Sophia Charlotte Becker
Sophie Charlotte Becker completed her training as a stage dancer at Iwanson International in Munich and studied theatre and performance studies at LMU Munich and Stockholm University. As a freelancer, she works with the kollektiv anderer tanz, Emese Nagy, Johannes Härtl and Joanne Leighton, among others, accepts commissions, f.ex. for the state theatre Ingolstadt or the Kulturbühne Spagat and realises her own projects. Sophie teaches contemporary dance at the August Everding Theatre Academy and Iwanson International. Her last production Hyperreality premiered in Munich in November 2022.
Anne do Paço
Anne do Paço is a dramaturg working in the fields of dance, music theatre and concert. Her activities focus on production dramaturgy, curating, promotion, education and outreach. After studying musicology, history of art and German literature at the Freie Universität Berlin, her first engagement took her to the Staatstheater Mainz. From 2009 to 2020, she was a member of Martin Schläpfer’s team at the Ballett am Rhein, since 2020 she has been Chief Dramaturg of the Vienna State Ballet. She is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and on the advisory board of the Deutsches Tanzarchiv Köln.
Nina Hümpel
has been the editor of tanznetz.de, an internet community for artistic stage dance in German-speaking countries, since 1996. From 2010-2023 she was the artistic director of the Biennale DANCE, the international festival for contemporary dance in Munich. She is also active in various dance contexts and networks as a lecturer, curator and juror. Nina Hümpel is a member of the Access to Dance – Tanzplan München initiative, which is committed to improving access to contemporary dance in the city through a wide-ranging network.
As a founding member of Tanz.Media, she is increasingly committed to the future of dance journalism and dance archives in the digital space. Her work as a board member of the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland focuses on dance journalism, the independent scene and dance companies at municipal theatres.
Osiel Gouneo
Born in Matanzas (Cuba) in 1990, Osiel Gouneo began his training in 2005 at the National Ballet School Cuba in Havana. He joined the Cuban National Ballet in 2008 and was appointed Principal just three years later. Osiel Gouneo was then engaged by the Norwegian National Ballet for three years and has been dancing as Principal with the Bayerisches Staatsballett since 2016/2017. While his career he has already been a guest at major international houses, including the London Coliseum, Bolshoi Theatre Moscow, Lincoln Center in New York, Paris Opera and the National Theatre Japan in Tokyo. In June 2021, he danced Romeo in Romeo and Juliet by Rudolf Nureyev at the Paris Opera Ballet. He has mastered a large repertoire of classical pieces and has made his debut with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in numerous roles, such as the soloist in Symphony in C or in the title role of Spartacus. Osiel Gouneo is also the winner of various awards, such as the gold medal at the international ballet competition in Beijing, a silver medal at the international ballet competition in Varna or as the winner of the Cuban Dance Grand Prix. In addition, the dancer was honoured as a newcomer to the international dance scene at the annual Positano Prize. On 14 March, Osiel Gouneo’s biography Black Romeo. My path in the white world of ballet.
Lucia Lacarra
Prima ballerina Lucia Lacarra was born in San Sebastián (Spain). She received her ballet training with Víctor Ullate in Madrid, in whose company she also received her first engagement. In 1994 she became a dancer with the Ballet National de Marseille, in 1997 first soloist with the San Francisco Ballet and finally prima ballerina with the Bavarian State Ballet. In the course of her career, she has been honoured with numerous international awards, including the Nijinsky Award 2002, Prix Benois 2003, Münchner Merkur-Theaterpreis 2004 and 2005, Premio Nacional de Danza 2005. Lucia Lacarra is an honorary citizen of her home town of San Sebastián. In 2008, she was awarded the title of “Bavarian Chamber Dancer”. She has been a permanent guest soloist at Ballett Dortmund since 2016. Together with Matthew Golding she founded GOLDENLAC Productions. In September 2020 they premiered their first show called FORDLANDIA. In October 2021 they premiered together their second show IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT. She Won the Max Award as best female dancer for it. In October 2023 Lucia Lacarra premiered the first production of her new Company “Lucia Lacarra Ballet” called LOST LETTERS.
Johannes Bergmann
DIS-TANZ-START/Dachverband Tanz Deutschland e.V.
is project manager of the DIS-TANZ-START funding programme at Dachverband Tanz Deutschland (German Dance Association), which is coming to an end, and manages its implementation and execution. This primarily includes the funding of additional positions for young dancers in German ballet and dance ensembles, measures for placement and qualification as well as evaluation. He previously worked at various municipal and state theatres in Germany, most recently as a dance dramaturge and manager. He studied cultural management as well as theatre and musicology with a focus on music and dance theatre.
Dany Beyer
DIS-TANZ-START/Dachverband Tanz Deutschland e.V.
coordinates the qualification programme for starting a career in dance as part of DIS-TANZ START. She studied theatre-/dance science and adult education with a focus on programme planning and educational counselling in science and culture. For many years, Dany Beyer has supported institutions in the conception and implementation of educational programmes, especially for emerging artists and scientists in biographical transitions. She has been part of the team at Dachverband Tanz Deutschland since 2021. Previously, she worked for various Berlin universities (FU, HU, UdK).
Friedemann Vogel
First Soloist, Stuttgarter Ballett, Kammertänzer
Friedmann Vogel was born in Stuttgart. He first completed his ballet training at the John Cranko School in Stuttgart and then at the Académie de Danse Classique Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo. His special talent was recognised with numerous prizes at international ballet competitions, including the Prix de Lausanne and the Erik Bruhn Prize for young dancers in Toronto. He joined the corps de ballet of the Stuttgart Ballet at the beginning of the 1998/99 season. He was appointed first soloist in June 2002. In 2015, Friedemann Vogel was awarded the title of Chamber Dancer at the Stuttgart State Theatre by the state of Baden-Württemberg. Friedemann Vogel regularly receives invitations from prestigious companies all over the world.
At the Stuttgart Ballet, Friedemann Vogel has danced numerous leading roles in full-length ballets by famous choreographers. Many choreographers created roles especially for him in their ballets.
William Moore
William Moore’s journey in the world of ballet began at the Royal Ballet School, where he graduated in 2005. His talent and dedication led him to the Stuttgart Ballet, where he danced for seven years and was promoted to Principal at just 24. Following his success in Stuttgart, he joined Ballet Zurich, where he was the leading dancer of the company for a decade before leaving in July 2022.
William is now perusing his dream of acting, landing a small role in a film by Swiss film director Stefan Haupt. He’s now set to make his debut as a dancer/actor in the Amazon Prime TV series „Étoile.”Moore’s career is marked by his versatility and commitment to his craft. From the stage to the screen, he continues to captivate audiences with his talent and passion, leaving a lasting impact on the world of dance and theater.
Gesine Moog
Gesine Moog received her Bachelor of Arts 1997 at University of Music and Performing Arts Frankfurt/ Germany and started her professional carrier as a dancer in different theaters in Germany. 2007 she toured the production Kamuyot by Ohad Naharin in Sweden and 2008 she became a member of the Cullbergbaletten. During her employment at Cullbergbaletten, she got to work with Mats Ek, Alexander Ekman, Deborah Hay and Jefta Van Dinther to name view. In addition to her employment, she also received special commissions by Edouard Lock and other choreographers. Since 2020 she continued as a freelance dancer internationally and worked with choreographers as such as Jan Martens and Christos Papadopoulos and is a member of the Dance On Ensemble Berlin.
