Hannah Shakti Bühler and Simon Mayer are creating a new space for dance and art in the Innviertel region. Inspired by historical dance manias, they breed a ‘dance virus’ full of joie de vivre there, which is then allowed to spread in Braunau: the resulting dance village is mobile, bridge-building and open to all.
In the run-up to the festival, workshops entitled Brückentänze – ‘Zuagroaste’ were organised in cooperation with ZIMT Braunau. Being ‘Zuagroast’ can mean many things – living in a new country, moving to the next village or changes in your private or professional environment. The participants were invited to explore these experiences through dance and dialogue.
Together, they thought about what creates a sense of belonging, what makes it easier to arrive – and how differences and similarities can be set in motion. In addition, performative bridge dances took place on several bridges over the Inn between Braunau and Schärding. They brought dance directly into the public space – as a living, film-documented symbol of connection across geographical and social borders. Short interviews were also part of the project, which resulted in a documentary film that will be shown at the Festival of Regions.
The dance village is to become an imaginary place where contemporary dance can take root as a free expression. Dance should find its anchor in the Innviertel not only as a hobby but also as a profession and as a way to personal well-being. Hannah and Simon dream big and want to create a place at the Festival of Regions where movement means home.
Come and dance with us!
You will encounter the project in a variety of programmes at the festival. Look out for our dance anchors, dance floors, workshops and much more:
Tanzboden
The Tanzboden is a moving, living dance floor that appears at various locations in Braunau and shows old favourites in a new light. Sometimes with live music, sometimes with a DJ or just clapping and stomping – dancing takes place where you wouldn’t expect it, always together with Hannah and Simon.
Traditional and contemporary dance and music forms combine to create an open, participatory experience. Whether with instruction or spontaneously – there is room for all forms of expression on the dance floor.
Workshop: Tanzboden
The art of celebrating! Fancy happiness hormones and new energy? Then you’ve come to the right place! In this workshop, we will activate your vitality with breath, voice and movement.
We dance together solo, in pairs and in a group – freely, creatively and lively.
No previous experience necessary, just a desire for movement and joie de vivre.
You don’t have to be able to dance or sing – everyone is welcome, including men!
Come along and dance yourself free!
Click here to register
Tanzanker
Throughout the festival, people dance in unexpected places in Braunau. Ob auf Plätzen, Wiesen oder Kreuzungen: Tanzanker bringt zeitgenössischen Tanz dorthin, wo man ihn nicht vermutet, oft im spontanen Dialog mit der Umgebung.
Manchmal im Programm angekündigt, manchmal überraschend – also Augen auf in Braunau!
Und endlich gibt’s eine klare Antwort auf die ewige Frage vom Opa womit man denn nun sein/ihr Geld im Kunstbetrieb verdient: Dacing. Period.
CV
Simon Mayer
born in Austria in 1984, is a choreographer, musician and performer. He studied at the ballet school of the Vienna State Opera and at the P.A.R.T.S. in Brussels and was a member of the Vienna State Opera Ballet.
As a musician and singer, Simon founded and played in various bands (Rising Halfmoon, C.O.P.), released audio recordings of his stage productions and creates his own music. As a dancer, choreographer and musician, he has been involved in productions by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker/Rosas (The Song), Wim Vandekeybus and Zita Swoon.
His choreographic repertoire includes solos, duets, group pieces as well as socially engaged and immersive events: SunBengSitting; Sons of Sissy; Oh Magic, Volxfest, Being Moved, among others. His pieces are performed internationally.
Hannah Shakti Bühler
born in Germany and raised in Italy, studied contemporary dance at Laban Trinity College in London (BA Dance Theatre, 2006). As a performer, she has worked with Retina Dance Co. (UK), Centro Coreografico Galego (Spain) and T.r.a.s.h. DansPerformanceGroup (Netherlands), among others.
In 2015, she completed a Master’s degree in Contemporary Dance Pedagogy at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, where she has been teaching in the drama department since 2016. Since September 2018, she has been a professor of contemporary dance at BAtanz with a focus on transfers between somatic practices and contemporary dance.
Since 2016 training in Body-Mind Centering® Somatic Movement Education (EmbodyMove, GB), since 2019 Feldenkrais studies and since 2021 practice.