News
15 March 2024
Pre-Professionals Summer Academy
The first edition of the Pre-Professionals Summer Academy is aimed at students from professional dance schools in Switzerland and abroad who are in the final stages of their dance education. The programme has been carefully designed to support and facilitate the transition from the academic dance environment to the professional world.
19 February 2024
'Mein TraumRaum'
The educational art project 'Mein TraumRaum' with 200 kids from Gränichen School is in full swing! In this production, the young participants explore their personal and collective visions and search for dance and creative forms of expression.
29 January 2024
BadenBreaks
83 participants from 9 countries came to Baden for the international Breaking Battle:
On Saturday, 27 January 2024, the hall in Baden's Trafo was once again the venue for the international young talent event 'BadenBreaks'. Following its great success in 2023, a new record number of visitors and participants was achieved.
Please find more information here!
Photos: Niklas Zech
15 December 2023
Tribute and farewell party for Brigitta Luisa Merki
At the beginning of next year, Brigitta Luisa Merki will hand over the artistic direction of Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden to her successor Filipe Portugal.
On 7 January 2024, we will celebrate this occasion with a farewell party at the Kurtheater Baden with a 'Gala Surprise', a glittering programme of dance and music.
18 September 2023
Cooperation with Edouard Hue/Beaver Dam Company
Residenzzentrum tanz+ is looking forward to its first cooperation with Edouard Hue/Beaver Dam Company (CH/FR) and the Kurtheater Baden. Edouard Hue and his company will develop the piece DIVE in our residency and rehearse for the world premiere at the Kurtheater; the premiere will be on Friday, 20 October 2023. The Kurtheater Baden will also open the new season with this work.
Trained at the Ballet junior de Genève, Edouard Hue worked with choreographers Hofesh Shechter, Damien Jalet and Oliver Dubois. He quickly developed his own style, a mixture of controlled virtuosity and mischievous spontaneity. He was honoured with the Swiss Dance Award 2019 'Exceptional Dancer' for his appropriation of movement and his charisma. Inspired by his professional experiences, it is only natural that he should turn to choreography, which allows him to satisfy his quest for independence and develop a choreographic language.
They provide insights into their work during the residency at the Kurtheater Baden:
26 June 2023
Klosterspiele Wettingen
Choreographer Brigitta Luisa Merki created the production AVE MARIS STELLA for the Klosterspiele Wettingen together with our current dance ensemble, in collaboration with musicians from the Argovia Philharmonic and four singers.
To the sounds of the Latin Marian hymn "Hail, Star of the Sea”, an invocation to the patron saint, the production opens up a poetic interplay of dance and music in the unique atmosphere of Wettingen Monastery. Scenarios filled with secrets and emotions, formed by music and dance, are revealed in various rooms. The performances take place in the interior of the monastery and are designed to be viewed by a small audience. More information can be found here:
You can attend the performance every Wednesday to Sunday from 14 July to 13 August 2023!
19 June 2023
Successful Production 2023
Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden takes a look back at their successful production 'Secretly the Winds Sigh'. Almost 3,500 visitors watched the 20 performances held in the Königsfelden Monastery Church from 24 May to 18 June 2023. In creating this choreographic work, Filipe Portugal undertook a journey to find his roots. On the one hand, he fulfilled his long-held desire to focus on the intensely emotional Fado music and to confront it with his abstract language of dance, and on the other hand, he drew inspiration from the poetry of the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa. Fado, rich in tradition, appeared as a mysterious treasure surrounded by the dance expression, undergoing a special development in the ambience of the monastery church.
14 June 2023
The final performances
The Fado song by Marta Rosa penetrates the silence of the night in its yearning expression, finding a special resonance in the monastery church. It captivates us with its powerful emotions, while simultaneously striking us with its vulnerability. Commonalities in the expression of vulnerability and recollections in both Fado music and the texts of the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa led to the title of the production 'Secretly the Winds Sigh' (quote from a poem).
The choreography of Filipe Portugal – former soloist and principal dancer in the Zurich Ballet – is inspiring through its rich dance vocabulary. Experience this work of art at the Königsfelden Monastery Church until 18 June – every Wednesday to Sunday!
