The Amici Dance Theatre Company, founded by Wolfgang Stange in 1980 and based in London, UK, is a physically integrated dance company which includes dancers with physical and also mental disabilities. The company are the community artists in residence at the Lyric Hammersmith theatre. [1]
The approach of Stange has been described as one that directly incorporates each dancer's unique qualities into the dance:
Where others saw limitation, Stange saw potential. Where others saw a medical condition, Stange saw the possibility of a new form of expression. Like Holger, he believed that the key to performance was honesty: the presentation of the authentic self. Everyone could be honest, so everyone had something to offer. [2]
Stange was inspired by his dance teacher, Hilde Holger. Holger, a Viennese-trained dancer, taught dance to her son, who had Down Syndrome. In 1968, she used her experience teaching her son to mount a production with both physically and mentally disabled dancers. The dance piece, titled Towards the Light, was performed at the prestigious Sadler's Wells Theatre. [2]
Some of the notable works by the company include: [3]
Title | Choreographer |
---|---|
Tightrope 2010 | Wolfgang Stange |
Elegy 2007 | Wolfgang Stange |
Stars are out Tonight 2005 | Wolfgang Stange |
Timestep 2005 | Wolfgang Stange |
Breaking Out 2005 | Bill Robins |
The Chosen 2005 | Wolfgang Stange |
Untitled 2005 | Carol Britten |
Odd One Out 2005 | Wolfgang Stange |
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