Deutsches Tanzfilminstitut Bremen

Officially a master class of the Essen Folkwang Hochschule, the ensemble was founded by Kurt Jooss in 1928 and affiliated with the Essen Opera House a year later under the name Folkwang Tanzbühne.

From 1929 until Jooss’s emigration in 1933, the company mainly presented Jooss productions, including such important pieces as “Pavane auf den Tod einer Infantin”, “Der grüne Tisch” and “Großstadt”. In 1949, after his return to Essen, Jooss once again directed the ensemble, now called Folkwang Tanztheater, until its dissolution in 1953. In 1963/64, a revival succeeded under the name Folkwang Tanzstudio.

In 1968, after Jooss’ retirement, his former soloist Hans Züllig took over the direction of the company, which from then on was to become an important springboard for the young generation of dance theatre choreographers.

Among the directors of the dance studio who presented their first works here were Pina Bausch, Reinhild Hoffmann, Susanne Linke and now Henrietta Horn. From its beginnings to the present day, the dance studio has played a decisive role in shaping aesthetic styles.

(Norbert Servos)