Marcel Leemann

SWAN LAKE
Dance | with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky performed by the Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck
Following the success of Romeo and Juliet last season, the series of
dance classics continues with the participation of the Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck. Swan Lake, one of the central works in ballet history, comes to the stage of the Main Stage. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's work, first performed in 1877, combines one of the most
iconic compositions with a fantastical fairytale world. The musical direction is in the hands of TLT Chief Conductor Gerrit Prießnitz, who underscores the atmosphere of the evening with the incredibly
emotional and captivating score. This brings to life the
story of the fragility and power of love in an enchanted setting.

Dance co-director Marcel Leemann has dedicated himself to this beloved story and, in close collaboration with dance co-director and dramaturge Stefan Späti and the dance ensemble, has developed a new interpretation largely based on the original fairy tale. To connect the plot more strongly with the present day and to allow the dancers more solo moments, the production has been expanded to include additional characters and some plot twists. Visually, the production relies on contrasts: sumptuous costumes meet a deliberately simple stage with clear, aesthetic forms. This creates a new perspective on a familiar story and a touching evening of theater for the whole family.

Directing Team and Cast
Choreography Marcel Leemann, Dance Ensemble of the Tyrolean State Theatre, Musical
Direction Gerrit Prießnitz, Matthew Toogood, Stage & Video Ayşe Gülsüm Özel, Costumes
Catherine Voeffray, Dramaturgy Stefan Späti, Choreographic Assistant Azusa
Nishimura, Rehearsal and Training Director Rie Akiyama, Prince Siegfried Iliano Tomasetto,
Queen Elizabeth Shupe, King George Giorgos Mitas, Doggo, Siegfried's best
friend Franklin Jones Da Silva Santos, Siegfried's friend from another world
Eskil Dorrepaal, Letizia Pignard, Financial Advisor Sarah Merler, Political Advisor Yi Yu,
Sleepy, the Court Jester Mingfu Guo, Odette Catarina Abreu, Odile Antonietta Bajraktari,
Double Redbeard Antonio Tafuni, Spyros Zikos, Princess West Melissa Totaro,
Princess North Olivia Swintek, Princess East MingXuan-Vincent Gao, Princess South

Giorgia Doria, Group of White Swans Antonietta Bajraktari, Giorgia Doria, MingXuan-

Vincent Gao, Mingfu Guo, Yi Yu, Melissa Totaro, Olivia Swintek, Sarah Merler,

Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck

VON HEIMAT UND TÄNZEN
World Premiere | Dance piece by Marcel Leemann & Simon Mayer
Of Homeland and Dances combines tradition with modernity and unites dance styles from around the world. Numerous members of the Tyrolean State Theatre's dance ensemble bring personal stories and dance traditions from their cultural roots to this production. The two choreographers, Marcel Leemann and Simon Mayer, shape these into a powerful dance piece in which personal memories, diverse movements, and cultural influences merge into a new whole.

At the heart of the piece is an international celebration that arises from differences, friction, and togetherness, culminating in a dance ritual that unites peoples. Driven by virtuoso live music, the performance unfolds beneath an airy marquee on a dance floor adorned with traditional objects such as beer benches, milking stools, and milk cans.

Christof Dienz composed the music especially for this evening and, together with
Alexandra Dienz, Chris Norz, and Walter Seebacher – three members of his band “Die
Knödel”

– will accompany the performance live. Musicians from the Amras town band will add another musical highlight with their
special guest appearance.

Choreography and Cast
Choreography Marcel Leemann, Simon Mayer, Set Design Julia Neuhold, Costume Design Katia Bottegal, Composition Christof Dienz, Dramaturgy Karoline Wibmer, Stefan Späti,
Dancers: Catarina Abreu, Antonietta Bajraktari, Eskil Dorrepaal, Giorgia Doria,
MingXuan-Vincent Gao, Sarah Merler, Giorgos Mitas, Letizia Pignard, Franklin Jones Da Silva Santos, Elizabeth Shupe, Olivia Swintek, Antonio Tafuni, Iliano Tomasetto,
Melissa Totaro, Yi Yu, Spyros Zikos, Live Music Christof Dienz, Alexandra Dienz, Chris Norz, Walter Seebacher, with members of the Amras Town Band

BEBEN
A dance piece by Marcel Leemann with live music by Oskar Haag

“There’s trembling – everywhere in the world. Current political developments and the social situation feel like endless earthquakes with far-reaching tremors. Everything is in flux, previously established rules are suddenly being broken, and we seem to be losing control. I’m drawn to processing this situation through dance, as dance is ideally suited for it,” says co-director of dance Marcel Leemann, describing his inspiration for the dance piece “Earthquake.”

The music for the piece – performed live on stage – is provided by rising singer-songwriter Oskar Haag. The Carinthian artist won the FM4 Award and the Amadeus Austrian Music Award in 2023. As an actor, he has performed on the stage of the Burgtheater, among other venues, and played the young Arnulf Rainer alongside Birgit Minichmayr in “Sleeping with a Tiger.” “Oskar’s voice and his compositions are incredibly impressive and captivating. He creates unique soundscapes full of emotion, humor, and melancholy,” says Marcel Leemann, describing the significance of the young artist’s music for his dance piece.

