Statement Sasha Waltz

»Dance is one of the oldest and most direct forms of human expression. Through physical presence, movement and the ability to make the dimensions of space and time tangible, dance touches the deepest levels of human existence. In a world increasingly characterised by crises, fear and polarisation, dance is not just an artistic discipline for me, but also a place of reflection and resistance. Dance opens up a space in which we can encounter ourselves and others physically – a space in which diversity and change are not just possible, but necessary. Dance is immediate and requires no language. In times of populism, art is more than ever a necessary counterweight. It is a platform for questioning our society, for designing utopias and advocating an open, pluralistic society.

The cutbacks in the arts and culture, which can currently be observed throughout Germany and are a harsh reality in Berlin, risk the destruction of creative and socio-political freedoms, and are thus also attacks on the very foundation of a democratic society. Dance, in particular, which is so fundamental to understanding our society and its polyphony, suffers from chronic underfunding and thus also from structural problems. What dance in Berlin needs most in the future is performance dates. Unfortunately, dance in this city doesn't have its own venue. But the audience and its interest is definitely there.

For my dance company Sasha Waltz & Guests, which I founded together with Jochen Sandig in 1993, the current funding cuts will mean an enormous setback in 2025. Our artistic work will be significantly restricted as a result.

Supporting dance professionals must become a long-term commitment of society. We need a policy that not only promotes the visible institutions, but also the invisible ones that often work beneath the surface – the small, independent stages, the experimental formats, the initiatives that point dance, art and culture in new directions.

Berlin, a city characterised by migration, difference and openness, and one that sees itself as a European capital of culture, has the responsibility to be a laboratory of the future – a place where new forms of society and art can be tested. Art is the foundation on which we can build a new form of coexistence. Dance is a key to this, because it allows us to experience community, change and empathy physically. It is also a form of communication in which everything that often remains unsaid can be expressed.

Dance is not a luxury that only a privileged minority can afford. It belongs to all of us. So when we look at the future of dance, we need to think not only about structural and financial conditions. We also need to keep redefining dance's social significance. Dance is a tool for change, for breaking down barriers and for connection. And it is a necessity – for the body, for the mind and for society.«

Sasha Waltz