Friends of mine run the technical stage at PACT Zollverein, the leading choreography workshop in Europe. The main stage seats only 350 max, but it's large enough for a La Scala production. Leading dance tours often begin here, as the same production which goes to Paris Opera House can work here.
As you can see from the photos, this building was where the miners changed and were taken down into the mines, and showered after each shift; many hundreds together. Now Pina Bausch dances there.
(Aside: i know my life has taken some weird turns, but this building houses the memories of one of the weirdest. Mischa Baryshnikov began his last tour ((with White Oak)) there, and i was added to the stage crew because of my relatively good Englisch. During the first rehearsal, i was asked to perform a choreographed set change with Mischa and the dancers. I wish there were photos of light-footed me onstage, clad in stangehand black, dancing the props away... with Baryshnikov!!!) "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
And I wish too, that there would have been pictures of your light-footed act. :-D I mean Baryshnikov.......wow!
Here's a helicopter tour of the site. Now all of the old coal mine buildings are filled with arts, culture orgs and innovative businesses. "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
