Sasha Waltz & Guests is not a contemporary dance company in the conventional sense. Since being founded by Sasha Waltz and Jochen Sandig in Berlin in1993 more than one hundred and fifty artists from twenty-five lands have performed as »Guests« and also produced their own independent pieces. Currently Sasha Waltz’ repertoire as a choreographer comprises sixteen large, internationally acclaimed choreographies. A small circle of associates and the permanent ensemble of dancers realise approximately 100 performances worldwide each year thus positioning Sasha Waltz & Guests among the most successful international cultural enterprises. In 2005 the Company became autonomous once more recalling the period at the sophiensæle which was grounded by Sasha Waltz and Jochen Sandig in 1996 and has itself grown to be a most important production house for European Independent Theatre in Berlin. Sasha Waltz & Guests will continue though to present productions at Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz where Sasha Waltz and Jochen Sandig were actively involved in the artistic direction between 1999 and 2004. The establishment of divers venues and the presentation of performances there – from the Staatsoper Unter den Linden to the Palast der Republik and the Jüdische Museum through to St. Elisabeth-Kirche – is a key element of the Company’s activities. Site and architecture specific interaction also plays an important role in the »Dialoge« series, begun 1999. Choreographers, architects, fine artists, filmmakers, actors, dancers and musicians apply improvisation and multi-disciplinary processes to investigate a wide array of themes and concepts. The dynamic potentials deriving from these artistic exchanges and related innovations in training and education enhance the Company’s future prospects. An independent cultural enterprise Sasha Waltz & Guests is actively contributing to the development of contemporary dance by fostering a new generation of choreographers. Sasha Waltz & Guests will in the future increase its co-operation with Berlin and international cultural and industrial partners with creative new and entrepreneurial projects.
