Hello List. I would add there is a brief thread on this at Criticaldance.com with some additional contact and action information. - Priscilla Hensley ----- Original Message ----- From: <bgroves@stanford.edu> To: <dance-tech@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu> Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2002 1:19 PM Subject: Threatened closure of Forsythe's Ballett Frankfurt > Dear List, > > I'm forwarding a brief message to you from William Forsythe and > the Ballett Frankfurt. There has been a very serious and very nasty > political battle going on recently in the Frankfurt press and local > government that is threatening to close down the company. > > As most of you on this list probably know, Forsythe is not only one > of the world's most innovative choreographers but he also > consistently uses film, video, digital music, and interactive > computer technology in performance with truly inspiring results. > Forsythe's contribution to the field of dance technology has long > been a vital topic of conversation on this list. (Posts from the past > week alone mention Forsythe's use of DAT-time cueing during > perfomances and discuss Michael Klien's piece, Duplex, which > was created at the Ballett Frankfurt with two of the dancers in the > company.) Most are probably familiar with Forsythe's interactive > CD-ROM, "Improvisation Technologies: A Tool for the Analytical > Dance Eye" published by the Center for Art and Media Technology > (ZKM) in Karlsruhe. Please see the Ballett Frankfurt website for > more information on the company and individual pieces in the > repertoire: > > http://www.frankfurt-ballett.de/frame.html > > If the Ballett Frankfurt is shut down by conservative political forces > and replaced by a traditional company performing 19th century > ballets with painted backdrops and tutus it will be a very severe > blow to the dance-tech community. If any of you would be willing to > express your support by writing an email or letter the effort would > be very greatly appreciated. A website has just been set up where > complaint forms can be filled out and sent directly to the mayor of > Frankfurt, Petra Roth: > > http://www.sign.de/forsythe/ > > Please forward this message to those you know who would like to > see the work of William Forsythe and the Ballett Frankfurt continue > in the future. > > Thank you very much, > Rebecca Groves > Alexander von Humboldt German Chancellor Scholar > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Friends, > The politicians of the city of Frankfurt are about to close the Ballett > Frankfurt. > They want to have classical story ballets. > I'm so dumbfounded I don't know what to think or feel. > Spread the word please and have people send letters if possible, > it's very important. > > Thanks so much. > > Bill Forsythe > Thom Willems > > Ballett Frankfurt > UnterMain Anlage 11 > 60311 Frankfurt am Main > Germany > > Tel. +4969 - 212.37.180 > Fax +4969 - 212.37.177 > email: vera.battis@stadt-frankfurt.de
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