TANZ

Female spirits appearing in the midst of the night, innocent virgins with weak hearts, dark enchanted forests, evil witches casting spells and seeking revenge; but also labouring, exploited bodies elevating ballet technique, cross-dressing female duets, dancers flying across the stage or surrounded by flames, male spectators penetrating the opera’s backstage … Developing in the 19^th century on the stages of several European cities, romantic ballet was a world of magic, a fantastic spectacle and a gendered battleground. Could it also be a point of relevance for contemporary (feminist, ecological, class-related …) preoccupations? This introduction to Florentina Holzinger’s piece TANZ will provide the audience with a short glimpse into aspects of romantic ballet history, to prepare for the subversions operated by the work’s contemporary sylphs.