Golden years. Cologne dance dreams

The 1960s marked a time of new beginnings in dance in Cologne. The exhibition at the Tanzmuseum sheds light on this phase in which artistic visions became reality. After the difficult war years, Cologne developed into a centre of dance art. The opening of the new opera house on Offenbachplatz in 1957 symbolised this cultural rebirth.

This also marked the beginning of a new era for dance. Aurel von Milloss, an internationally renowned choreographer, led a new ensemble and set new standards by taking over the International Summer Academy of Dance. Dance guest performances and the first ballet week attracted dance lovers to Cologne. During this time of change, ballet directors worked in the field of tension between tradition and modernity. Choreographers such as Todd Bolender, Gise Furtwängler and Peter Appel created works inspired by the visual arts and new music. They were also involved in discussions on dance aesthetics and cultural policy, thus shaping the dance scene.

Visions of a German National Ballet or a Rhine-Ruhr Ballet characterised the period, but not all dreams were fulfilled. Heated debates, known as the "Ballet War" and the "Cologne Critics' War", led to controversies that shook up the dance scene. However, these projects inspired a new generation of choreographers who were able to realise their ideas in experimental theatres and competitions. The dancer Johann Kresnik remembers the liberation of the late 1960s, which offered young choreographers new opportunities due to a financial crisis: cutbacks led to the dissolution of the classical-contemporary company, but modern dance was able to flourish. As a result, Cologne became a melting pot of dance art in the 1960s, the influences of which can still be felt today.