The aim of the state capital of Saxony’s Tanzpakt Dresden project is to fundamentally enhance its independent dance scene. The main preoccupation is the realisation of two measures that together will promote the development of nationally relevant structures. On the one hand, targeted construction investments will secure and open Mary Wigman’s former residence as the VILLA WIGMAN rehearsal and experimentation space, a centre that will be run independently of the city’s independent dance scene as organised in the Villa Wigman für TANZ association and which will offer conditions that are unique in Germany. On the other hand, and as a complementary measure, the comprehensive residency and production programme Werkraum Gegenwart will be developed with HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts as well as partner institutions from all areas of social life. Endowed with resources for both research and production, high-quality stagings to be presented at HELLERAU, particularly larger formats beyond workshop presentations, will thus be developed by Saxony’s independent dance scene. A scientific-artistic laboratory involving regional dance professionals and international guests will act as the launch pad for this process. The resulting stage productions will then be presented in a festival.
Tanzpakt Dresden is a co-operation of the Villa Wigman für TANZ association and HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts under the umbrella of the State Capital of Dresden.
The Villa Wigman für TANZ association was founded in 2016 by independent dance professionals working in and around Dresden to support the preservation and revival of Mary Wigman’s former residential and work locations in the city and to convert them into a rehearsal and experimentation space.
HELLERAU is a municipal stage and since 2004 has been operating as a European Centre for the Arts in the Festspielhaus (festival theatre) Hellerau, a venue rich in tradition and a cradle of contemporary dance in Germany. HELLERAU sees itself as both an internationally and locally oriented production house and stage for contemporary performative arts.