Jessica Iwanson
Jessica Iwanson (* April 21, 1948 in Stockholm ) is one of the pioneers of contemporary dance in Germany. From his youth, she decided on a three-pronged career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher, she has maintained until today. In 2001, she was 'lights Munich ' for her contribution to contemporary dance with the Medal of Honor awarded. 2007 Jessica Iwanson Germany has erected first foundation for contemporary dance. In 2010 she was honored for her life's work with the Dance Prize of the City of Munich. 2013 her the golden medal of honor of the Ivo Cramér Foundation was awarded the Stockholm Opera.
Youth
Even as a toddler, she began first in the dance studio her mother Gun Schubert then to dance at the Stockholm Ballet Academy. At the request of her mother, she spent half a year to Brighton, where she completed her training as a ballroom dance teacher at the Imperial Society of Dance. Back in Stockholm, she joined the Ballet Academy from their professional training as a dancer and worked with teachers and choreographers such as Walter Nicks, Katherine Dunham and Alvin Ailey. Then a position as a dancer, first for West Side Story. Subsequently, she was able to complete a one-year postgraduate studies at the Graham School in New York with a " Sandrew " scholarship, where she had lessons even with Martha Graham. As a result, she dedicated Ivo Cramér for the then newly established, modern Swedish ensemble Cramérbaletten on Riksteatern. After a season Jessica Iwanson left the Cramérbaletten. This was followed by three years, among others as a dancer in Paris with the Company by Peter Goss.
Munich
In 1973 Jessica Iwanson to Munich. Shortly after her arrival she founded in Munich a Company and soon afterwards a school. With performances in the former venues Circus Krone, Leopold theater and the old Alabama Hall, but also with performances in the open-air series Munich culture she won a then in Munich still new genre audiences. More than two decades later, in 2001 the city of Munich honored the Wahlmünchnerin Iwanson the Medal of Honor Munich shines " for her contribution to contemporary dance ." These laudierte the then Mayor Dr. Gertraud Burkert: " you and your school, it is thanks to them that Munich, where the dance has taken its due role among the performing arts only recently, even in training competes at the front. "
Scandinavia
Although based in Munich, Jessica Iwanson oriented but over the decades also always at their Nordic roots. As the successor of her mentor Ivo Cramér she directed a production of Riksteatern was ballet director for the Norwegian ensemble Nye Carte Blanche in Bergen and created as a guest choreographer at the local theaters in Scandinavia a variety of works. In 1997, she staged for the Swedish television Nattfåglar ( Night Birds ), a choreographic journey into the world of pictures by Edward Hopper to the music by Harald Weiss, who has since been repeatedly broadcast on ARTE and 3sat. As an alumna of the Stockholm Ballet Academy, she was always in contact with their training school. Since the mid- 90s, there is a regular exchange program with students from the Ballet Academy in Stockholm and the Iwanson school in Munich.
Since 2006 there is also a choreographic post-graduate project in collaboration with the choreographer Association Tanztendenz Munich, the Iwanson school and the Moderna Dansteatern in Stockholm: SMDP - Stockholm Munich Dance Project.
The choreographer
Iwansons choreographic work always eluded dramaturgical classification. Her abstract works to minimalist music are typical characteristics as well as humorous narrative work and pure literary adaptations like Nora - A Doll's House by Ibsen or Strindberg The Stronger by. A number of work draws inspiration from paintings by Munch ( Skriket ) and Hopper ( Night Birds ), the latter premiered in mountains of Nye Carte Blanche, Norway in 1991 and finally in 1997 filmed by Swedish TV. An even stronger choreographic motif that runs through much of the extensive list of works, is the discussion of the topic nature and man in abstract processing. Eloquent indication are working titles such as the North Pole, desert, Skagen, archipelago, inter alia, snow In 1974 Jessica Iwanson began in Munich with the development of its own Company, which is subsidized by the city of Munich, brought out one or two new productions per year. Soon her Swedish mentor Ivo Cramér became aware of their work and hired her as a regular guest choreographer to the Cramérbaletten. In 2005 she brought out under the title ... and then an Autobiographical scale solo recital and in 2006 they staged again on a small scale of the choreographic chamber game, the Münchner Künstlerhaus the one-act play The Stronger by August Strindberg and since 2007 the number of choreographic short stories "Chapter 1 ... ".
The Dancer
Jessica Iwanson has always experienced as a dancer. In the vast majority of their larger works she danced with, at least in the first performances themselves. Only for a brief period 1999 - 2002 she renounced injury to let you bring in their new productions Other places, Time Out and Time window itself. In 2005, she volunteered with the autobiographical solo recital applied ... and then? as a dancer and performer on stage again back. Finally, in 2006 she appeared in her adaptation of Strindberg The Stronger beside the actress Bina Schroer and the musician Hedwig rust again as a dancer / performer.
The teacher
First educational experiences made Jessica Iwanson already 16 years old, when she taught in her mother's studio ballet and jazz dance. Even as a 16 -year-old, she was invited by the Danish dance teachers association Danse rings as a workshop instructor for the then in Europe as new jazz dance. The educational work was and is her ever since an immediate concern. Given this intensive educational interest, it was only logical that they own school founded in 1974 shortly after her arrival in Munich. In the late '70s, she taught training courses for the German dance teachers association and at their own school, she developed an integrated, modern education system that is being developed today and now spread of dance educators throughout Europe. In the late 70s, at a time when there were no alternatives to the classic children's ballet, she developed a concept of "modern dance for children '. This teaching concept was developed initially by carts Foster and finally by Gabi Litter and still forms the basis of the children's dance classes at the Iwanson school.
The school
The school was first established in 1974 on Gaertnerplatz under the name Dance Center Munich to train young people for the artistic work of the Company. In 1979, from the new address in the Westend Dance Center Iwanson. Lay courses and trainings were well received, the training students were supervised by Jessica Iwanson personally and taught. In 1983, the school was expanded to include a studio. As 1985, Jessica Iwanson for training the first class a federation. The school continued to grow and in 1987 increased by another studio for educational training.
1991 the school moved into the present, further enlarged premises. The focus was more strongly attached to the training programs and it communicates by a new name change to Iwanson school for contemporary dance. Meanwhile, the school has fully concentrated on the training of contemporary dancers, teachers and choreographers, offering a private alternative to the universities in Essen, Frankfurt and Dresden represents the Munich School has high international appeal today comes from just under half of the students abroad, especially from Scandinavia.
The Foundation
In March 2007, Jessica Iwanson built together with its partner Stefan Sixt the first foundation for contemporary dance in Germany. Focus of the foundation is to award prizes, scholarships, school fees and travel grants for talented young dancers in difficult economic situations.
Regardless of the specific work of the Foundation is always a cultural- political idea can be carried further: Lobbying for contemporary dance and to improve the social situation of dance professionals. This helps the Advisory Board, a Panel of distinguished personalities from the arts, politics and business.