For five days, 60 older people danced in the Hartmannfabrik. They were guided by the two Japanese choreographers Yoko Ando and Ryu Suzuki. The two gave the first of three planned intensive workshops from 30 May to 3 June 2024. This offer is a collaboration between Chemnitz 2025, Dance Base Yokohama and Chemnitz Theatres as part of the "Dancing Neighbours" dance project.
Dance and movement became a common language between the guests from Japan and the Chemnitz participants. The oldest was 87 years old. "We have become a dance company in such a short time," he said. Another participant concluded: "In everyday life, we older people are often not recognised. In this workshop, we trained our physical presence. I felt seen and that was great."
The Chemnitz 2025 Generation team invited Yoko Ando and Ryu Suzuki to share their experience of working with older people here in Chemnitz. Yoko Ando was a dancer in the world-famous Forsythe Company for many years. Now, together with dancer and choreographer Ryu Suzuki, she is part of the team at Dance Base Yokohama, a centre for contemporary dance and choreography in Japan.
The workshop is part of the "Dancing Neighbours" project, which was initiated by Team Generation and launched in early May to great demand. Former dancer Terrry Pedersen Pfeiffer leads two movement courses for older people every week. 90 senior citizens are currently taking part. Another weekly dance class, also led by Terrry Pedersen Pfeiffer, is offered at the Chemnitz Theatre Ballet. Participants from all three groups have now come together in this intensive workshop.
In Japan, the demographic development towards an increasingly older population is taking place much faster than in Germany. This is why there is already extensive experience with participatory programmes for older people. Accompanying scientific studies show that artistic projects in particular, under professional guidance, successfully ensure that older people remain active for longer and can participate in social life.
The proportion of older people in Chemnitz is particularly high, which is why working with this generation is a focal point of the Capital of Culture programme. The cooperation with Dance Base Yokohama will go beyond the three workshops planned for this year and will be established in the long term in close collaboration between Chemnitz 2025 and the Festival Tanz | Moderne | Tanz organised by ballet director Sabrina Sadowska. A first performance is planned for the opening of Chemnitz 2025 on 18 January 2025 and several more during the Capital of Culture year.
Alexandra Takats and Michal Sandor from the Chemnitz 2025 programme team organised the workshops and were overwhelmed by the positive response: "One important piece of feedback from the participants was that they perceived the encounter with the two professional dancers as an exchange at eye level and felt how quickly this joint activity can also create a sense of community."
The intensive workshops "Dancing Neighbours" are funded by the EU-Japan Fest Committee.
