Dancing at Dusk: A moment with Pina Bausch's The Rite of Spring

Sadler’s Wells today announces the next instalment in its Digital Stage offering, Dancing at Dusk – A moment with Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring, in partnership with Pina Bausch Foundation and École des Sables.

Dancing at Dusk – A moment with Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring offers a unique glimpse into the re-staging of Pina Bausch’s seminal 1975 work. Filmed as the world descended into lockdown, it captures the last rehearsal of a specially assembled company of 38 dancers from 14 African countries, and documents a unique moment in their preparations for an international tour. A rare opportunity to watch one of the world’s greatest dance works, the film will be available to global audiences via Sadler’s Wells’ Digital Stage from Wednesday 1 July 2020, at the price of £5.

This year, Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring was due to tour the world, in an international co-production between Sadler’s Wells (UK), Pina Bausch Foundation (Germany), and École des Sables (Senegal), which should have opened in March 2020 in Dakar. However, just days before the premiere, all performances were cancelled as governments around the world banned public gatherings and began closing their borders due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  

The company seized the opportunity to conduct their last rehearsal on the beach near their base at École des Sables in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal. Filmmaker Florian Heinzen-Ziob captured this unique moment in a stunning film, giving audiences a glimpse into a production not yet seen on stages around the world.

Dancing at Dusk – A moment with Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring will be available for audiences to rent online via Sadler's Wells Digital Stage from 12:00 pm BST on Wednesday 1 July at the price of £5 or currency equivalent. Proceeds will help support the artists, the future life of the production, and Sadler’s Wells.

Audiences can subscribe online to register their interest here, or can pre-purchase a ticket to watch the film. The film will be available until Friday 31 July 2020.

Sadler’s Wells is grateful for the generous support of its audiences during this challenging time. Those who would like to help further can make a donation to support our work at https://secure.sadlerswells.com/support/donate.

Alistair Spalding, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells, said: “We are so delighted to be able to bring this unique film to audiences across the world. Coronavirus has had a profound impact everywhere, and for us, has sadly resulted in the postponement of much of our work, including The Rite of Spring. Despite this, the company seized the opportunity to capture this powerful, one-of-a-kind moment, which feels very much in harmony with the spirit of Pina Bausch. Perhaps now more than ever, this type of international collaboration is how Sadler’s Wells responds best to the difficult times we are in, bringing our artists and audiences together once again”

Germaine Acogny, Founder of École des Sables, said: “When I saw for the first time a complete run-through of the piece with these fabulous dancers who had managed to interiorise Pina’s choreography in spite of cultural and technical differences, I was deeply touched and moved and wished that Pina could have seen this powerful interpretation. I am sure she would have loved it.”

Salomon Bausch, Executive Director, Pina Bausch Foundation said: “Bringing The Rite of Spring to the beach and shooting it just after sunset was a spontaneous reaction to the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was the last moment of being together within a crisis surrounded by uncertainty. A moment of strength and self-empowerment but also fragile and of unique awareness, dancing on sand and with costumes for the very first time. I think we have all experienced Pina’s Sacre in a way we’ve never done before."



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