Performing the Archive: Pauline de Groot

From November 13-17, the festival ‘Performing the Archive: Pauline de Groot’ will take place at Plein Theater in Amsterdam. As SNDO celebrates its 50th anniversary, this festival explores the legacy of SNDO founder and dance pioneer Pauline de Groot, through an exhibition, performances and conversations with audiences and invited guests across different generations. SNDO alumni Elisa Zuppini and Toni Steffens, in collaboration with Tiana Hemlock-Yensen, each present a choreographic proposal based on their research in the archives of Pauline de Groot.

Everyone who would like to share a memory of Pauline de Groot’s work, is warmly invited to do so during the talks at Plein Theater, or to send their contribution in text, audio or video to:  info@paulinedegroot.nl.

Pauline de Groot, pioneer in dance

Pauline de Groot is a pioneer of postmodern dance in the Netherlands and the founder of Moderne Dans Opleiding, as SNDO was called in 1975. She lived in the US between 1957 and 1964, where she studied in the studios of Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham, worked with Erick Hawkins and José Limón, and met many innovators of American dance, music and other arts. Until the 2000s, De Groot created more than 50 choreographies and initiated countless improvisation events.

During the exhibition in the Plein Theater, archival materials ranging from original posters and dance scores to photo and video work will be on display.

The festive opening of the exhibition will take place on Wednesday, November 13, with the launch of a new website containing the personal archives of Pauline de Groot and the presentation of the booklet from the series 'Conversations with makers' by De Nieuwe Dansbibliotheek about Pauline de Groot. The exhibition in the foyer of the Plein Theater is on view until December 8.

‘Performing the Archive: Pauline de Groot’ is organized by Fransien van der Putt and made possible by SNDO, De Nieuwe Dansbibliotheek, Stichting Podiumkunst.net and the Plein Theater in Amsterdam.

More information at the website of Plein Theater 

Foto: Maarten Brinkgreve. Improfestival De Balie 86, repetitie Michael Moore, Maurice Horsthuis, Pauline de Groot, Sean Bergin

Gaps and Bridges, Holland Festival 1982, Bart Fermie, Pauline de Groot

Gaps and Bridges, notebook

Gaps and Bridges, notebook

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