Dancing Dreams

In the opening scene, loud stomping immediately grabs the attention. Kontakhoff is a contemporary dance piece that was first created in 1978 by Pina Bauch. Then, in 2002, Bausch worked with amateur performers over 64 and again in 2008 with youths between fourteen and seventeen.

Hoffman’s understated style of documentary is intimate and touching, bringing Kontakhof to life. It is about the young dancers, their frustration, tears and joy, while they are taught the piece by the original dancers and Bausch herself.

Kontakhoff is about men and woman rushing to get ready for a night out, aching for intimacy. Romantic hopes are clearly high, through a glazed expression of fatigue.

Dancing Dreams didn’t feel like a dream; it is an all too familiar coming of age tale, of being a teenager.

"Pina isn't masculine or feminine" says one of the boys involved in the performance, who is usually more at home break-dancing. He continues, "the boys have the flashing masculine moves but here the movement is different, I like it."

 

Kontakhoff provides a poignant and powerful documentary of real life accomplishments, from start to finish.If you where left wanting more after  Wim Wender’s Pina then dance yourself into a dream.