Katharina Christl
Katharina Christl was born in Dresden/Germany, where she studied at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden from 1990-1996.
After 4 years working as choreographer and perfomer in the freelance sector in Germany, she started her collaboration with Frédéric Flamand for the project “The Future of Work” at the EXPO 2000 in Hannover. 2001 she became a member of the Company Charleroi/Danse-Plan K in Belgium, directed by Frédéric Flamand. She has been part of several creation next to different architects like Diller+Scofidio, Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel and Thom Mayne.
In January 2005 she accepted the invitation of Frédéric Flamand to join him at the Ballet National de Marseille, where he was nominated artistic director. He appointed her to principal dancer of the company and she became his personal choreographical assistant. Since then she danced and assisted in all of the production of Frédéric Flamand, as well as for the invited choreographers and installed repertoire like: Richard Siegal, Emanuel Gat, Lucinda Childs, Stephen Petronio, Annabelle Ochoa Lopez, Michèle Noiret, Emio Greco, Pascal Touzeau, Yasuyuki Endo and Michel Fokine.
She restarted her own choreographical work back in 2006 with her solo “Manfred”, which became her first creation for the Ballet National de Marseille and continued through a 6 year international touring. In 2009 she created in collaboration with Simon Courchel the full evening piece “Get ready, Iʼm done.” for the important Festival de Marseille. In the same year, the 3 hours performance „klaus t.“ for 5 dancers of the Ballet National de Marseille, made his particular appearance for the MAC – Museum of Contemporary Art Marseille.
In 2010 she got invited by the Palucca University of Dance Dresden to create a choreography. The piece “11/21” for the Gala at the Semperoper Dresden, was marking the continuation of the relationship with this remarkable institution. In 2012 together with the french choreographer Michel Kelemenis, she created the duo “Le Sixème Pas”, which has been successfully for 2 years in the repertory of the Ballet National de Marseille.
In 2014 the Ballet National de Marseille offered her to create a full evening piece at the Company “Identity Shift”. Just after she created two choreographies for the celebrated evening programme “Welcome” of the Company Grenade, which was on tour until 2018. At the same time she choreographed a live- performance and a film for the artist André Fortino, which was presented amongst others at the MAC – Museum of Contemporary Art Marseille, the MAMCO – Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art Genève, as within Contemporary Art Festivals in Montreal and Singapore.
In 2015 she worked as Guest-Balletmaster and invited Guest-Dancer for the famous Bayrische Staatsballett in Munich, where she had the honour to stage the work of Richard Siegal. Further on she participated in his creation “Model” at the Ruhrtriennale 2015, as choreographical assistant and principal dancer.
In parallel to her creative work including different filmproductions, Katharina Christl is as well specialized as renowned pedagogue for dance/architecture, dance/new media technology, improvisation and contemporary dance. Over the years she has been giving further her knowledge in several international festivals, academies and as a regular Guest-Trainer and Coach for diverse companys in the world.
For her specific renowned knowledge as pedagogue, the Ministry of Culture and Communication of France decided to give her the Diploma as Professor of Contemporary Dance in 2014.
Since September 2015 she is appointed as Professor for Choreography and Head of the MA Choreography Program at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden. Through the successful development of this new study program, she has been elected „Hoffnungsträgerin 2018“ for the choreographical development in Germany by european critics of the renowed dance journal „TANZ“. She became part as expert for several commissions, jurys and symposium for festivals and institutions, as for example Hellerau – European Center of Arts, CYNETART Biennale – International Festival of Media Art, Tanzpakt Dresden and DANCE Festival Munich.
In addition she became on a regular base invited guest teacher for Contemporary Dance Technique at the historical famous Vaganova Academy and choreographed for few chosen precious candidates variations for the Prix de Lausanne 2018.
Her own choreographical work has been lately part of the Semperoper Soirée in 2016 and 2018.
In 2019 she has been appointed to the culture advisory council of the city of Dresden.
Source: Katharina Christl
