Quebec's dance scene brings hip-hop energy to Leipzig

This year, the Leipzig dance and theater festival euro-scene is focusing on the Canadian province of Quebec. At its 36th edition, five guest performances will offer a glimpse into a dance scene of extraordinary diversity and international appeal, according to the organizers. The program includes 36 individual events from November 3 to 8.

This year, international artistic development—with influences from hip-hop, street, and club cultures—will be more visible than ever before, said festival director Christian Watty. “This energy, the joy of performing, the willingness to take risks, and the dancers’ tremendous presence bring a captivating dynamism to the stage.”

In addition, different perspectives on what “home” can mean today run like a common thread through the entire festival program. Several works explore what happens when people leave the place they call home—whether voluntarily or by force. “What does it mean to arrive somewhere else, to build a new life, and to find one’s own place amid memories, loss, and a new sense of belonging?” said Watty. And what happens when the possibility of returning is on the table—to a place that has changed and that may even have become foreign to you upon your return?