SCIROCCO

The first part, “Death in Venice”, unfolds an inner dialogue between Thomas Mann and Gustav von Aschenbach, the protagonist of his novella of the same name, who relives that disastrous summer in Venice. His inner conflict condenses into an expression of Mann’s emotional ambivalence and is translated into movement that can be physically experienced.

In the second chapter, John Neumeier’s *BRIDGE OF SIGHS* draws inspiration from the history of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, a quote about love by Augustine, and the somber music of Shostakovich. The bridge symbolizes farewell, longing, and the irretrievable past. The dancers weave these images into an emotional landscape that bridges the past and the present.

WINNDance Company is a dance company and creative platform founded in Stuttgart that combines artistic practice, research, and social sustainability. The company was founded by Slava Tutukin and Marijn Rademaker in response to a structural and cultural gap in the international dance sector. WINN emerged from the need to open up new perspectives and develop structures in which experience becomes the driving force behind artistic development and reflection.

The name WINN stands for “When, If Not Now.” It expresses both an artistic and an ethical stance, serving as both a statement and a question. It refers to the right moment, to personal responsibility, and to the moment of action in the cultural sphere. Rather than looking back, the name invites us to take action in the here and now—future-oriented, shaped by experience, and firmly rooted in artistic practice.

At the heart of WINN is an ensemble of internationally renowned dancers over the age of 40, whose careers have shaped the international ballet and contemporary dance scenes for decades. Their physical expertise, interpretive depth, and artistic intelligence open up new dimensions of expression on stage. The choreographic creative process is closely linked to the dancers’ lived experiences; biography, memory, and artistic maturity become an integral part of the artistic work.

WINN sees itself as a catalyst for fundamental change in the dance profession—toward a new understanding of age, experience, and appreciation.

winn-dance.com

Cast:

Concept: Slava Tutukin, Marijn Rademaker, Ira Goldbecher, John Neumeier

Choreography: Imre & Marne van Opstal, Omar Román De Jesús, Rainer Behr, John Neumeier

Costumes: BOSS

Lighting: Konstantin Binkin and John Neumeier

Film: Javier De Frutos

Visual communication design: Giselle Tuetuekin

Music: Ricardo Villalobos / Max Loderbauer / Mohammad Reza Mortazavi / Boxhead Ensemble / Jesse Scheinin / Floex and Tom Hodge / Hildur Guðnadóttir / Dmitri Schostakowitsch / Friedrich Hollaender / Kurt Weill / Bryan Ferry