Everything starts with movement – an instinct we all have – and dance is movement refined to communicate. Much as flawless technique is important and impressive, it is ultimately what the dancer expresses inside the movement that is the essence. As dancers, we are constantly on the move, aspiring to create these unforgettable moments. Regardless of the dance genre, it’s what every dancer strives to achieve.
So, when all of a sudden, we aren’t allowed to perform anymore, with theatres closed and festivals cancelled, our worlds come to a standstill. No physical contact. No shows. No audiences. Never in recent history has the dance community been so collectively challenged to stay motivated, to find our raison d’être.
Yet, it is precisely when something precious has been taken away from us that we truly appreciate how vital it is what we do, and how much dance means to society at large. Dancers are often celebrated for their physical prowess, when in fact we are sustained even more by our mental strength. I believe it is this unique combination of physical and psychological agility that will help us overcome, to reinvent ourselves to keep dancing, and to keep inspiring.
Friedemann VOGEL, Ballet Dancer, Sttutgart Ballet
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This Year’s Message, Friedemann VOGEL, Ballet Dancer
“A world star who never lost the ground beneath his feet” was how Tanz Magazine described Friedemann Vogel when they elected him “Dancer of the Year” for the second time in 2019. The following year, the prestigious German Dance Prize honoured the Stuttgart Ballet principal dancer with the “Outstanding Performer” award, in recognition of his longstanding and illustrious international career.
Considering how he wanted to become a dancer for as long as he can remember, it is perhaps no surprise that the first full-length documentary on him is entitled “Friedemann Vogel – Incarnation of Dance”. For over 20 years, the multi-award-winning artist has performed on revered stages across the globe, from la Scala in Milan to the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow to the World Ballet Festival in Tokyo, winning over critics and audiences alike. Celebrated as much for his deeply moving portrayals in dramatic ballets as for his electrifying performances in more contemporary works, Friedemann holds the national title of “Kammertänzer” – the highest distinction for a dancer in Germany.”
