Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company performs Forsythe and Mandafounis at Romaeuropa Festival
The Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company took the stage at the Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome on September 9–10, 2025, as part of the Romaeuropa Festival, with support from Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels. The lineup included 'Undertainment' by William Forsythe and 'Lisa' by Ioannis Mandafounis, highlighting a shift in choreographic generations. Forsythe, a New Yorker born in 1949, presents 'Undertainment' as his swan song, focusing on improvisation and mathematical paths. Meanwhile, Mandafounis, born in Athens in 1981, developed 'Lisa' after working with an actor from Peter Brook's troupe, featuring recitations of Osip Mandelstam's poetry. The festival's 40th edition also showcases performances from Cassiel Gaube, (LA)HORDE, Qudus Onikeku, and Christos Papadopoulos.
Key facts
- Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company performed at Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome on September 9–10, 2025.
- The performance was part of the Romaeuropa Festival, supported by Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels.
- The program included William Forsythe's 'Undertainment' and Ioannis Mandafounis's 'Lisa'.
- William Forsythe (born 1949, New York) is a renowned choreographer who developed a movement composition method based on deconstructing academic dance.
- Forsythe created the digital application 'Improvisation Technologies' for PC.
- 'Undertainment' is described as Forsythe's final choreographic work, a conceptual piece passing his 'toolbox' to dancers.
- Ioannis Mandafounis (born 1981, Athens) is a former Forsythe Company dancer and current director of Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company since 2023–24 season.
- 'Lisa' originated from a project about poet Osip Mandelstam, with dancers reciting his poetry in Russian, English, and Italian.
- The piece features live piano music by Gabriel Fauré and 1930s-inspired costumes.
- Other supported performances in the festival include works by Cassiel Gaube, (LA)HORDE, Qudus Onikeku, and Christos Papadopoulos.
Entities
Artists
- William Forsythe
- Ioannis Mandafounis
- Cassiel Gaube
- Qudus Onikeku
- Christos Papadopoulos
- Osip Mandelstam
- Gabriel Fauré
- Peter Brook
- Laura Bevione
Institutions
- Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company
- Ballet Frankfurt
- Forsythe Company
- Romaeuropa Festival
- Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels
- Ballet National de Marseille
- Artribune
- Amazon
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Auditorium Conciliazione
- New York
- Athens
- Greece