THE MEMORY OF DANCE. Archive trips with Patricio Bunster

Dance can be a form of optimism that leads to the realisation that even in the greatest catastrophes, you can see everything differently.’ – Patricio Bunster.

After fleeing Chile in 1973, the dancer and choreographer Patricio Bunster (1924-2006) found new opportunities for development in the GDR. What influences shaped him and what traces can still be found at his places of work in Dresden, Leipzig, Rostock and Chile? How did modern dance develop there? What did he leave behind and how is he and his work remembered today?

On Open Day in October 2024, the Palucca University dedicated a panel discussion to Patricio Bunster with former students and companions, including Prof Dr Peter Jarchow, Prof Dr Ralf Stabel, Antje Ladstätter, Regina Schettler and Raymond Hilbert. In addition, an exhibition in the rooms of the Archiv-Villa provided insights into Bunter’s life and artistic work.
The short documentary “The Memory of Dance. Archive Journeys with Patricio Bunster” accompanies and portrays the exhibition and the panel discussion on the 100th birthday of the Chilean choreographer and dancer Patricio Bunster at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden. The exhibition was curated by the Leipzig Dance Archive, the Archive of the Palucca University of Dance Dresden and the Saxon Academy of Arts and realised in cooperation with the University of Leipzig and the Palucca University of Dance Dresden.
The film was produced by the German Dance Film Institute Bremen.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)