Miscellaneous

Salzburg

Dance at Toihaus

Since its founding in 1984, Toihaus has been an integral part of Salzburg’s independent arts scene; in 2002, the focus shifted to productions for both adults and children. For a long time, the pieces were narratively oriented—until 2018, when Cornelia Böhnisch and Katharina Schrott took over the artistic direction.

Both situate their practice within a minimalist-compositional conceptual art that fundamentally reorients the venue aesthetically.

Their approach to children's theater is unusual: the focus is not on the story, but on the object. "We begin with artistic research; only then does the format emerge," says Schrott. In collaboration with graphic designer Nicola Lieser, they are developing a concise visual language. Titles like Flow or Rauschen initially caused irritation—which makes the two all the more consciously seeking a balance between the expectations of traditional children's and youth theater and their own commitment to experimental openness. "The lowest common denominator is ultimately surprisingly broad," says Böhnisch.

They are constantly rethinking their intimate performance space: To baroque guitar music, the movement of a white silk scarf becomes a natural phenomenon. Materials are used across projects; for example, one encounters the gymnastics ribbon from Flow again in Rauschen—first gently, then through rhythmic repetition one is whipped into a hypnotic state: "It's about sensory exchange—until nervous systems react to each other," Schrott describes the effect. The works are calming;

The children remain captivated, even though there is no direct participation. “Participation arises with a time lag,” says Böhnisch. “At home, the cloths are taken out of the cupboard and the piece is experienced kinesthetically,” adds Schrott. Entirely in keeping with their approach “Sharing the Thinking”: thoughts are not conveyed, but shared and passed on.

Because the repertoire is spatially bound to the building, this means less touring in the future, more international exchange— as recently seen through cooperation with Isabelle Schad. Toihaus thus remains a laboratory for contemporary art: a place where dance, object, and music, in compositional reduction, constantly find new ways to connect.

Thaddäus Maria Jungmann

www.toihaus.at