Rehearsal for Dance Maraton Archa theatre
The United States of America. The 1920s. Affluence, elegance, and charm – this is the background for the birth of the first dance marathons. You could win fame, and sometimes even money. German dancer, choreographer, and educator Stefan Dreher was inspired by these old dance shows to create a unique project – a dance marathon in the style of the twenties.
Dreher put together a clearly set of rules of communication that the dancers must respect without exception during the marathon. During the 12-hour performance, dance improvisation is combined with immediate composition and live musical accompaniment by minimalist electronic loops and acoustic musicians. Each dancer hasa patron who looks after his charge, supports him, and stays with him for the entire duration.
According to Stefan Dreher, the dance marathon will be very much like a running marathon. The focus is on the way in which dancers express themselves, their ability to endure great physical and mental stress, to fight and hang in there, not to give up. This is his second dance marathon in the Czech Republic, this time with professional dancers – students from Prague’s Duncan Centre and Antwerp’s Koninklijk Conservatorium, and musicians from Antwerp’s AP Hogeschool.
