Free entry, registration via balletforfuture@staatsballett-berlin.de required. 

PETRUSCHKA – to do or not to do?

The example of the ballet PETRUSCHKA, which Igor Stravinsky composed for the Ballets Russes in 1911, can be used to demonstrate the process of contextualisation. The creative minds behind the premiere did not give any thought to blackfacing and Eurocentrism. Howerver, for musicologists as well as concert and ballet audiences, this work by Stravinsky is considered an important score that should not be missing from the repertoire.

The characters of the original libretto – puppets of a fairground theatre – namely Petrushka, the Moor and the Ballerina, are portrayed musically and are already morally evaluated in the score. The original designs for stage, costumes and choreography show a wide variety of stereotypes from today's perspective. How do contemporary choreographers approach this work? Is it possible to re-evaluate the controversial original? Are explanations in the programme sufficient? Educational mission, cancel culture, ignorance and contextualisation – what to do?

Panelists: Mariama Diagne (dance researcher, FU Berlin), Svenja Flaßpöhler (philosopher, journalist, writer, Philosophie Magazin), Hanna Järvinen (dance researcher, University of the Arts Helsinki), Ksenia Ovsyanick (Principal Dancer, Staatsballett Berlin), Yolanda Rother (Co-Founder & Managing Director, The Impact Company), via Zoom: Richard Siegal (Choreograph, Ballet of Difference), Christiane Theobald (Acting Artistic Director, Staatsballett Berlin), moderated by Claudia Henne

Event in German and English

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On the night, a photographer will be present do take photos of the event. Even though, the focus will be on the panelists, audience members might still appear in the background. In case you don't want to appear in any of the photos, please talk to the photographer beforehand.