This public conference invites delegates to discuss ethical issues and standpoints in dance, cultural policy and society as a whole. What attitudes and ethical concepts shape professional cooperation as well as artistic working processes and training in the field of dance? In what form do artists experience recognition and respect – from producers, curators, sponsoring institutions and politics?

On the one hand, the conference reflects upon the way artists convey social standpoints and visions in their works; on the other hand, it examines the forms of specific cooperation in which they can be found. To what extent is dance in this way political? And what impact do social and participatory dance projects have on society?

The starting point for the conference will be conversations with prizewinners Gert Weigelt, Jo Parkes and Isabelle Schad.

GERMAN DANCE AWARD 2019

The German Dance Award 2019 means that once again outstanding personalities from the world of dance in Germany will be receiving accolades. The Award is given for the artistic work of choreographers and dancers but also to key protagonists in dance teaching, journalism, science or other fields of creative dance. The German Dance Award 2019, endowed with 20.000 euros, goes to photographer Gert Weigelt. Dance and video artist Jo Parkes and dancer and choreographer Isabelle Schad are each being awarded 5.000 euros for significant developments in contemporary dance.

GERT WEIGELT worked as a dancer with choreographers such as Hans van Manen, Jerome Robbins, Jiří Kylián, Kurt Jooss,Glen Tetley and Birgit Cullberg. Following his dancing career he studied artistic photography and has since captured with his camera the work of outstanding choreographers of our day, including Pina Bausch, Hans van Manen, Maurice Béjart, Susanne Linke, William Forsythe, Gerhard Bohner and Martin Schläpfer.

Dancer and choreographer ISABELLE SCHAD studied classical dance in Stuttgart and has danced for numerous choreographers. Since 1999, she has been producing her own choreographic works – at the interface of dance, performance and fine art. Isabelle Schad has already been at PACT several times as a participant in the residency programme and as an artist, most recently in 2017 with her work ›Pieces and Elements‹. On the occasion of the German Dance Award, Schad will be showing ›Collective Jumps‹ at PACT.

JO PARKES is a dance and video artist. Under the label ›MobileDance‹, she has been initiating and directing participatory dance and art projects with people of different social and cultural origins for more than 15 years now. To mark her award, Parkes will present a video installation at PACT.
 

PROGRAMME

FRI 18. 10. 12.30 — 18 H
SAT 19.10. 10 - 14.30 H
Positions: Dance
Conference
Registration: www.deutschertanzpreis.de/preisverleihung/tagung/
PACT Zollverein

FRI 18. 10. 19 H
Award Ceremony for Isabelle Schad and Jo Parkes
Followed by Performance: 
Isabelle Schad / Laurent Goldring 
›Collective Jumps‹
Dance / Performance 
PACT Zollverein 

SAT 19. 10. 18 Uhr
Dance-Gala and Prize Ceremony for Gert Weigelt
Dance
Aalto-Theater Essen
www.deutschertanzpreis.de

Organisers: Dachverband Tanz Deutschland The German Dance Award is sponsored by the city of Essen, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia the city of Essen, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland, with funding from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.