“The Nelken Line” workshop with the Danielle Georgiou Dance Group

The Danielle Georgiou Dance Group (DGDG) will be leading a workshop to teach the choreography behind Pina Bausch’s “The Nelken Line” on Saturday, October 21 from 11:00am-4:00pm at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in downtown Dallas. Become a part of dance history by taking part in this exciting project!

In 1982, Pina Bausch choreographed Nelken – which means “carnations” – during which dancers walk in a single-file line, performing the same four distinct gestures over and over. For Bausch, each of the gestures represented one of the four seasons. But the movement also calls forth the idea of community-building and sharing. Earlier this year, the Pina Bausch Foundation launched “The Nelken Line” Project to encourage Bausch enthusiasts to start their own lines and share videos of them. Participants have come from everywhere from Morocco to Chile, performing in locations like soccer stadiums, a French nursery school, and through the campus of Jacob’s Pillow.

The Danielle Georgiou Dance Group will be hosting a “Nelken Line” in Dallas to spread Bausch’s movements and promote choreographer Danielle Georgiou’s ideas that dance can happen anywhere, at any time, and by anyone. Georgiou believes that technique can be your foundation, but it is not your identity, and that dance can bring people together from all walks of life for a common purpose – to share space and ideas. No matter your age, language, or ability, you can and should dance.

To join the line in Dallas, visit the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in downtown Dallas on Saturday, October 21 from 11:00am-4:00pm. The complete schedule for the day is below. Participants may drop in at any time from 11:00am-1:00pm to learn the choreography, but we would like for participants to commit to stay for the 2-hour filming block, if possible:

• From 11:00am-1:00pm, dancers from DGDG will be leading small group workshops to teach the choreography.
• From 1:00pm-1:45pm, there will be a group lunch time, with snacks provided by DGDG (all are welcome to bring food to share).
• From 2:00pm-4:00pm, we will be filming the choreography inside and outside of the Library. This video documentation will be provided to the Pina Bausch Foundation.

No dance experience is required. All are welcome. Interested participants are asked to bring clothing options for the filming that have no logos or patterns on them, but can be any color. 

This workshop is in cooperation with Kitchen Dog Theater, and supported by the Dallas Public Library.