25 May 2023
The acclaimed premiere of 'Secretly the Winds Sigh'
The premiere of 'Secretly the Winds Sigh', choreographed by Filipe Portugal – former principal dancer and soloist at the Zurich Ballet – took place in Königsfelden on 24 May 2023 in front of around 230 invited guests.
The evening began with a welcome from Government Councillor Alex Hürzeler. He pointed out the uniqueness and the great importance of the cultural beacon Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden and thanked Brigitta Luisa Merki for her tireless commitment.
After the performance, the audience and all the artists went to the FHNW campus restaurant in Brugg-Windisch to celebrate. Among the guests were former Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, Ms Stadtamman (City of Brugg) Barbara Horlacher, Municipal President (Windisch) Heidi Ammon, Government Councillor Dieter Egli and Kathleen McNurney, President of Danse Suisse.
11 May 2023
Performance at 'Boudoir' in Zurich
The 'Boudoir' event took place in Zurich on Tuesday, 9 May 2023. Invited guests from the cultural and creative scene enjoyed a short performance by Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden. Mariana Romão and Alessio Marchini danced to the wonderful sounds of the guitarists António Duarte Martins and Diogo Castro, as well as the unmistakable Fado singer Marta Rosa.
ByAdushka was one of the sponsors of this exclusive event and provided the costumes for our artists.
You can find impressions of the wonderful spring evening here:
1 May 2023
In the studio with choreographer Filipe Portugal
Choreographer Filipe Portugal works closely with his assistant Salomé Martins - you can find insights into their creative process below.
The yearning Fado songs of Marta Rosa from Lisbon find their way into the monastery church together with the sounds of the guitar and a string quintet, and a mysterious wind blows in the art installation by Ruth Maria Obrist a mysterious, bringing out that which is hidden in a new form. The premiere of the play "Secretly the Winds Sigh" take places for invited guests on 24 May 2023. Tickets for the performances from 25 May to 18 June 2023 can be directly purchased here!
17 April 2023
Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden x ByAdushka
«The Walk» – an evening of discovery in the Oederlin area in Baden:
Visit the showroom of ByAdushka and «Slow Living» as well as the studios of Anneliese Mosberger and Rollanda Ibernini.
Special highlight: get an exclusive view of rehearsals for the current production "Secretly the Winds Sigh" by Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden at the tanz+ dance studio residence centre. A brief introduction by artistic director Brigitta Luisa Merki and choreographer Filipe Portugal will be followed by a short performance by the international dance ensemble.
We can't wait to meet you at the event "The Walk" on Thursday, 4. May 2023 at 6:00 pm! Drinks and snacks are also part of the programme! We're looking forward to a great performance!
Note: the dance studio rehearsal viewing is limited to 25 people! Detailed information on the order of events and registration for the rehearsal viewing can be found here:
11 April 2023
Tickets are available now!
In the latest production ‘Heimliche seufzen die Winde’ (‘Secretly the Winds Sigh’), an international contemporary dance ensemble of 10 dancers presents the world premiere of the Swiss-Portuguese choreographer Filipe Portugal, formerly a principal dancer with the Zurich Ballet.
The fado singing of Marta Rosa from Lisbon finds its way into the Klosterkirche Königsfelden (monastery church Königsfelden) in combination with guitar music and a string quintet. The art installation on the stage from artist Ruth Maria Obrist creates a mystical atmosphere.
24 May–18 June 2023 at Klosterkirche Königsfelden, every Wednesday to Sunday, 9 p.m.
Photo credit: Alex Spichale
14 March 2023
Filipe Portugal takes over as artistic director from 2024
The cultural institution Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden in the canton of Aargau announces the renewal of its overall artistic direction. Brigitta Luisa Merki, founder of the international dance festival in the Königsfelden monastery church and the Residenzzentrum tanz+ in Baden, will hand over the overall direction to choreographer Filipe Portugal from Zurich in 2024. At the same time, his closest artistic collaborator and assistant Salomé Martins, formerly a soloist with Tanz Luzern, will also be engaged.
