Traces of Movement – A Conversation with Jutta Hell and Dieter Baumann / Tanzcompagnie Rubato

The dancecompagnie Rubato has been working in the independent scene in Berlin for four decades under the artistic direction of Jutta Hell and Dieter Baumann.

In this interview with Claudia Henne, Jutta Hell and Dieter Baumann reflect on their journey to Berlin, their conscious decision to establish a company without a permanent ensemble, and the artistic encounters that have shaped them. They discuss their collaboration with Chinese artists, their significant work with dancer and choreographer Gerhard Bohner, and their piece FindeOrte (2012), inspired by Michel Foucault’s reflections on the “utopian body.” How can 40 years of choreographic work be preserved and archived? In their bodies, in relationships, in memories, in the archive—everywhere.

Additionally, they share their thoughts on aging in dance: What traces does age leave on the body? What role should the aging body play on stage? What opportunities does intergenerational collaboration in dance offer?

The discussion was conducted in spoken German, with German subtitles available.