WINNDance Launches at Venice Biennale with All-Star Over-40 Cast
WINNDance, a dance company located in Stuttgart, made its debut at the Venice Biennale Dance festival, confronting the stereotype that dancers over 40 should retire. Established by Slava Tutukin and Marijn Rademaker, the company launched with Scirocco, which included "Death in Venice" by Imre & Marne van Opstal, Omar Román De Jesús, and Rainer Behr, alongside "Bridge of Sighs" by John Neumeier, with costumes designed by Boss. Curated by Wayne McGregor, the cast featured performers like Diana Vishneva, who celebrated her 50th birthday on 16 July, and 52-year-old Silvia Azzoni. WINNDance, drawing inspiration from Alessandra Ferri, seeks to celebrate experience and artistic growth. Scirocco is set to tour internationally until 2027, with confirmed performances in Bonn, Baden-Baden, Ludwigshafen, The Hague, Tokyo, and Hamburg.
Key facts
- WINNDance made its world premiere at the Venice Biennale Dance festival.
- The company is based in Stuttgart and founded by Slava Tutukin and Marijn Rademaker.
- The premiere production is Scirocco, featuring Death in Venice and Bridge of Sighs.
- Death in Venice is choreographed by Imre & Marne van Opstal, Omar Román De Jesús, and Rainer Behr.
- Bridge of Sighs is choreographed by John Neumeier with costumes by Boss.
- The opening cast includes Diana Vishneva, Silvia Azzoni, Oleksandr Ryabko, and others.
- Diana Vishneva turned 50 on 16 July.
- The company's name 'WINN' stands for 'When, If Not Now' and also echoes 'win'.
- The tour includes dates in Bonn, Baden-Baden, Ludwigshafen, The Hague, Tokyo, and Hamburg.
- The article was written by Graham Spicer, aka 'Gramilano'.
Entities
Artists
- Wayne McGregor
- Imre van Opstal
- Marne van Opstal
- Omar Román De Jesús
- Rainer Behr
- John Neumeier
- Slava Tutukin
- Marijn Rademaker
- Diana Vishneva
- Silvia Azzoni
- Oleksandr Ryabko
- Polina Semionova
- Mara Galeazzi
- Igone de Jongh
- Kayoko Everhart
- Silas Henriksen
- Alexander Jones
- Nora Kimball
- Gil Roman
- Giulia Tonelli
- Ivan Urban
- Alessandra Ferri
- Martha Clarke
- Graham Spicer
Institutions
- WINNDance
- Venice Biennale Dance festival
- Hamburg Ballet
- Boss
- Shinjuku Bunka Center
- Hamburg State Opera
- Hamburg Ballet Days
- The Critics' Circle
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Stuttgart
- Germany
- Bonn
- Baden-Baden
- Ludwigshafen
- The Hague
- Netherlands
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Hamburg
- Milan