In Hamburg, Two Triennales for Dance and Photography Seek More Connection

Hamburg is stepping onto the international dance stage with its inaugural dance triennale, an ambitious festival designed to broaden the art form's reach and make it accessible to a wider audience. Moving beyond the city's established cultural landmarks like the Elbphilharmonie and "The Lion King" musical, the triennale aims to establish Hamburg as a vibrant dance metropolis.

Curated by Monica Gillette and Gwen Hsin-Yi Chang, the festival embraces a vision of inclusivity, seeking to showcase the diversity of dance. "We want to make dance visible. Especially in public spaces, it belongs to everyone," Gillette stated. The festival's program intentionally bridges genres, incorporating everything from classical ballet and contemporary pieces to club dancing and street styles. This broad approach acknowledges the richness and variety present within the city's dance scene.

“

If you only look into one bubble, it may seem small, but it is huge if you see everything from ballet to club dancing to street dance and contemporary dance.

To foster engagement, the triennale launched "All Moves," a participatory initiative that began even before the official festival opening with a street parade. Despite rainy weather, Hamburg residents embraced the event, demonstrating a keen interest in dance. The festival's central venue, the Kampnagel cultural center, hosted Nora Chipaumire's performance "Dambudzo," which invited active audience participation, transforming the viewing experience into a shared, energetic endeavor. The festival's ambition extends beyond Kampnagel, with events planned across various city districts, reinforcing its commitment to bringing dance out of traditional venues and into the public sphere.

“

We want to make dance visible. Especially in public spaces, it belongs to everyone.