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"Praying with Her Feet", Beate Vollack calls her dance piece for the 13th St. Gallen Festival: "Peregrinatio" takes the audience on a pilgrimage through the cathedral, accompanied by powerful organ sounds and touching songs.
The public is close to the action: scene of Beate Vollack's "Peregrinatio" danced pilgrimage in St. Gallen Cathedral on the occasion of the St. Gallen Festival . (Image: KEYSTONE / EDDY RISCH)
(sda)
This year, the choreography for the St. Galler Festspiele dance piece comes from the dance director herself. Previously, she had not dared to play in the big hall, explains Beate Vollack, who has been running the St. Galler Tanzkompanie since the 2014/2015 season. "The cathedral is the path of dance," she says.
A guided tour of the cathedral revealed new perspectives. Beate Vollack would like to share these unusual impressions and perspectives. It takes the public on a spiritual journey through this imposing building
"Station Theater"
The dance piece "Peregrinatio" is structured according to the themes of rupture, travel, present and return, and the principle of pilgrimage, this can still be found in all religions today. The 16 dancers dance on three stations of the symbolic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
The spectators accompany them to different places of the cathedral: either in the central alley between the benches (Le Puy-en-Velay ), The choir stalls (Constance) or in the former west choir under the organ (Bangor). Finally, spectators gather in front of the altar, where they experience the final scene of the play in front of the altar.
The "Theater Station" captivates the viewer from the first moment: the dancers perform like burning servants on a flaming baptismal pit through the sacred rooms. The windows still shine lightly with daylight and the organ Willibald Guggenmos sings the "Sun Hymn" of Max Drischner
Organ in the center
Just as the light changes, the musical experience in which the organ is in the center stands. Willibald Guggemos is a world-class virtuoso organist who creates unimaginable sounds of Domorgel.
The works date from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The experimental sounds of Philip Glass ("Mad Rush") have as much space as the organ music of Louis Vierne's romantic movement.
Iranian soprano Sheida Damghani, a member of the St. Gallen Theater, opens the door of the choir stalls. Daily life can not enter, and with his brilliant voice leads the audience to the next station.
The dancers simultaneously dance the same choreography in different places, depending on their point of view, opening up different perspectives for the audience, as in a chain the dance game is repeated through the entire nave.
The Way of Self
The dancers are strangely moved by the strength of the cathedral, the atmosphere is as devout as at the mass. Beate Vollack occupies the emotional states of a pilgrimage: Actors sometimes move in shuffling, sometimes with light jumps Rows of seats
The costumes (Dieter Eisenmann) are first united (gray jeans and shirt) then solemnly (white cape). The symbolism recalls the dance of the dervishes. The dancers fly over the sanctuary with circular motions. In recent years, the path to oneself has become the center of many pilgrimages.
Beate Vollack managed to settle in the cathedral. The audience celebrated the first with a standing ovation. His personal journey continues soon: the head of the dance company leaves the Theater St. Gallen after the season 2018/19.
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