German dance film screening series
Mary Wigman – My Life is Dance
Director: Ulrich Tegeder, 29 min., 1986
She made the new direction in dance between 1920 and 1935 known not only in Germany, but also in Europe and USA. To this day her influence on modern dance is noticeable. The film is not so much a biographical documentary, but rather an attempt at a "rapprochement" with the work of the dancer and choreographer. The film shows short dance quotes from Mary Wigman as well as from her pupils Harald Kreutzberg, Dore Hayer and Susanne Linke.
Mary Wigman (Karoline Sofie Marie Wiegmann) (1886-1973) made expressive dance known internationally as new german dance and is considered as one of the most influential pioneers of rhythmic expressive dance which was in its heyday not only in Germany between 1920 and 1935.
Kurt Jooss
Director: Ulrich Tegeder, 42 min., 1985
Kurt Jooss is considered the founder of a new dance style, which was further developed by his students into the "new German dance theatre". The film shows excerpts of his most important works: The Green Table, Metropolis (Music by Alexandre Tansman), Pavane auf den Tod einer Infantin (Music by Maurice Ravel), A ball in old Vienna (Music: Joseph Lanner, Hofballtänze, Arrangement: F.A. Cohen) and The lost son (Music by Fritz A. Cohen).
Kurt Jooss significantly influenced German dance theatre and was cofounder of the renowned Folkwangschool for Music, Dance and Speech and founder of the experimental Folkwang Dance Studios. Among his students were among others Susanne Linke and Pina Bausch, who managed the Folkwang Ballet after him.
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