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Gerda König and her DIN A 13 dance company aim to promote an exchange between cultures and establish dance ensembles on various continents where artistes with physical disabilities can dance. Her latest project – “patterns beyond traces” – has been developed by the choreographer together with the Dance Factory in Accra, Ghana. In the autumn of this year it went on tour in Germany – supported by the Peter Ustinov Foundation (see news report dated 29 September 2009).
The first two performances were held on 25 and 26 September at the Studiobühne in Cologne. At the next two performances in the Waggonhalle in Marburg on 28 September and the Schwankhalle in Bremen on 2 October it was unfortunate but there was not enough space to accommodate all those who wanted to see the performance. There was not a single seat left in either of the venues. In Bremen some video equipment available, which allowed an impromptu public viewing area to be set up in the foyer. After the Theater im Pumpenhaus in Münster on 14 October, the group travelled to the Ruhr on 15 October. Guest appearances in the Theater im Depot (15 October) and the Flottmann-Hallen in Herne (16 October) were just as enthusiastically received by the public, as was the case in the cities where performances had already been held. The final performance on 18 October at the TUFA Trier brought the tour to a successful conclusion.


At the end of each performance the team gave the public an opportunity to speak to the artistes. In every town more than 80% of the audience stayed to join in the discussion. Both parties were very curious. Gustavo Fijalkow chaired the discussions, which dealt with issues relating to the meaning of rituals, the role of the woman in Ghanaian society, the position of the single female dancer in a team dominated – in numerical terms, at least – by men, life as a dancer in Ghana and the relationship between traditional dance language and the German dance theatre.

“Patterns beyond traces” was highly praised by the public and specialist publications, both in Ghana and Germany, in recognition of its impressive choreography and the excellent performance of the artistes involved. In view of the excellent reception given to the project and the choreography it produced, the newly established company has already been offered free-of-charge premises for rehearsals and local grants so that the project can be developed further.

In addition to this, “patterns beyond traces” has been nominated in Germany for the 2009 Cologne dance theatre prize.

As a result of the tour, the group is also going to give additional performances in Europe: They have an invitation to Seville in March 2010, the Bielefelder Biennale for African contemporary dance in October 2010 and further guest appearances are under discussion.

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