Amici Dance Theatre Company
The Amici Dance Theatre Company, founded by Wolfgang Stange in 1980 and based in London, UK, is a physically integrated dance company which includes dancers with physical and also mental disabilities. The company are the community artists in residence at the Lyric Hammersmith theatre.[1]
The approach of Stange has been described as one that directly incorporates each dancer's unique qualities into the dance:
Where others saw limitation, Stange saw potential. Where others saw a medical condition, Stange saw the possibility of a new form of expression. Like Holger, he believed that the key to performance was honesty: the presentation of the authentic self. Everyone could be honest, so everyone had something to offer.[2]
Stange was inspired by his dance teacher, Hilde Holger. Holger, a Viennese-trained dancer, taught dance to her son, who had Down Syndrome. In 1968, she used her experience teaching her son to mount a production with both physically and mentally disabled dancers. The dance piece, titled Towards the Light, was performed at the prestigious Sadler's Wells Theatre.[2]
Repertoire
Some of the notable works by the company include:[3]
| Title | Choreographer |
|---|---|
| Tightrope 2010 | Wolfgang Stange |
| Elegy 2007 | Wolfgang Stange |
| Stars are out Tonight 2005 | Wolfgang Stange |
| Timestep 2005 | Wolfgang Stange |
| Breaking Out 2005 | Bill Robins |
| The Chosen 2005 | Wolfgang Stange |
| Untitled 2005 | Carol Britten |
| Odd One Out 2005 | Wolfgang Stange |
References
- "Amici Dance Theatre Company". LondonDance. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
- Jennings, Luke (27 June 2010). "Amici Dance Theatre Company: Tightrope". The Guardian (The Observer). Retrieved June 12, 2012.
- "Repertoire". Amicidance. 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2013-04-05.