Lighting and Video Design for a Dance Piece


Is fatherhood a model, a desire, a memory, or simply reality? While in societal discourse, the role of the mother often takes precedence, the concept of fatherhood often exists in the gap, defined by absence, work behavior, or authority. In our piece, we want to talk about this gap and ask ourselves:

What does the ideal father look like? And is he also present in the immediate environment? How do role models function? And why are male role models so important for adolescents, regardless of their gender? How much do fathers contribute to household and childcare today? Why does the ideal of binary gender roles still prevail for many young people? And what does that have to do with the self-image of adolescents growing up?

To explore these questions, we negotiate family situations and constellations on stage, reconsidering old and modern fatherhood models and searching for images that resonate with young people in their reality.

The production focuses aesthetically on urban dance. Four contemporary urban dancers with different backgrounds engage with the theme and, consequently, the dance form of Hip Hop with its image of entrenched masculinity rituals. Portraying and deconstructing these rituals is central to the aesthetic implementation.

Idea/Concept/Choreography: Célestine Hennermann
Dance & Choreography: Joy Alpuerto Ritter, Andrea Böge, Niranh Söntgen “Lil Rock”, Jonas Frey
Dramaturgy: Johanna Milz
Costume: Nathalie Meyer
DJ/Music: Richard Oberscheven
Light & Video: Gregor Knüppel
Assistant: Lena Brückner
Premiere: November 11, 2023, Zoo Gesellschaftshaus Frankfurt

Photos Daniel Blattmann