The inclusive dance project reclaiming dance performs in public spaces in Frankfurt and Offenbach.
There are no standards in the reclaiming dance dance project. It doesn’t matter whether someone is in a wheelchair, has a mental disability or some other physical impairment – “we work with everything that people bring with them,” says Anna Bolender. Two years ago she launched the inclusive and participatory dance project with Keiko Agnes Schmitt. This weekend, her group of nine will perform twice: on Saturday on the Bockenheim university campus, and the following day on the Kulturgleis in Offenbach. Public for everyone.
“It is an ideological goal to make the world even fairer and more equal,” says Schmitt, who works as an artist, dancer and teacher. On the one hand, the performance is about pointing out injustice and sensitizing people to it. On the other hand, the group wants to do something to actively counteract this grievance and help shape public space.
The appearances
The first performance is on Saturday at 6 p.m. in front of the student house on the Uni Campus Bockenheim in Frankfurt. The second performance is on Sunday, 6 p.m., in front of the wagon at Kulturgleis, Mainstraße 1, in Offenbach. All performances are open to everyone and free of charge. Further information at www.reclaiming-dance.de
In September there were already two performances in Offenbach. “We had 80 guests per evening,” says Bolender, who studies performative arts in social fields at the Frankfurt UAS. “We got great feedback.” The dancers were also enthusiastic and asked the artistic directors to continue the project.
“This time we tried even harder to approach institutions and got on our nerves,” says Bolender with a laugh. They recruited dancers via email and social media. The project is funded by the Performing Arts Fund, the Frankfurt Cultural Office, the Office for Multicultural Affairs and the Democracy Living funding program.
“This time we opted for even more participation, “everything was negotiated together,” says Bolender. That wasn’t always easy. There are costumes, and the musician Conni Maly has developed something of her own with the performers for all sequences. Schmitt hopes that the performances will also do something with the audience. Emotionally, but also inviting to exchange.
“Our goal is to further establish reclaiming dance and make it better known in the Rhine-Main area,” says Bolender. This summer there is a mixed able dance workshop at Uni-Sport, the Bockenheimer Stadtfest has asked for a performance. “We would like to be able to offer an ongoing course.” Without setting standards, but with a new, freer way of dancing.
The first performance is on Saturday at 6 p.m. in front of the student house on the Uni Campus Bockenheim in Frankfurt. The second performance is on Sunday, 6 p.m., in front of the wagon at Kulturgleis, Mainstraße 1, in Offenbach.
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