Miscellaneous

New Location

Tanzhaus Basel

Where Franck-Aroma, a coffee substitute, was once produced, people now dance. In 2022, the Eckenstein siblings, descendants of the former chemical entrepreneur Geigy, bought a large part of the site in lower Kleinbasel from Nestlé. Corinne Eckenstein, choreographer and dancer, explains that she and her two brothers had been searching for a suitable location for their vision for some time: "We wanted to create something for the next generation." The neighborhood development project consists of three areas: the dance center, a house for the circular economy, and a sustainably designed residential complex. Eckenstein was the managing director and artistic director of "Dschungel Wien – Theaterhaus für junges Publikum", and her brothers are involved in ecological projects.

The renovation work is expected to last until 2030. The dance house, however, already opened its doors last year, with a program based on three pillars: the Choreographic Center with in-house productions and guest performances, the Young Dance House Basel, and a "Community Art Space." The latter is intended to be easily accessible and a place for people from the neighborhood and the region, offering workshops and performance opportunities. Another focus of the artistic work is inclusion—Eckenstein had a daughter with multiple disabilities.

In the initial euphoria surrounding the Tanzhaus, there were negative voices, too. Some event organizers and Basel cultural institutions criticized Eckenstein for failing to contact them beforehand. The founder and curator doesn't deny this, but notes that the situation has since eased. It won't be entirely relaxed, however, because the Tanzhaus is a financially powerful and therefore largely independent cultural player in the scene. The fact that the head of the Choreographic Center, the renowned choreographer Joachim Schlömer, resigned after only a year also made headlines. Both sides have agreed to remain silent about the reasons. There will be no successor, says Eckenstein, but there will be an artistic advisory board. The newly established Tanzhaus Basel promises much with its three performance venues, a large dance studio, and three smaller rehearsal rooms: Residencies and festivals are planned. Eckenstein: "I believe that dance art moves things. We need a place where we can interact as a community."

Maya Künzler

www.tanzhausbasel.ch