Berlin, February 2004. A visit to the german capital reinforces the impression of a vivid local dance scene and its rich activities there. Theatres and arts centres like Hebbel am Ufer, Sophiensäle, Tanzfabrik, Schaubühne or Podewil have been producing and presenting internationally renowned works of contemporary dance since years and are still doing so despite of the city's severe financial problems. Right now the future of Podewil, a multi disciplinary house offering residencies and organizing big annual festivals like "Körperstimmen", is being debated as changes of the direction are going on. While the dance scene emphasizes the need for a choreoraphic centre, there are also plans for a house of music and new media which are being considered by the political authorities. Journals like the taz and Berliner Zeitung are reflecting this struggle in the course of which some artists were bringing up the idea of good old squatting.

Meanwhile the Hebbel am Ufer Theater offers a superb program of performances, lectures, discussions and a research project in their festival "Context" (February 19 - 28), which is circling around the theme of authorship in contemporary dance. Choreographers like Russell Maliphant, Francois Verret, Marten Spanberg, Martin Nachbar, Prue Lang a.o. will take part in this platform. Research is also going on at the Tanzfabrik with Mark Tompkins heading a choreographic laboratory for four young choreograhers (Ami Garmon, Anja Hempel, Mikel Aristegui and Martina La Bonté). Their pieces as well as Tompkins' brilliant last solo "Song and Dance" (which was raved about at ImPulsTanz 2003 in Vienna) will be presented at Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz in March. Also Constanca Macras' stage version of "Back to Present", a piece originally set in a neglected department store last year (bringing up the charming motto "memory is fragile, garbage lasts forever"), will be presented there. Another unique personage that has received enthusiastic attention from dance lovers in Berlin is Christiane Müller. Being referred to by the young dance company Two Fish in the titles of their pieces regularly, Müller this time shows up at Sophiensäle between February 25 and March 7.