From 2024, the annual dance festival will take place in the Königsfelden monastery church under the direction of the Portuguese-Swiss choreographer Filipe Portugal. Formerly a principal dancer with the National Ballet Portugal and Ballet Zurich, Filipe Portugal has successfully created choreographic works for international dance companies, including Ballett Stuttgart, Ballet Ireland, National Ballet Portugal, and Ballett Zurich, for years.
He works as a dance teacher in various dance training centres and as a training director in professional dance ensembles. Together with Salomé Martins, he will start a summer academy for pre-professionals in 2024 at the Residenzzentrum tanz+ in Baden AG, which will offer a new training format for aspiring professional dancers from Swiss and European dance training institutions.
Brigitta Luisa Merki, founder and artistic director of Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden since 2007, is handing over the artistic direction of the successful cultural lighthouse to a younger generation after 40 years of tireless commitment to dance in the canton of Aargau and throughout Switzerland; she will remain in office until the end of 2023.
2 August 2022
Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden 2023
With the latest production «Heimlich seufzen die Winde», Fado in combination with a string quintet finds its way into the monastery church. Portuguese-Swiss choreographer Filipe Portugal is working with an international contemporary dance ensemble of 10 dancers. The artist Ruth Maria Obrist is planning an art installation that will include the outside of the church. At the time of the festival, the outside of the monastery church is undergoing renovation. This gives the spatial design an extended meaning.
«As a choreographer, I get involved, which means a clear commitment on my part and demands my full physical and emotional devotion. I want to touch with what I create, with the images and their content expression. In dance we can only achieve this intensity of movement when body and consciousness, physicality and emotion are connected. When music and dance become one.» Filipe Portugal
9 June 2022
Successful Premiere
The premiere of the educational art project «Gib mir die Hand» took place on 9 June 2022. In the Königsfelden monastery church of the Museum Aargau, more than 100 pupils aged 10 to 14 created an impressive piece of art. Elisabeth Feller wrote in the Aargauer Zeitung: «...an ambitious stage design, demanding choreographies and great joy in playing ensure magical moments.»
7 June 2022
Art TV
Art TV visited us during the final rehearsals last week and captured beautiful moments. Rehearsals have already taken place this week in the Königsfelden monastery church of the Museum Aargau - you can be curious! Exciting video installations and elaborate stage elements await the guests of «Gib mir die Hand». We are looking forward to the premiere on 9 June 2022.
20 April 2022
Insights into the Workshops
Dance, stage elements, film and sign language: since January, workshops have been taking place in various art disciplines. The individual elements from the lessons are slowly being combined. The result are going to be presented from 9-14 June in the Königsfelden monastery church. Follow the whole project here!
3 January 2022
First Dance Lessons
The educational art project "Gib mir die Hand" (Give me your hand) starts in cooperation with students from the Zurich University of the Arts and 100 pupils aged 10-14 from the 4th-6th grade from the Tannegg primary school and the Ländli day school in Baden.
Workshops in dance, stage design and film will take place during the school lessons. All information about the participants of the project can be found here.
The performances will take place from 9 to 14 June 2022 at Klosterkirche Königsfelden in Windisch.
More information will follow.
9 August 2021
Art education project 2022 «Gib mir die Hand»
The educational art project "Gib mir die Hand" covers a wide range of topics that explore the hands as a significant, non-verbal organ of communication and at the same time include our sense of touch, as well as haptic experiences and their impact on our development and interpersonal relationships.
With our hands we understand the world in a literal and figurative sense. Emotional states and general information are expressed in gestures of the hands and the whole body.
This is a collaboration with the Zurich University of Arts. Furthermore, 100 pupils aged 10 to 14 from grade 4 to 6 from schools in Baden are part of this project. More information will follow.
28 June 2021
Dernière «Sei Nacht zu mir»
On 27 June 2021, the last performance of the international dance production "Sei Nacht zu mir" took place in the Königsfelden Monastery Church. We are beyond happy and also a little sad that the production is over. A big thank you to the whole team!
16 June 2021
Sold Out!
