The idea behind the double bill common ground[s] • The Rite of Spring

The Pina Bausch Foundation transmits Pina Bausch's choreographies to international ensembles. The Foundation has already accompanied many of these transmissions and wanted to try something new. For a transmission ofThe Rite of Spring, the Foundation did not want to work with an existing company. An ensemble comes specifically together to rehearse a piece. The dancers learn the choreography and perform the piece.

For this, the Foundation collaborates with the École des Sables (Toubab Dialaw, Senegal). The École des Sables is a dance school in Senegal. Dancers can learn traditional and modern African dances. It was founded by Germaine Acogny. She is one of the most famous and important dancers in Africa.

The Pina Bausch Foundation has not not collaborate with the École des Sables before. But fellows of the Pina Bausch Fellowship have spent their scholarships at the École des Sables. This is how the exchange between the École des Sables and the Pina Bausch Foundation came about.

Another project partner is the Sadler's Wells from London. It’s a well-known dance venue, which produces productions and organizes performances around the world.

The result is a double bill, during which two pieces are performed. One piece is Pina Bausch's The Rite of Spring. The choreography to Igor Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps is one of Pina Bausch's most famous pieces. It is danced by an ensemble of 37 dancers. The dancers come from 13 African countries. The ensemble was created especially for the transmission of this piece.

The second piece is a duet by Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaudo. Malou Airaudo was a longtime dancer with Tanztheater Wuppertal. She has danced many important roles. The duet is called common ground[s]. It is developed and danced by Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaudo.

Restaging The Rite of Spring

Artistic Direction: Josephine Ann Endicott, Jorge Puerta Armenta, Clémentine Deluy
Rehearsal Direction: Ditta Miranda Jasjfi and Çağdaş Ermiş, Barbara Kaufmann, Julie Shanahan, Kenji Takagi

Dancers: Kouassi Rodolphe Allui, Sahadatou Ami Toure, Dovi Afi Anique Ayiboe, Korotimi Barro, Evrard Elisee Bekoin, Ugwarelojo Gloria Biachi, Luciény Kaabral, Khadija Cisse, Sonia Zandile Constable, Rokhaya Coulibaly, Inas Dasylva, Joannie Diane, Astou Diop, L. Serge A. Dodo, Christie Dossou, Adjo Delali Foli, Aoufice Junior Gouri, Zadi Landry Kipre, Bazoumana Kouyate, Profit Lucky, Babacar Mané, Vuyo Mahashe, Vasco Pedro Mirine, Stéphanie Mwamba, Sidnoma Florent Nikiema, Shell Tetely Ohene-Nyako, Brian Oloo, Harivola Rakotondrasoa, Oliva Randrianasolo, Asanda Saru Ruda, Tom Jules Samie, Amy Collé Seck, Pacome Landry Seka, Gueassa Eva Sibi, Carmelita Youriane G. Siwa, Armel Gnago Sosso-Ny, Amadou Lamine Sow, Kadidja Tiemanta, B Abdoul Aziz Zoundi

common ground[s]

Choreography and Dance: Germaine Acogny, Malou Airaudo
Music: Fabrice Bouillon LaForest
Dramaturgy: Sophiatou Kossoko
Light Design: Zeynep Kepekli
Costumes: Petra Leidner

A Pina Bausch Foundation, École des Sables and Sadler’s Wells
production, co-produced with Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), Théâtre de la
Ville Luxembourg, Holland Festival (Amsterdam), Festspielhaus St.
Pölten, Ludwigsburg Festival, Teatros del Canal de la Comunidad de Madrid, Adelaide Festival and Spoleto Festival dei 2Mondi.

The project is funded by the German Federal Cultural Foundation, the Ministry of Culture and Science of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the International Coproduction Fund of the Goethe Institut and kindly supported by the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch.