In 1924 Thomas Mann published his ‘great European novel’, The Magic Mountain. In June 2008 it will be 101 years ago that Mann sent his main character, Hans Castorpe, on a journey from Hamburg to Switzerland. Stan, Maatschappij Discordia, Cie. De Koe, Dood Paard and Willem de Wolf, the cream of our country’s theatre companies, celebrate this with a first episode of their adaptation of Mann’s ironic masterpiece.

Next season we shall be presenting a new work by the choreographer Jean-Luc Ducourt and the pianist Alain Franco called Works by 3/1, a choreographic composition for one female and three male dancers, and a piano. It was only a few years ago that Ducourt developed a language of movement based on classical ballet. This provides the basis for the new work too, which he conceived for three male dancers with one female dancer as a counterpoint.

In June a new generation of dancers and choreographers will be graduating from P.A.R.T.S., the international dance school headed by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. This group of seventh-generation students comprises 20 dancers and choreographers from 13 countries. The students will present their own work in the Kaaitheaterstudio’s.

KUNSTENFESTIVALDESARTS 08 - The performance is a radio show for soldiers at the front. Twelve contemporary pop songs are alternated with light comments in ‘chewing gum English’. Wölfl’s dancers move cautiously and cold-bloodedly, whether they are playing an electric guitar on tiptoes or elegantly draping a leg over a synthesiser.

KUNSTENFESTIVALDESARTS 08 - Over the last ten years Thomas Hauert has, both at home and abroad, shown himself to be a choreographer with a voice of his own. His latest piece, Accords, is an abstract choreographic composition that one experiences like a piece of music. The dancers physically transpose, amplify or distort the dynamics, harmony, melody and counterpoint in their bodies.