Three Choreographers, One Playground: Spiel as an Artistic International Experiment

CaDance Festival wraps up on Saturday 31 May under the guise of CaDance Extended with Spiel, a triple bill featuring three international female choreographers. ChoreoLab International initiated the collaboration between Korzo (The Hague), TanzLabor/Roxy from Ulm, and TNC (Teatre Nacional de Catalunya) from Barcelona. Choreographers Lorena Nogal (ES), Karolin Stächele (DE), and Korzo artist-in-residence Lea Ved (USA) each create one part of the performance. We spoke with Pablo Sansalvador (photo), the driving force behind the project.

“ChoreoLab International experiments with creative exchange and international collaboration across Europe. Our continent is already full of diversity, but I believe we need even more cultural exchange,” Pablo begins. He guides the artists and dancers throughout the process, ensuring synergy between the choreographers, the production houses, and ultimately the audience.

“ChoreoLab is based in Germany and we work closely with Tanzlabor/Roxy in Ulm. Around two years ago, I started talking with Korzo and TNC. We discovered a shared artistic vision and a desire to challenge our in-house makers both artistically and internationally. That’s how this alliance between the three organisations was born. We’d never worked together before.”

“We share an artistic vision and want to challenge our in-house makers both artistically and internationally.”

Each partner selected a choreographer from their own pool. “We matched them up. Creative exchange and artistic freedom were the key principles in bringing them together,” Pablo continues. “From TanzLabor/Roxy, we chose Karolin because of her physically theatrical, avant-garde style. Her approach differs from Lorena and Lea’s, and that contrast works beautifully. Together they form a strong trio of female choreographers making waves in contemporary dance. It’s a huge opportunity for Lorena, Karolin, and Lea.”

Playground

Spiel — German for ‘play’ — was chosen as the theme. “We were looking for a theme that held fun and joy. This one came up quickly. Creativity is born from play — and play fuels creativity.

“It fits the project perfectly because we want this to be a playground. In today’s world, even artists are expected to always be productive. The idea of ‘Spiel’ reminds us of the playfulness we all need as human beings. And it can be translated into dance in so many different ways.”

The choreographers were instantly inspired. “Each of them creates a piece within the same timeframe — just ten days — so it’s a kind of ‘quick prototyping,’” Pablo explains. “They all work with the same four dancers, who they chose together in a democratic process and involved early on. The dancers contribute to the choreography and bring their own unique backgrounds and experience. It’s become a small, tight-knit team — perfect for a process like this. Soon, they’ll be working intensively, day after day. It’s very much a ‘hit the floor running’ situation — which is ironically a bit at odds with the playfulness of it all.”

“The idea of ‘Spiel’ reminds us of the playfulness we all need as human beings.”

There’s one rehearsal director overseeing the process, making sure everything fits together dramaturgically. “We’re documenting the entire journey with photos and videos, which also adds to the choreographers’ portfolios. We’re holding open rehearsals too — they help build momentum towards the premiere. During their creative residency in Ulm, the choreographers and dancers will also lead a workshop for the local community, to boost exchange even further.”

Experiment

Of course, the process comes with its challenges — both artistic and logistical. “Staying on the same page, all of us — that’s no small task. I don’t know anything quite like this on a European scale. Especially not something where all three partners contribute equally — financially and organisationally. It takes a lot of coordination to line up schedules, and budget is always tricky. But we’ve learned so much from each other’s ways of working. This project shows that together, we’re more than the sum of our parts. And it’s about so much more than just making a show. Everyone learns from everyone. Spiel remains an experiment,” he concludes. “And we still believe in it 100%. I’m proud that all our partners have been all-in from day one. Trusting the artistic exchange, the relationships, the experiment, and the will to make it happen. We’re rowing a boat together across an ocean — and we’re actually making it move!”

Spiel premieres on Saturday 31 May at Korzo Theatre in The Hague, followed by a performance in Barcelona at Teatre Nacional de Catalunya on Thursday 5^th of June. Tickets via korzo.nl.