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News
Robin Hood to play again
A cast of 70 performers, age 8-80+ all freeze like statues in their daily tasks as the bard enters and sings of the legend of Robin Hood. This opening scene of Tellspiele Interlaken is reminiscent of the early Robin Hood TV series of Vanessa's childhood in the UK. Later in the play, Robin performs on the roofs of the buildings and other characters fly through the air from tree-top level; all things Vanessa imagined early in the rehearsal process and which please her to see come into fruition. With every new production by Tellspiele Interlaken, the question is how to reinvent the outdoor performance space, its stone buildings and surrounding woodlands. New details like these add a new injection of life to Tellspiele's outdoor stage. Vanessa shared more about her experience of choreographing for Robin Hood in a video interview with Plattform J.
Residency in New York
The Center for Latter-day Saint Arts has just announced six winning artists for The Artists Residency at the Center and I’m thrilled to be one of them! The artists are specialised in different artistic disciplines. Two visual artists, 2 writers, a composer and a choreographer (that’s me!) have been selected. We will stay in Manhattan, New York, where we will exchange each morning and evening. The Center will facilitate tailor-made workspaces throughout the city for us to use and will also provide opportunities to progress our proposed work.
ParkiDance
Every week, the atmosphere in Akar Studio is intently concentrated as a group of older adults meet together for a dance training. What all the participants have in common is that they have Parkinson's Disease to varying degrees. Research into the effects of dance training for individuals with Parkinson's has shown remarkably positive results. This Bern-based dance training, ParkiDance, is a project from the heart of Silena Bertolino, who is highly invested in leading an effective and fun training. Silena asked me to collaborate with her group by choreographing a short piece that could be performed in Dampfzentrale in summer 2024. I am happy to have now started this collaboration.
2024 starts in America
The start of a new year is often a time for people to reflect on what they want to do more or less of. January 2024 has started for Vanessa with a particular focus on these questions as she begins a new creation entitled 'Ikigai', the Japanese word for 'reason for being' or deep sense of purpose. Vanessa is heading to America to choreograph 'Ikigai' for the contemporary dance company of Brigham Young University (BYU).
Choreographing Robin Hood
Anyone that’s lived in Berner Oberland for any period of time knows what the Tellspiel is. The tale of William Tell by Friedrich Schiller has been performed annually since 1912 until the present day (with interruptions during and between the two world wars). Every summer, a large audience is enthralled by the power of a new production of the play.
Mille Sens on tour
Mille Sens (or A Thousand Senses) was choreographed by Vanessa Cook for BewegGrund YOUNG. It is a collection of movement and games based on explorations of the senses. First premiered in summer 2023 in Dampfzentrale, Bern, the piece was subsequently invited to be part of the 'Tanzmehr Bühne' Festival in Zürich. It was a pleasure to see the piece come back to life after a short break.
Collaboration with Alleyne Dance
October 2023 saw the completion of a one year long collaboration Vanessa Cook enjoyed with Alleyne Dance (UK) and Dampfzentrale, Bern. Alleyne Dance is a British contemporary dance company which embodies a distinctly physical language alleynedance.com
A unique feature about Alleyne Dance is that the founders are identical twins and have an incredible synergy and vision as a duo.