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© Bea Borgers

Legend has it that low waves forced L.A.'s surf community out of the water and onto the asphalt. Gliding through the streets and overcoming almost any obstacle, skating has now become a unique choreography, a highly vibrant subculture.

In her new dance production Skatepark, to be seen as a German premiere at the Ruhrtriennale from 12 August, the renowned Danish choreographer Mette Ingvartsen transforms the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum into a skate park. Here, the skate park in public space becomes a stage, and moves, slides and tricks of skateboarding meet contemporary dance vocabulary. More than a dozen dancers will explore the special energy of movement on wheels together with the local skate community.

The Ruhrtriennale is looking for skaters between the ages of eight and 25 who would like to contribute their skills to the production Skatepark. Those interested are welcome to come to the Skatepark at the Dietrich-Keuning-Haus in Dortmund for about three hours on Saturday, 10 June, 1.30 pm, after prior registration. The rehearsal days from 10 to 12 August and the performance dates on 12 and 13 August and 18 and 19 August at 8 pm and on 20 August at 4 pm will take place in the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum.

Interested parties for 10 June can contact the Ruhrtriennale at s.lorbeer@ruhrtriennale.de (contact person: Sarah Lorbeer) by 31 May, giving their contact details.

Mette Ingvartsen: Skatepark

Danish choreographer Mette Ingvartsen is a guest at the Ruhrtriennale for the third time with the German premiere of Skatepark. Inspired by her observations and her own memories of skateboarding, in her new work she has devised a choreography that brings more than the sheer spectacle of virtuoso skill to the Jahrhunderthalle. Together with a big group of dancers and skateboarders, she demonstrates her fascination with a subculture and its community: one that works hard and keeps falling down until physical virtuosity overcomes the limits of what is possible.