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Till November 29th, 2024 FILM ONLINE
40 minutes

An Iconic Choreography in an Extraordinary Setting

In this stunning film, Pina Bausch’s iconic choreography The Rite of Spring is danced in an extraordinary setting, on the beach in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal.

Filmed in 2020 as the world descended into lockdown, it captures the last rehearsal of a specially assembled company of 38 dancers from 14 African countries and documents a unique moment in their preparations for an international tour. A rare opportunity to watch one of the world’s greatest dance works.

Dancing at Dusk was first shown on Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage in July 2020. That year Pina Bausch’s 1975 seminal work, The Rite of Spring, was due to tour the world. Performed by a specially assembled company of 38 dancers from 14 African countries, this international co-production between Sadler’s Wells (UK), Pina Bausch Foundation (Germany), and École des Sables (Senegal), should have opened in March 2020 in Dakar as part of a double-bill with a new work created and performed by Malou Airaudo and Germaine Acogny, common ground[s]. However, just days before the premiere, performances were cancelled as governments around the world banned public gatherings and began shutting their borders due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Before disbanding and going into lockdown, the company seized the moment by performing a last rehearsal on a beach near their base at École des Sables in Senegal. Filmmaker Florian Heinzen-Ziob and his crew were able to capture this unique moment in a stunning film.