Lottes Ballhaus | © Nik Schölzel
So nah und doch so fern | © Nik Schölzel
Lottes Ballhaus | © Nik Schölzel
So nah und doch so fern | © Nik Schölzel
Since the beginning of the season 2018/19, Dominique Dumais as ballet director and Kevin O’Day as artist in residence have been in charge of the dance department at the Mainfranken Theater in Würzburg. Together with twelve dancers from all over the world, they establish their own dance language and artistic home in Würzburg.
It is important for the duo to find a dance language that is at the cutting edge and takes impulses from the social discourse. Therefore they have put together a company that has a common dance expression, but at the same time leaves every dancer space for their individuality.
Because the question of how to create space for individuality and the other in a society is also artistically relevant - especially in an ensemble that unites dancers from ten different nations in everyday work and on stage.
Except of the twelve permanant dancers the dance company currently has an assistant and a position for dramaturgy and management. Dancers from all over the world with classical and modern training are part of the company. The dance company presents two to three productions a year in the big house and one or two pieces for the smaller venue. The dancers also have the opportunity to do choreography themselves. The dance company participates in one musical theater production (opera, operetta, musical) per season.
History of the Ensemble
Mainfranken Theater has existed for 215 years. The theatre’s ballet tradition goes way back; Andris Plucis, Mario Schröder, Fernanda Guimaraes, among others, created their first ballets here.
The theater with its ballet was saved in 2000 through foundation of a Friends’ Association. Anna Vita has been doing continual developmental work from 2004 to 2018. Since then, the seven permanent dancers and three élève positions have turned into 12 permanent positions today.
Since the season 2018/19 Dominique Dumais has been the ballet director of the dance division, artist in residence Kevin O'Day supports her.
Dominique Dumais | Ballet director
French Canadian Dominique Dumais started her career as a soloist at the National Ballet of Canada. In 2002 she became house - choreographer and deputy director of the dance company of the National Theater Mannheim under Kevin O'Day. From 2013 to 2016 she was in the position of Deputy Ballet Director. As choreographer, Dumais has produced more than 45 world premieres, among others for the Komische Oper Berlin and the National Ballet of Canada.
Kevin O'Day | Artist in Residence
The American Kevin O'Day started his career as a dancer at the Joffrey Ballet, Twyla Tharp and the New York City Ballet. In 2002 he was appointed as Artistic Director of the Kevin O'Day Ballet, Nationaltheater Mannheim. From 2013 to 2016 he held the position of ballet director. As choreographer, he has produced more than 70 world premieres, including productions in Mannheim, at the New York City Ballet, the Stuttgart Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance in Chicago.
„It is a privilege for every choreographer to have their own ensemble with which you can develop, create and explore something. We inspire and challenge each other. We bring in our different experiences, ask ourselves what is important, what is necessary, what is stimulating. I learned that we are actually craftsmen and that our work consists of one process. My job is to hold this process and all artists very carefully in my hands and to protect them. ”
Dominique Dumais
Productions from the 2021/2022 season
LOTTES BALLHAUS (world premiere)
Take this Waltz
Choreography: Dominique Dumais
Music: Johann Strauss (son), W.A. Mozart, Johannes Brahms, Jean Sibelius, Dmitri Shostakovich, Aram Khachaturian, Nino Rota a.o. | Philharmonic Orchestra Würzburg
12 dancers
It takes two to...
Choreography: Kevin O'Day
Music: Astor Piazzolla | Philharmonic Orchestra Würzburg
11 dancers
Stage dimensions 14 x 12 m
120 minutes (incl. one intermission)
Premiere 06.11.21 | Theaterfabrik Blaue Halle
Productions from the 2020/2021 season
SO NAH UND DOCH SO FERN (world premiere)
Choreography: Dominique Dumais
Music: William Byrd, J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Arvo Pärt, Terry Riley a.o.