What happens when we can no longer hide our emotions? When they trigger physical reactions that make us tremble? The dance ensemble of the Tyrolean State Theatre and Oskar Haag explore this question when they bring the Kammerspiele to life starting May 3rd.

Choreography: Marcel Leemann, Dance Ensemble, Dance Ensemble of the Tyrolean State Theatre

Set & Costumes: Monika Lechner, Leah Watzdorf
Video: David Schuh
Composition & Live Music: Oskar Haag
Texts: Julia Costa
Dramaturgy: Stefan Späti

Photos: Birgit Gufler

ROMEO UND JULIA
Ballet by Marcel Leemann in 4 acts, Op. 64 (1935-36, rev. 1940)

by Sergei S. Prokofiev, Adrian Piotrovsky, Leonid Lavrovsky, and Sergei Radlov

With Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare created perhaps the most famous pair of lovers and one of the greatest tragedies of all time. The story of two young people whose innocent love is doomed to fail in a hostile environment devoid of any self-determination still captivates audiences today with its timeless power. Prokofiev's musical masterpiece powerfully and impressively captures this poignantly merciless narrative. In this dance production exploring love, hate, hope, and death, the dance ensemble and the Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck perform together.

Musical Direction: Matthew Toogood
Choreography: Marcel Leemann, Dance Ensemble
Stage & Video: Ayşe Gülsüm Özel
Costumes: Louise Flanagan
Dramaturgy: Diana Merkel, Stefan Späti

Romeo: Franklin Jones da Silva Santos
Juliet: Elizabeth Shupe
Mercutio: Iliano Tomasetto
Benvolio: Melissa Totaro
Tybalt: Giorgos Mitas
Nurse: Olivia Swintek
Lorenzo: Yi Yu
Count Capulet: Mingfu Guo
Countess Capulet: Giorgia Doria
Count Montague: Eskil Dorrepaal
Countess Montague: Sarah Merler
Paris: MingXuan-Vincent Gao

Group: Melissa Totaro, Catarina Abreu, Jung-Ching Cheng, Letizia Pignard, Mariana Romão, Elizabeth Shupe, Sarah Merler, Franklin Jones da Silva Santos Antonio Tafuni
Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck

Photos: Birgit Gufler

SAFE GROUND

A dance piece by Marcel Leemann

The concept of safe ground provides us with support. However, what constitutes safety and where it can be found is based on individual perceptions. The members of the dance ensemble have been shaped by diverse backgrounds – biographical, cultural, and familial. The common thread is their shared experience of working together in one place. What are their impressions of their new home? Where do they feel safe? What are their longings and hopes? A personal evening that delves inward and seeks diverse answers to shared questions.

Choreography: Marcel Leemann, Dance Ensemble
Training Director & Choreographic Assistant: Jacqueline Lopez
Set & Costume Design: Michael D. Zimmermann
Music: NENDA, Thomas Krug
Dramaturgy: Stefan Späti

Dancers: Jeanne Baudrier, Jung-Ching Cheng, Giorgia Doria, MingXuan-Vincent Gao, Mingfu Guo, Claude Johnson, Giorgos Mitas, Letizia Pignard, Franklin Jones da Silva Santos, Elizabeth Shupe, Mira Speyer, Olivia Swintek, Antonio Tafuni, Iliano Tomasetto, Melissa Totaro, Yi Yu

Live Music: Thomas Krug
Photos: Birgit Gufler

THE FOUR SEASONS

Dance piece by Marcel Leemann
Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons

In autumn, countless flocks of birds migrate south. They follow their instincts, guided by the cycle of the seasons. Like the birds, we humans are dependent on its power and dynamism. Yet the structure of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, so familiar to us, is in flux.

In his first choreography for Innsbruck, Marcel Leemann sends the dancers on a journey through a cyclical series of images to Max Richter's version of Vivaldi's music. They engage with nature, shaped by human experiences such as loving, fighting, finding, losing, and dealing with transience. Stillness is impossible – like a flock of birds in the sky, the group moves into an unknown future. A special collaboration invigorates this production: Armin Wolf, anchorman of the Austrian news program ZiB 2 and a native of Innsbruck, joins the action on stage via video recording.

Choreography: Marcel Leemann and Dance Ensemble

Stage Design: Vincent Mesnaritsch
Costumes: Aleksandra Kica
Musical Arrangement: Silas Bieri
Dramaturgy: Stefan Späti
Rehearsal and Training Director: Jacqueline Lopez

Dancers: Jeanne Baudrier, Jung-Ching Cheng, Giorgia Doria, MingXuan-Vincent Gao, Mingfu Guo, Claude Johnson, Sarah Merler, Giorgos Mitas, Letizia Pignard, Franklin Jones da Silva Santos, Elizabeth Shupe, Mira Speyer, Olivia Swintek, Antonio Tafuni, Iliano Tomasetto, Melissa Totaro, Yi Yu

Narrator (Video Recording): Armin Wolf
Photos: Birgit Gufler