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Tanz im August: Our picks

The 21st edition of the annual dance explosion returns this summer with performance companies from over 20 different countries exploring the link between visual art and movement. Don't get overwhelmed, here are our picks. On Aug 13-Sep 4.

Image for Tanz im August: Our picks
Available Light. Photo by Craig T. Matthew

Tanz im August is on at various venues across the city August 13 through September 4. Here are our highlights.

The festival launches with a remount of Available Light, the landmark 1983 collaboration between postmodern choreographer Lucinda Childs, minimalist composer John Adams and architect Frank Gehry (Aug 13-15, 20:00, Haus der Berliner Festspiele). It’s a geometrically rigorous but euphoric work.

Elsewhere, this year’s programme has an Asian focus: Filipina dancer Eisa Jocson presents HOST, a new solo based on her research about female 
and transgender hostesses in Japanese 
clubs (Aug 14-16, 19:00 Sophiensaele);
 Choy Ka Foi also explores gender roles in Softmachine, a double bill featuring Indian dancer Surjit Nongmeikapam and Indonesian performer Rianto (Aug 21-22, 17:00, Sophiensaele); and we’ll see performances from China’s abstract, austere Tao Dance Theatre (Aug 26, 20:00, Aug 27, 21:00, Haus der Berliner Festpiele) and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, whose work incorporates everything from Jindo drumming to martial arts to K-pop (Aug 28-29, 21:00, Volksbühne).

Originally published in issue #139, June 2015.