11 dancers
Stage dimensions 14 x 7 m + 20 x 5 m (forestage)
65 minutes
Premiere 22.05.21 | Theaterfabrik Blaue Halle
TANZXPERIMENT No. 4 – ONLINE (video project)
Dance videos by members of the ensemble
11 dancers
Online Premiere 23.04.21
Productions from the 2019/2020 season
Es war einmal… (2019)
Choreography: Kevin O`Day
Composition: John King
Stage and costume: Thomas Mika
12 dancers , stage 12 x 14 m
Naked (2016)
Choreography: Dominique Dumais
Music: Julia Kent
Stage and costume: Tatyana Van Walsum
12 dancers, stage 12 x 14 m
#mythos (2020)
Choreography: Dominique Dumais, Philharmonisches Orchester Würzburg
Musical diraction: Gábor Hontvári
12 dancers, stage 12 x 14 m
Productions from the 2018/2019 season
Chansons (Uraufführung 2008)
Choreography: Dominique Dumais
120 min
12 dancers, stage 12 x 14 m
Ludwigs Leidenschaften (2018)
Choreography: Dominique Dumais / Kevin O'Day
Music: Philharmonisches Orchester Würzburg
Musical direction: Marie Jacquot
120 min
12 dancers, stage 12 x 14 m
Muttersprache (2019)
Choreography: Dominique Dumais, dancers of the company
120 min
12 dancers, stage 12 x 14 m
Productions from the 2017/2018 season
Blaubart-Sacre
Choreography Anna Vita, music Philharmonisches Orchester Würzburg
12 dancers, 2 singers (Blaubart), stage 12 x 14 m, duration 120 min
Laboratorium Tanz
Choreography Cara Hopkins, Alessandro Giovine, Leonam Santos
12 dancers, stage 6 x 8 m, duration 100 min
Cinderella
Choregraphy Anna Vita, music Philharmonisches Orchester Würzbur
12 dancers, stage 12 x 14 m, duration 120 min
Guest Performances
Theater Kempten
Die Päptsin
Choreography Anna Vita
12 dancers, 6 extras, stage 12 x 14 m, duration 100 min
Gala im Theater Koblenz
„Don’t Kiss“
Choreography Fabio Liberti
2 dancers, stage 12 x 14 m, duration 15 min
Productions from the 2016/17 season
Scheherazade (2016)
Choreography: Anna Vita, music: Rimski-Korsakow/Fazil Say
12 dancers, orchestra, stage 12 x 14 m, 120 min
Die Päpstin (2016)
Choreography: Anna Vita, music: J.S. Bach, Apocalyptica, Arvo Pärt, Henrik Gorecki, Peteris Vasks, Karl Jenkins etc.
12 dancers, without orchestra, stage 12 x 16 m, 120 min
Der Tod und das Mädchen (2017)
Choreography: Anna Vita, music: Gustav Mahler (after Franz Schubert)
4 dancers, string orchestra or quartet, stage 8 x 8 m, 40 min
Who cares (2015)
Choreography: Armen Hakobyan, music: Pust
2 dancers, stage 8 x 8 m, 5 min
Requiem (2017)
Choreography: Anna Vita, music: W. A. Mozart
12 dancers, orchestra and choir, stage 12 x 14 m, 50 min
Productions from the 2014/2015 season
Der Fall Carmen (2015)
Choreography: Anna Vita
12 dancers, stage 7,75 x 6 m, length n. a.
Schneewittchen (2015)
Choreography: Anna Vita
16 dancers, stage 12 x 18 m, expected 150 min
Dornröschen (2014)
Choreography: Anna Vita, music: P. I. Tschaikowsky
15 dancers, orchestra, stage 12 x 18 m, 130 min
Productions from the 2013/2014 season
"Frosty Summers" bei der Ballettgala (2014)
Choreography: Louis Stiens
3 dancers, stage 12 x 18 m, 6 min
Dornröschen (2014)
Choreography: Anna Vita, music: P. I. Tschaikowsky
15 dancers, orchestra, stage 12 x 18 m, 130 min
Cyrano de Bergerac (2013)
Choreography: Anna Vita, music: W. A. Mozart
21 dancers, orchestra, stage 12 x 18 m, 125 min
Der Besuch der alten Dame (2013)
Choreography: Anna Vita, music: Karl Amadeus Hartmann, Dmitri Schostakowitsch, Monty Python
12 dancers, orchestra, stage 7,75 x 6 m, 75 min
Lascia che accada / Josephs-Legende (2013)
Lascia che accada
Choreography: Roberto Scafati, music: Loscil (Scott Morgan), Philip Glass, Félix Lajkó, Ólafur Arnalds
9 dancers, orchestra, stage 12 x 18 m, 130 min
Josephs-Legende
Choreography: Anna Vita, music: Richard Strauss
12 dancers, orchestra, stage 12 x 18, 130 min
So nah und doch so fern
Teaser
Lottes Ballhaus
Teaser
TANZXPERIMENT No. 4 – ONLINE
Video-Projekt
Mainfranken Theater Würzburg
Theaterstraße 21 | 97070 Würzburg
Tel 0931 3908 0 | Fax 0931 3908 100
info@mainfrankentheater.de
