Austria’s ImPulsTanz Vienna International Dance Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, the festival for contemporary dance has become the largest of its kind in Europe. This year’s program comprises over 100 performances in 14 venues, as well as workshops and talks with internationally acclaimed dancers and choreographers. New York’s Trajal Harrell opened the Festival last week with a thrilling “Voguing” Show, his work is also topic of a retrospective shown in Vienna. Further highlights include British dancer and choreographer Akram Khan’s solo production “DESH” with a set by Oscar decorated designer Tim Yip as well as Khan’s production “iTMOi (In the mind of Igor),” which he developed with his company for the 100th anniversary of Igor Stravinsky and Vaclav Nijinsky’s “Le Sacre du Primtemps.”
Transgressing the borders between visual arts and dance, South African artist William Kentridge presents a new version of his documenta 13 installation “The Refusal of Time,” a multimedia dada opera titled “Refuse the Hour.” French choreographer Xavier Le Roy on the other hand explores hybrid body forms in his production “Low Pieces.”
Several side programs and satellite events complete the main program: the “Wild Walk! Because the night” series, a late night format that features performances by artists such as Jan Fabre & Antony Rizzi; the series “8:tension,” which is dedicated especially to newcomers, or the the “East-West-Meeting” that takes place in the spectacular new foyer of the Weltmuseum Wien and that is dedicated to anthropological understandings. The best contemporary choreography will be awarded the “Prix J’ardin d’Europe.”
See a trailer of Akram Khan’s new solo production “DESH” below