Neustart Kultur project

Our project was funded by Neustart Kultur – we thank the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

Etienne Valoix: L’Art de la Musique et de la Danse Baroque

This project brings to life the long-forgotten dance suites of Etienne Valoix from 1689, together with school pupils, professional musicians and two professional dancers.

Who takes part

1. Schools, teachers and pupils

Interested schools and year groups, with teachers and pupils who would like to experience and perform the music of the Baroque by dancing to it, accompanied by a professional orchestra within a project week; pupils who enjoy dancing, plus supporting project groups. The funding by Neustart Kultur has ended. Two primary schools and two grammar schools, with different year groups, have taken part. The project can still be booked, but without the financial support of Neustart Kultur.

2. Organisation and contact

European Baroque Orchestra “Le Chardon”. The ensemble performs this programme in a very small line-up (8 musicians) and is a professional orchestra specialising in Baroque music. Hajo Wienroth, the ensemble’s director, performs as a soloist in many European countries and has led the Baroque orchestra “Le Chardon” since 1995. The orchestra’s members are leading musicians from all over Europe, playing original instruments or good copies of them, following the original sources of the period.

Enquiries about the project: Contact · lechardon@wienroth.net

3. Professional baroque dance

Mareike Greb (professional baroque dance and choreography) with a partner.

The dancers, recognised experts in baroque dance and historical performance practice, will present French dance technique and fashion of the time, partly together with the pupils, partly in solos and duets – varied and graceful, at times theatrical, at times in the form of courtly social dances – and bring the splendour of Versailles to the north.

4. Lunaris CD production

Lunaris GbR (Wienroth/Schildt, contact as above) prepared the dance project. The dance suites by Etienne Valoix were edited by Hajo Wienroth. A CD of the suites is available (world premiere recording).

Project description

During a project week, pupils get to know the Baroque era better in project groups, mainly through the dance suites of Etienne Valoix, Hanover 1689. A professional baroque dancer teaches a selection of the dances in interest groups. In addition, musicians show and demonstrate baroque instruments.

Stage building

One interest group explains the newly designed theatre of the time with its stage machinery, scenery, borders and perspective; stage sets and scenery for the performance are built and painted.

Baroque food

One interest group bakes historical pastries (lye pretzels and “Prinzessinnenbrot”) and learns about baroque living conditions, clothing and food.

Venetian masks

All the children make Venetian carnival masks to wear at the performance – because the Venetian carnival had a special significance in Hanover.

Performances

At the end of the week there is a performance of about 50–60 minutes, possibly a baroque festival, with pupils, professional dancers and the European Baroque Orchestra Le Chardon. The pupils dance baroque dances to live orchestral music by Etienne Valoix. The two professional baroque dancers add further dances to the pupils’ performance.