All shows are sold out - we would like to thank our loyal audience and look forward to many more magical evenings at the Königsfelden Monastery Church!
29 June 2021
What a Premiere!
The premiere of "Sei Nacht zu mir" took place on 28 May. We were very pleased with the first press reviews. Please read it in German below:
«Knistern in der Klosterkirche Königsfelden: zehn grossartige Tänzerinnen und Tänzer zelebrieren das Hohelied der Liebe.» NZZ, Lilo Weber, 31.5.21. Lesen Sie hier den ganzen Artikel!
«Magie in Königsfelden: Die tänzerische Suche nach Nähe, Begegnung und Liebe. «Sei Nacht zu mir» begeistert mit einer kammermusikalischen Choreografie.» AZ, Elisabeth Feller, 31.5.21. Den ganzen Artikel können sie hier lesen!
«Ein einzigartiges und bewegendes Tanzpoem. Die Premiere von «Sei Nacht zu mir» begeisterte das Publikum in der Klosterkirche Königsfelden» Regional, Irene Hung König, 1.6.21. Den ganzen Artikel können sie hier lesen!
23 March 2021
Sei Nacht zu mir
The preparation of our new, international dance production "Sei Nacht zu mir" is in full swing. The title of the choreography is borrowed from a love poem by the German-Iranian writer SAID. (Sei Nacht zu mir! Poetry collection "Liebesgedichte" published by C.H.Beck). In the latest project, the great longing for closeness and encounter finds expression in the poetic pas de deux of dance and music.Dancers and musicians find in the sign of the night a multifaceted form of mutual dialogue. The night holds the secret of love and hope, a world in which the human longing for redemption is seeking. In the choreography by Remus Şucheană, former director of the Ballett am Rhein in Düsseldorf, an international contemporary dance ensemble of 10 dancers interprets the different facets of nocturnal love poetry. The renowned Swiss music ensemble "Kaleidoscope String Quartet" will perform their own compositions live.
All information about the international ensemble can be found here.
Detailed information on the ticket sale will follow at this point.
You can be curious - we will keep you up to date with exclusive insights into the rehearsals and preparations!
19 October 2020
Film premiere of the educational art project
Tanz & Kunst Königsfelden presented «Tanz des Minotaurus – im Labyrinth 2020» a unique film about the art project with more than 100 students from Baden and Wettingen.
On 18 October, the filmwas broadcast exclusively for the participants, their parents and teachers for the first time on the big cinema screen in the ‘Trafo’ in Baden. Cine Sterk kindly made the cinema available for this occasion. For the first time the young people were able to see themselves and their comrades in the dance performances on the big screen. A particularly moving moment for children and parents. As a highlight before the film, a live show by the students of the dance teacher Patrick Grigo was offered. Patrick Grigo has been active as a dance teacher since the beginning of the educational art projects.
The pedagogical art project with the Tagesschule Ländli and Tagesschule Tannegg in Baden and the Kantonsschule Wettingen, which started in January 2020, was converted into a digital concept due to the Covid 19 situation. Instead of the performances in the monastery church in Königsfelden, a 90-minute film was now produced. All participants were invited to the film premiere in the cinemas of the Trafo cinema in Baden on Sunday, 18 October 2020. Despite the compulsory masks and social distancing, the review of this major interdisciplinary project was celebrated together. The artistic document ‘Tanz des Minotaurus – im Labyrinth 2020’ is compiled from video contributions by around 100 students, teachers, dance teachers. The camera crew consists of Lesley Kennel, Ibrahim Jaghi and Rolf Frey. The videos were made between March and June 2020.
Watch the trailer here.
The entire project was documented on our digital platform with contributions from all participants: www.labyrinth2020.ch
Photos: Alex Spichale
1 October 2020
The cinematographic work
The art project is presented as a cinematographic work. The film is compiled from contributions by around 100 students, teachers, dance educators and the camera team Lesley Kennel, Ibrahim Jaghi and Rolf Frey. Further information on the cinema release will follow shortly!
Watch the trailer here.
The entire project was documented on our digital platform with contributions from all participants: www.labyrinth2020.ch
