Hagen

Dance at Hagen’s Municipal Theater dares to take risks. In its devotion to the contemporary, it does not reach for the triumph of virtuosity or a recognizable narrative, but rather stretches itself—long, wide, and spiraling—toward a oneness with movement, towards mutability, and being-with-others. Taulant Shehu, originally from Albania, danced with the Hessian State Ballet until 2025—having already performed in Wiesbaden under Stephan Thoss prior to the company’s merger with Darmstadt. Now, he directs the dance company situated on the fringes of the Ruhr region. His inaugural program—the two-part evening titled Shift—already showcased the powerful yet lithe twelve-member ensemble. ZwischenLand is now accompanied by the Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring sparse sounds by Górecki, Pärt, ...