When does the screening take place?

The screening begins on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 7 PM.

Where will the documentary film be shown?

The event takes place in the Bürgerhaus Wasseralfingen in Aalen-Wasseralfingen.

What can the audience expect?

The documentary film Dance as a Declaration about Kurt Jooss will be shown, followed by a film discussion.

Who realized the documentary film?

The film was created by director Annette von Wangenheim as a portrait of choreographer Kurt Jooss.

How much does admission cost?

Admission to the event is free.

What topics does the film cover?

The film addresses the life, artistic work, and political stance of Kurt Jooss as well as his significance for modern dance theater.

Kurt Jooss between Dance Art and Resistance: An Evening Full of History and Stance

Name: Screening of the documentary film "Dance as a Declaration" about Kurt Jooss
Start: 2026-10-27T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-27T21:00:00+01:00
Location: Bürgerhaus Wasseralfingen - Bürgersaal

Kurt Jooss: Dance as a Declaration at the Bürgerhaus Wasseralfingen

On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, a special film evening at the Bürgerhaus Wasseralfingen will focus on the life and work of choreographer Kurt Jooss, who hails from Wasseralfingen. The screening of the documentary film Dance as a Declaration by Annette von Wangenheim will begin at 7 PM. Following the screening, a film discussion will create space for personal impressions, historical context, and questions about Jooss's significance for modern dance theater.

An artist between expressive dance and political commitment

Kurt Jooss combined choreographic precision with a determined stance on contemporary history. As a co-founder of the Folkwang School in Essen and founder of the Folkwang Dance Theater Studio, he significantly shaped the development of German dance theater. His art did not seek pleasing poses but societal friction: movement for Jooss became an expression of power, fear, resistance, and human dignity.

In 1933, he publicly refused to separate from his Jewish collaborators and left Germany. England became his new home and the international base for his work. This biographical decision gives the film title Dance as a Declaration a double meaning: it refers both to the artistic credo and the moral stance of an uncomfortable, courageous person on stage.

Historical images bring dance history to life

Annette von Wangenheim's documentary from 2001 combines film, video, and photographic material into a multifaceted portrait. Historical footage, rare amateur film material from the 1930s and 1940s, as well as newly shot sequences follow Jooss's traces into the present.

Excerpts from significant ballets and insights into the legendary Ballets Jooss can be seen. The artistic aftermaths also become visible: sequences with Pina Bausch and Birgit Cullberg show how far Jooss's impulses extend into the history of European dance. The film thus becomes an animated choreography of memory, archive, and present.

An evening of film with a regional perspective

The event gains a special dimension by looking at Kurt Jooss's origins. Members of the Wasseralfingen local history association will create a special section that connects the commitment and international significance of the famous ballet artist with his homeland. This creates a theatrical atmosphere where great dance history is not distant and abstract but takes root in a specific place.

The subsequent film discussion deepens the impressions of the stage experience on screen. It will focus on direction, dramaturgy, acting, choreographic imagery, and the question of how historical dance art can be understood today.

Culture of remembrance and democratic responsibility

The screening is related to the exhibition What Could They Do?, which deals with opportunities for action and responsibility during times of historical upheaval. The event series is supported by the federal program Democracy Lives through the Ostalb district youth ring and the Partnership for Democracy Ostalb.

The evening is organized by the working group for peace education e.V. from Aalen-Wasseralfingen in collaboration with the Wasseralfingen local history association. As a result, the event connects film art, dance history, regional memory, and political education into a culturally rich evening.

Conclusion: A moving portrait for dance and history enthusiasts

Dance as a Declaration promises an impressive stage experience in the medium of documentary film: historical images, powerful choreographic moments, and the life story of an artist who did not separate his convictions from his art. Those wishing to experience Kurt Jooss, German dance theater, and the history of the Folkwang tradition directly will find a compelling evening at the Bürgerhaus Wasseralfingen between film, discussion, and memory.