A German-Rwandan dance co-production | PREMIERE
15:30 Final performance of "Romeo / Juliet Paradise"
followed by approx. 17:00 Award ceremony of the 13th Saxon Theatertreffen 2026
Rwanda is one of the most vibrant and developing countries in East Africa, the picturesque "land of a thousand hills". It is home to an incredibly energetic and dynamic theatre scene. In the capital Kigali, a dance scene has also developed in recent years that is unrivalled in sub-Saharan Africa.
Together with choreographers Winnie Ange and Eya Khalifa from the Urban Women's Collective, the dance company of the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau will develop a new piece. The starting point will not be the colonial past - because Rwanda was actually once a German colony - but rather a universal theme: love. We want to use the story of two young people who fall in love with each other but come from hostile families as a starting point. It is known in both cultures and so we can work together as equals.
In this way, something completely new will emerge from the handwriting of our dance director and the two Rwandan colleagues. Two very different dance languages, two very different dance companies and perspectives will result in a firework of energy and creativity that tells a seemingly old story in a completely new and contemporary way. Two movement languages and dance styles enter into a dialogue and begin to communicate with each other. You can look forward to this German-Rwandan co-production!
