Hannes-Detlef Vogel
Dipl. Professional Dance '76
It has been 45 years since you graduated from the Palucca 日博体育 für Tanz Dresden. What have you been up to over the last years?
Tom Schilling offered me my first engagement at the Komische Oper Berlin from 1976 to 1979. In 1979, I moved on to the S?chsische Staatstheater Dresden. Since this time, I have experienced 26 guest performances in, among others, Finland, 1980 - Australia; 1981 - Syria; Tunisia, Poland, (former) Yugoslavia; Cyprus; 1983 - India; Italy; 1984 - (former) Western Germany; 1985 - North Korea and China, Russia, Netherlands, Sweden and Canada. On February 15, 1985, I participated in the re-opening of the Semperoper Dresden with the ballet evening “Brennender Friede”. Others participating were Udo Zimmermann (Music), Harald Wandtke (Choreography).
Also, I was able to participate in many television performances and recordings. In I988, I created my first choreographic works, for example “Die Spinne”. In 1989, I was awarded the 2nd prize for the choreography of “Lieber Frieden”. I founded the group TANZEITLOSE in 1996 with the choreographic works Vergessene Wege, Fabuloso, Hindemidt, Wintergarten, and many improvisation evenings, also on the Semperoper stage. My premiere in the Kleine Szene [today Semper 2] was on June 30, 2000, with my choreographic work to Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” for 10 dancers from the Dresden Ballet Ensemble. I choreographed and directed the “Nutcracker” for Dresden Ice Skating Club e.V. in 2003 and the opening gala for the new ice skating rink [DRESDEN ON ICE] in 2007. All this took place parallel to my engagement at the Staatsoper Ballett Dresden, where I performed in many roles in classic and modern choreographies under changing ballet directors and managers.
From 2006 until January 31, 2022, I assumed the direction of the Department of Extras at the Semperoper Dresden. At the same time I continued dancing numerous character roles in the ballet and opera repertoire.
How has the Palucca University of Dance Dresden – and its network and community – helped you in the career path you have chosen as an artist?
This didn’t exist in my day. We dancers, instructors and ballet masters in the theatres all knew each other, like in a large family. With the former Palucca School Dresden, one had achieved one of the best educations in professional dance both nationally and internationally in the GDR. Back then, in 1975, I was in the first class that did an exchange semester with the Leningrad - today St. Petersburg - “Vaganova Ballet Academy” We were prepared in classical ballet repertoire for national and international competitions. And we could present our NKT, new expressionistic dance, from our working with Palucca.
There was always interest in cooperating with Palucca students. Thus, I had the opportunity to spend a year studying at the Theatre Ballet Academy of Moscow - MAXY in 1976/1977. I was one of the first two dancers from the GDR to attend this ballet school.
Looking back at your time at the university, what are some of your fondest memories?
The experience of improvisation: Collective courses with all of Palucca’s classes, Saturdays and also in the international summer courses, where she brought dancers of all age groups together. This created an image of movement that placed great demands on each individual’s expressiveness. Also, by being a part of this dance-collective, I had the feeling that I had arrived, that I had found my place. Other significant memories are of the subject NKT which included improvisation, musicality, dramatic expression, and choreographic work. This inspired choreographic emotions and many choreographs came from the Palucca School during the GDR years.
If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self on your first day at Palucca?
Keep your eyes and ears open - don’t miss a thing. Become a dancer - understand it as a profession and as lifeblood and allow this to develop with every passing day.
Is there any piece of advice you would like to share with our current students and fresh graduates?Trust and be open because you are at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden and, as such, you have arrived in a community in which there are no limits. Throughout the world, dance knows no boundaries that cannot be overcome, no matter in which form. You are an ambassador with what you dance and how you dance.
