Dance for the Young and Old December 9, 2007

Rhythm is it!
Director: Thomas Grube, Enrique Sánchez Lansch,
104 min., 2004

The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s first major educational project under the guidance of the Briton Royston Maldoom: 250 children and young adults from diverse social and geographical backgrounds study his choreography for Stravinsky’s “Le Sacre du Printemps”. Meanwhile, the Berlin Philharmonic is busy rehearsing Stravinsky’s composition under Sir Simon Rattle. This rousing documentary culminates with a much-lauded performance in the Treptow arena.

“The Sacre story is about education, the transmission of knowledge. About helping the younger generation grow up by initiating them into the secrets of society and nature through the performance of rites and ritual dances. The parallels between the curriculum of the workshop and the message of our film are evident. And the elementary brutality of the milieu to which youth is exposed in Stravinsky’s ballet and which is expressed in the music bridges the gap to the tough environment in which many of the Sacre project participants live.” Enrique Sánchez Lansch

Ladies and Gentlemen over 65
(Damen und Herren ab 65)
Director: Lilo Mangelsdorff, 70 min., 2002

They could all have been sitting at home enjoying their pensions but instead they answered a small ad - "Ladies and Gentlemen over 65 needed." The Wuppertal Choreographer, Pina Bausch, was putting on a new production of her dance piece “Kontakthof”. This time with elderly amateurs. The film accompanies these people, who with a full professional life behind them, now face a new challenge. They must use their energy and life experience to cross boundaries and break conventions. A touching film about the ageing process.

Masters of Movement
Films on contemporary German dance-theatre

Official Website: http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/bag/kue/en2835179.htm