Avalon Rathgeb

During TAP AHEAD, renowned dancer Avalon Rathgeb will join the proceedings for a one-week residency at tanzhaus nrw. In her new piece, she investigates the meaning of truth, grief, and growth – and asks: Do we dance on violent ground? Embedded into a raw shadow play, the dancer creates an immersive landscape of movement and sound in which the search for meaning amidst adversity finds embodiment. In her work, Avalon Rathgeb scrutinises the traditional perceptions of tap dance and displays the art form’s capacity for profound emotional expression. Avalon Rathgeb transforms the stage into a space for existential explorations – here, tap dance becomes a unique medium for stories and reflection.

Avalon Rathgeb is both the founder of and artistic head of London’s outstanding tap company Old Kent Road OKR Dance which she set up in 2014 and which has received funding from the English Arts Council. OKR Dance is distinguished by an ingenious balance of styles and a broad palette of artistic explorations. From contemporary dance to body percussion and physical theatre, the company creates tap dance that takes a strong influence from jazz music.

During the residency, Rathgeb will be accompanied by mentors and dramaturges who will be available to advise her. For the festival, the artist will present her results in the form of a showing.

This programme aims to support the options for tap dance artists to sketch out ideas and develop structures for future works – all barely present at the moment – and, in doing so, to contribute to a strengthening and to a secure future of current tap dance culture. The participating artists responded to an open call and were subsequently selected.

Duration: approx. 60 minutes including talk