and make movement art and culture a part of their everyday life. At a time when social activities have been reduced, everyone is looking for a way to participate in community activities while staying healthy. This year's festival concept took on this challenge inviting everyone to take part and watch in different and new ways: with a TikTok challenge by an aspiring Swiss choreographer, at a Sunday raven to a live DJ set via gds.fm, through dance instructions in the tram and bus, with an interactive walk by the dance collective The Field, whose participants are connected via an app or via an intimate virtual live solo by Valerie Reding for 5 people each. From May 3rd, the complete program, donation ticketing and all other information can be found at www.zuerichtanzt.ch
Artists and Facilitators include:
Mirjam Gurtner & TANZflug, Valerie Reding, House of B. Poderosa, Lucas Valente, Jenna Hendry & Matilda Bilberg, Alice tanzt, Neda Razavipour, 2Face Battle, Godfather TV, Rhodia, The Field, Collectif du feu de dieu, Martin Schick, compagnie O., Passion Fruit Dance Company, Oliver Roth, Teresa Vittucci, bollwerkfilm & Cinedans FEST, SAPA (Swiss Archive of the Performing Arts), Cie. Gilles Jobin, TanzLOBBY, Damien Manivel, Kids in Dance, gds.fm and crash course teachers.
In this year's campaign, the festival gave a voice to those who would otherwise prefer to let their bodies speak. Lucas Valente, who used to be a professional footballer and now dances ballet, talks about why it can sometimes be useful to be a “late bloomer”. Lucia Gugerli explains why gender roles have long since ceased to play a role in contemporary dance. And Martin Schick invites artists to finally say goodbye to their comfortable outsider role and take a stand on current issues. The dancers may have their own view of the world and express it. They all show that dance is more than mere aesthetics: it is political, it is touching, it shows the world as it is - and how it could be.
Our team attended the live instagram tutorials and loved it - In dancing we trust!
