In this double-bill production, the Bay Area premiere of Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring is performed by an ensemble of more than 30 dancers from 14 African countries and assembled through a collaboration between the Pina Bausch Foundation, École des Sables, and Sadler’s Wells. Stravinsky’s score takes on new meaning through visceral choreography as a “chosen one” is sacrificed.

The companion piece common ground[s], also in its Bay Area premiere, is a new duet co-created and danced by two septuagenarians—Germaine Acogny, known as the “mother of African contemporary dance,” and Malou Airaudo, a longtime dancer with the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch.

Join us for a post-performance moderated discussion on Fri, Feb 16 and post-performance community conversations on Sat-Sun, Feb 17–18.