Sasha Waltz & Guests

Sasha Waltz & Guests
Name	Sasha Waltz & Guests
Founded	1993
Founder	Sasha Waltz
Location	Berlin
Genre	Contemporary dance
Artistic director	Sasha Waltz
Notable works	"S", "Körper", "Mahlermanifest"

Sasha Waltz & Guests is a Berlin-based contemporary dance company founded in 1993 by choreographer Sasha Waltz. The ensemble has become a central force in European performing arts, engaging with institutions across Berlin, Paris, London, New York, and Tokyo, and collaborating with orchestras, theaters, museums, and festivals. Its work intersects with opera houses, concert halls, galleries, and cultural ministries, positioning the company at the nexus of international contemporary dance networks and interdisciplinary performance.

History

Sasha Waltz & Guests was established in 1993 in Berlin following Sasha Waltz's early training and work with companies such as Volksbühne, Schiller Theater, and choreographers linked to Pina Bausch and William Forsythe. Early seasons included engagements at the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, collaborations with the Berliner Festspiele, and premieres at the Tanz im August festival, contributing to revivals of post-reunification cultural life in Germany. Through the 2000s the ensemble expanded its repertoire with commissions from institutions including the Komische Oper Berlin, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and international partners such as the Paris Opera, Royal Opera House, Lincoln Center, and the Hamburg State Opera. The company's trajectory has been shaped by funding and policy decisions from bodies like the Senate Department for Culture and Europe (Berlin), the German Federal Cultural Foundation, and European programs such as Creative Europe.

Artistic Vision and Style

The company's aesthetic synthesizes influences from Expressionism (dance), postmodern dance, and the theatrical traditions of institutions like Théâtre de la Ville and Comédie-Française. The choreography often incorporates ensemble formations, spatial dramaturgy, and text-sound relationships associated with collaborators from the worlds of contemporary music and visual art—partners have included composers tied to the Berlin Philharmonic, designers who have worked with the Museum of Modern Art, and lighting artists active at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. The creative approach references makers such as Merce Cunningham, Trisha Brown, and Robert Wilson while engaging scenographic practices from figures linked to Het Muziektheater and Wiener Festwochen.

Major Works and Productions

Key productions in the company's catalogue include evening-length pieces and site-specific projects presented at venues such as the Halle (Shaubühne), Konzertgebouw, and Elbphilharmonie. Notable works premiered or developed with the ensemble encompass collaborations for opera productions at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, dance-theatre pieces staged at Sadler's Wells, and music-dance projects with orchestras like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Orchestre de Paris. Repertoire milestones have engaged choreographic forms related to the histories of German Romanticism and contemporary adaptations performed alongside works by composers from the Second Viennese School, as well as commissions from galleries such as the Tate Modern and the Centre Pompidou.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Sasha Waltz & Guests has an extensive record of partnerships with institutions and artists: opera houses including the Komische Oper Berlin and Opéra national de Paris; festivals like Bregenz Festival, Bayreuth Festival (in crossover projects), and Edinburgh Festival Fringe; orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra; conductors and composers connected to Gustavo Dudamel, Pierre Boulez, and contemporary ensembles from the Ensemble InterContemporain; visual artists linked to Anish Kapoor and Olafur Eliasson; and film directors associated with the Berlinale. The company has also worked with cultural policy bodies such as the European Union's cultural programs and national ministries in France, United Kingdom, and Japan.

Company Structure and Personnel

Organizationally the ensemble combines artistic, administrative, and production departments reflecting structures found at institutions like Schauspielhaus Zürich and the Staatsoper Hannover. Leadership has centered on founder Sasha Waltz alongside roles filled by rehearsal directors, dramaturgs, choreographers, composers, lighting designers, and répétiteurs who have backgrounds with companies such as Tanztheater Wuppertal, Ballet Frankfurt, and conservatoires like the Codarts and the Juilliard School. The roster of performers has included dancers trained at schools linked to Palucca Hochschule für Tanz Dresden, Amsterdam School of the Arts, and the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. Production teams frequently draw managers experienced with touring infrastructure comparable to that of the International Festival Circuit.

Touring, Residencies, and Venues

The ensemble maintains an international touring profile, presenting work at venues such as Sadler's Wells, The Shed (arts center), Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Sydney Opera House and at festivals including Tanz im August, Avignon Festival, and Venice Biennale. Long-term residencies have been held at Berlin venues associated with the Berliner Festspiele and cultural hubs like Radialsystem V, with guest residencies at institutions such as the Paris Opera Ballet studios and university programs at Goldsmiths, University of London and Columbia University.

Awards and Recognition

The company and Sasha Waltz have received awards and honors from organizations such as the German Dance Prize, the French Order of Arts and Letters, and festival prizes from Avignon Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Institutional acknowledgments include commissions and fellowships from the Berlin Senate, grants from the Kulturstiftung des Bundes, and invitations to international showcases organized by bodies like the European Capital of Culture program.

Category:Contemporary dance companies Category:Performing groups established in 1993