Rhein-Main Dance Festival Concludes Record-Breaking 10th Anniversary Edition
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The 10th edition of the Tanzfestival Rhein-Main, which wrapped up on Sunday, July 7th, drew a record-breaking 13,724 visitors over 18 days, marking a nearly 48% increase in attendance compared to the previous year. The festival, held across nine venues in Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Offenbach, and Wiesbaden, showcased 26 stage plays and films, alongside workshops, artist talks, and parties, demonstrating the evolving landscape of contemporary dance.
“Now or Never”: A Festival Reflecting Global Uncertainty
This year’s festival operated under the theme “Now or Never,” a powerful call to action that resonated throughout the program. Performances explored themes of risk, limits, and the search for alternative futures amidst global crises, historical turning points, and questions of individual and collective responsibility. According to festival organizers, this focus sparked significant audience engagement and post-performance discussions.
Performances Tackle Complex Themes
The anniversary program featured a diverse range of works, each grappling with pressing contemporary issues. Performances like What Is War by Wen Hui & Eiko Otake offered radically personal accounts of conflict, memory, and guilt. The Voice, conceived by Rita Mazza, explored the connection between voice and identity, while Walk Body by Sharon Eyal / Hessian State Ballet delved into the dynamics of collective movement.
The festival also highlighted the power of collective energy with Rave Lucid by Mazelfreten Company, the inevitability of endings in AFTER ALL by Solene Weihnachter, and the challenges of new beginnings in Rinse by Amrita Hepi with Mish Grigor. Other notable productions included Group! by Rebacca Weingartner and Glitz by Sebastian Weber Dance Company.
Rachid Ouramdane was designated as the festival’s Spotlight Artist, presenting three works, including Extreme bodies, which opened the festival in Darmstadt. The piece, featuring daring acrobatics and climbing, was lauded as a metaphor for the strength found in mutual support, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
Rhine-Main Dance Day and a Vibrant Finale
The festival culminated in the Rhine-Main Dance Day, transforming the region into a sprawling dance floor. Over 120 taster courses were offered at dance schools, theaters, and studios, providing accessible entry points for new audiences. The day concluded with a large-scale dance event at the Mousonturm artists’ house, alongside the Darmstadt premiere of Walk Body by Sharon Eyal / Hessisches Staatsballett. The final performances, BONES by Claude Jansen / Fabrice Mazliah and HUNT! by Idylla Silmarovi / Ka’adela Platform, took place on Sunday at the Frankfurt LAB.
Industry Leaders Praise Festival’s Impact
The success of the festival was widely acknowledged by cultural leaders. A senior official from the Frankfurt RheinMain Cultural Fund stated, “The anniversary motto ‘Now or Never’ provided a strong, forward-looking impulse. International choreographers and dancers…have given the festival its diversity and wealth of perspectives.”
Anna Wagner, co-curator of the festival and co-director of the Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm, emphasized the festival’s ability to connect with audiences on a personal level. “After ten years, what I’m particularly happy about is…full houses in all cities and a mixed audience with real enthusiasm for dance in all its forms,” she noted. “Especially in uncertain, crisis-ridden times, dance can open up spaces for action.”
Bruno Heynederickx, co-curator and ballet director of Hessisches Staatsballett, expressed gratitude for the collaborative spirit of the festival. “Under the motto ‘Now or Never,’ the productions not only reflected our present, but also called for action,” he said. “Given the enthusiastic response, I’m already really looking forward to the next edition of the Rhein Main Dance Festival.”
The Rhein-Main Dance Festival is generously supported by the Frankfurt RheinMain Cultural Fund, the Department of Culture and Science of the City of Frankfurt am Main, the Hessian Ministry for Science and Research, Art and Culture, the Aventis Foundation, and the Dr. Marschner Foundation, with sponsorship from Energieverorgung Offenbach (EVO).
More information can be found at tanzfestivalrheinmain.de.
