Dream over

Looking back, the question arises: How did Cologne manage, years ago, to impress as a beacon of the dance scene with international appeal, when now, seemingly for the umpteenth time, it flops big time, leaving its—by no means small or marginal—dance scene in the lurch? Money is tight, that much is clear. Budget managers have to cut costs until they’re blue in the face. But when, on the one hand, record sums—all in all, probably over a billion euros—are being poured into a theater renovation that defies all planning timelines, while on the other hand, the interim venue (promised in 2024) is to be rented out to a musical producer—the proportions just don't add up. Here’s a brief summary of what's been happening …

After World War II, the city on the Rhine was a stronghold of dance—ballet and ...