During the second half of the June Seminar in 2019, DAS Choreography students took part in Tanzkongress in Hellerau, Germany. Tanzkongress, or “Dance Congress”, is renowned as one of the most important events in the German dance scene, and known as a place for reflection and to network.

In 2019, Meg Stuart led the Tanzkongress as artistic director. Stuart, an American choreographer and performer based in Brussels and Berlin, is famous for her practice with improvisation and her search for new presentation contexts and territories for dance. The format she developed for the 2019 Tanzkongress dealt with contemporary questions of dance. Her artistic lead enhanced Tanzkongress’ experimental and international nature. 

During the congress around 500 dancers gathered to find inspiration for contemporary dance. Together with experts from the arts, sciences, politics, and esotericisms, dancers from all over the world engaged with various physical practices, philosophical and scientific concepts, and reflected on political activism within different zeitgeists and locations.

"The design by Meg Stuart and her team (one of them Claire Sobottke, who was also still student at DAS Choreography) produced an entirely different format for the Tanzkongress than it has ever had in its long history. It managed to propose an active mixing of artistic and academic approaches and practices, and to include voices and discussions that have not been given sufficient space yet into the dance world. As such it proved an enriching and important experience to make the Tanzkongress part of the seminar plan," says Jeroen Fabius, artistic director of DAS Choreography.

Sources:

• Official website Tanzkongress
• Website Meg Stuart/Damaged Goods  
• Tanzkongress 2019 Hellerau