PARCOURS³#2
by Charles A. Washington

PARCOURS³#2 transforms Villa Wigman into a living archive of perspectives on Mary Wigman’s life and work. Through a series of solos, Charles A. Washington and the performers investigate how Wigman’s artistic and ethical complexities can be re-read through different historical, mythological, and contemporary figures.

Each solo was developed by embodying one of these figures as a perspective – a way of looking at Wigman’s thoughts and contradictions through the transformation of movement, gesture, symbol, technique, and personal interest. Rather than offering literal portraits, the performers translate their characters into physical, choreographic languages: the precision and criticality of Jérôme Bel, the internal landscape of Martha Graham, the authority and seduction of Cleopatra, and the ecstatic collapse of Vaslav Nijinsky.

Together, these embodied perspectives form a choreographic dialogue with Wigman herself — not to define her, but to illuminate how her questions continue to move through the bodies of artists today.

Artistic Method by Charles A. Washington

Washington’s choreographic process is grounded in embodiment as a form of research. Across several works he has developed a methodology in which he embodies historical or living figures to explore different perspectives, emotions, and philosophical positions through dance. These embodiments are impersonations used as an artistic method, not re-enactments. Each figure becomes a lens through which to examine how history moves through the body — allowing complex pasts to be experienced as shifting, physical present.

All dialogues and texts in PARCOURS³#2 are fictional adaptations created by Charles A. Washington. They are inspired by published writings, letters, and reflections by and about the featured figures. The materials have been recontextualised as part of a choreographic and dramaturgical process that explores embodiment, history, and ethical reflection through dance.

Rooms

Jérôme Bel

Der Historiker / Der Rahmen
Performer:in: Rika Yotsumoto | Roter Saal

Martha Graham

Die Innere Landschaft
Performer:in: Charles A. Washington | Kleiner Saal

Cleopatra

Die Stimme der Macht und des Vermächtnisses
Performer:in: Zarina Stahnke | Großer Saal

Vaslav Nijinsky

Der Ekstatische / Das Opfer
Performer:in: David Le Thai | Konferenzraum

Das Zusammentreffen

Abschließender Dialog
Performer:innen: alle | Großer Saal

Artists

DAVID LE THAI

David Le Thai was born in Dresden. He is a graduate stage dancer from the Palucca University of Dance, sound designer and choreographer.

ZARINA STAHNKE

Dancer and interdisciplinary artist in Dresden. Former soloist with the Semperoper Ballet, she has performed in works by William Forsythe, George Balanchine, Hofesh Shechter, David Dawson, Twyla Tharp, Imre & Marne van Opstal and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, among others. Her artistic work combines dance, visual arts and photography and explores the relationship between movement and image.
zarinastahnke.com

CHARLES A. WASHINGTON

Born in Perth, Scotland, in 1982. Began his dance training at the age of 21 at the Rambert School in London. He has danced internationally with Ross McKim, Fleur Darkin, Will Tuckett, Cesc Gelabert, Jan Pusch, Yossi Berg & Oded Graf, Katrín Hall, Roy Assaf, Maxim Didenko and Vladimir Varnava. As choreographer and artistic director of Pinkmetalpetal Productions, he explores philosophical and social issues through dance, music and text.
pinkmetalproductions.com

RIKA YOTSUMOTO

Contemporary dancer based in Dresden. Studied at Reed College (Portland) and completed further training at Gibney Dance NYC and IWANSON (Munich). Worked with Oriantheatre Dance Company, go plastic company, Polymer DMT, KOMA&Ko, Natalie Wagner and Joseph Hernandez, as well as at the Semperoper and Staatsschauspiel Dresden. Her own works include Porcelain Madness (2020) and Peng! Peng! (2023).

villa\wigman

ARTISTIC PROGRAMME DIRECTORS

Julia Amme, Katja Erfurth

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Frieda Pirnbaum

MANAGEMENT

Josefine Wosahlo

TECHNICAL

Heinrich Häußler

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who is involved in so many different ways in and for the Villa Wigman für Tanz e.V. association.