Tänzerin, Choreographin, Pädagogin
In ihrer künstlerischen Arbeit setzt sich Claudine Merkel immer wieder mit zentralen Fragen von Mensch, Kunst und Natur, sowie mit deren Einfluss aufeinander auseinander. Ihr Forschen nach der authentischen, essenziellen Bewegung brachte sie 2016/2017 mit dem indonesischen Bewegungskünstler Suprapto Suryodarmo in Kontakt. Dieses wirkungsvolle Zusammenkommen und das Kennenlernen und Praktizieren seiner besonderen Bewegungsmethode „Joged Amerta“, erweiterten Claudine Merkels Visionen und eröffneten eine neue Richtung. Zum Jahreswechsel 2016/2017 tanzte sie auf dem von Prapto geleiteten, Srawung Seni Candi Festival auf Java.
Ihre tiefe Überzeugung von der positiven Wirkung des Amerta movements möchte
Claudine Merkel seitdem in ihren Workshops erfahrbar machen. Sie möchte neugierig machen auf uns selbst, auf den Künstler in uns, auf unser Zusammenspiel mit anderen Menschen und unserer Umgebung.
Claudine Merkels Interesse gilt darüber hinaus den Techniken des Schamanismus und deren Unterstützung für die Entwicklung der Persönlichkeit. Das Streben ihrer Arbeit ist es, Bewusstsein zu schaffen für unsere innere Kraft mit der wir in jedem Moment entscheiden können, wohin unsere Reise gehen soll.
Curriculum Vitae
Dance training and professional career
| 1969 - 1972 | John Cranko School, Stuttgart |
| 1972 - 1974 | Student performer with Stuttgart Ballet |
| 1974 | Summer season with Théâtre de Genève, Director Patrica Neary |
| 1974 - 1975 | Stadttheater Basel, Director/Choreographer Heinz Spoerli |
| 1975 - 1977 | Royal Ballet van Vlaanderen, Director/Choreographer Jeanne Brabants Performed works by Jiri Kylian, Maurice Béjart, John Butler |
| 1977 - 1983 | Soloist, Städtischen Bühnen Münster Director/Choreographers Gerwin Geisel, Jorge Sansinanea, Dragutin Boldin |
| 1983 - 1984 | Royal Academy of Dancing, Professional Dancers Teaching Course |
Also trained/attended classes in:
Antwerp
Private lessons with Nana Gollner, (of American Ballet Theatre, Ballets Russes)Paris
Raymond Francetti, Opéra de Paris; Joura LoboffMonte Carlo
Marika Bessobrassova, Princesse Grace Academy of Classical Dance, Monte CarloCannes
Rosella Hightower, „le gallia“ centre international de danseNew York
Maggie BlackLondon
Soulamith MessererTeaching experience
| 1980-81 | Taught company class while at Städtischen Bühnen Münster |
| 1981-95 | Ballet teacher at Rebel Dance School, Münster. Also taught independently in towns around Münster. Regular ballet workshops in Münster as well as Agen, Falaise, Florence and Barcelona |
| 1984 | Occasional guest teacher for Anya Evans at Dance Works, London |
| 1984 | Guest teacher for summer course, Companhia Nacional de Bailado, Portugal, Director Armando Jorge |
| 1997 | Guest Teacher for the Dance Company of Gregor Zöllig (Dance director of Theatre Bielefeld) |
| 2001-10 | Training for professional dancers engaged in my productions |
| 2010 | Guest Teacher for the Company Neuer Tanz Düsseldorf |
| 2011 | Guest Teacher for the Company Mainfranken Theater Würzburg |
| 2011 | Guest Teacher Princess Grace Academy of Classical Dance summer school, Monte Carlo |
| 1995 | Opened own school - Dance Academy Claudine Merkel, Münster, Germany Students’ examinations: Bühnenreifeprüfung (German equivalent of Advanced RAD®) 2 students passed RAD® examinations: Children’s Grades: 246 students passed
25 gained honours, many highly commended/distinction Vocational/Major examinations: 15 students passed RAD® Teaching Certification - 2 teachers passed with Distinction Students have auditioned successfully for the following schools: Maurice Béjart, Brüssel John Neumeier, Hamburg National School, Amsterdam Heinz Bosel Stiftung, München Hochschule der Künste, Berlin |
Professional productions / guest choreographies:
| 1993 | Les Jeux Méditerranéens Assistant to the director, Bob Adrizza, for the Opening of the Mediterranean Games in Nîmes |
| 2001 | Dagda
Dance theater with live classical and modern music and improvisation, singer, acrobat, dancers
Funded by: Kulturamt Münster; Kulturministerium Westfalen, Volksbank and other private sponsors Fotos |
| 2002 | Women’s Volleyball World Championship, Münster -
Choreography for the opening ceremony (for 100 children) VONOG FRANKFURT, NATIONALES ORGANISATIONSKOMITEE VOLLEYBALL- WELTMEISTERSCHAFT DER FRAUEN 2002 |
| 2004 | Tuatha – Dance theatre in Münster „All-Weathers“ Zoo
Music composed by Burkhard Fincke Funded by: Kulturamt Münster; Münster Zoo; Münstersche Zeitung; Spardabank; Fonds Darstellende Kunste eV; Aktion Münsterland; COMPO GmbH & Co Kg; and private sponsors Fotos |
| 2010 | Parade - Dance Performance Commissioned for 10-year anniversary of the Picasso Museum, Münster Funded by: Sparkasse Münsterland Ost Mehr Informationen, Fotos und Video |
| 2013 | ICH - Dance theatre with live music and improvisation, Ben Bönninger and Alexander Morsey, Westfalen. funded by Kulturamt Münster and Kulturministerium Mehr Informationen, Fotos und Video |
dance events Productions
In 1987, I formed a dance group and choreographed the following works (all complete evenings), with sponsorship from the Kulturamt Münster, the Kulturministerium for Westfalen, and also from private sponsors:
| 1988 | Vangelis/ Piazzolla Ballet performance Funded by: Kulturamt Ibbenbüren, Westfalen Foto |
| 1989 | Metamorphosen Funded by: Kulturamt Ibbenburen Fotos |
| 1991 | Les Images de l´Univers Contemporary ballet, using Laserlight provided by Gérard Schallier, Paris Music specially composed by Raduan Khalil Funded by: Kulturamt Münster; Kulturministerium Westfalen Fotos |
| 1992 | Kabinettstücke Les Sylphides/ Gaité Parisienne Funded by: Kulturamt Münster Fotos |
| 1993 | Ballet Blanc et Noir Les Sylphides/ Paquita Funded by: Kulturamt Münster and private sponsors Foto |
| 1993 | Gestern, Heute und Morgen (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) Dance theater. History of Münster for Münster’s 1200 year Jubilee Funded by: Kulturamt Münster and private sponsors Fotos |
| 1995 | La Cucaracha New Year’s Revue with dance, song, film Funded by: Kulturamt Münster and private sponsors Foto |
| 1998 | Sophie´s Odyssee - full-length dance evening, with professional guest dancers Funded by: Kulturamt Münster, Kulturministerium Westfalen and private sponsors Fotos |
School Performances
| 1986 | Wilde Schwäne (Wild Swans) - full length fairy-tale Funded by Culture Department, Ibbenburen, Westfalen |
| 1987 | Jorinde und Joringel - full-length fairy-tale Funded by Culture Department, Ibbenburen, Westfalen |
| 1988 | Verzauberte Bilder |
| 1989 | Vier Jahreszeiten |
| 1993 | Ballettvariationen |
| 1995 | Impressionen Funded by Culture Department, Münster, Westfalen |
| 1998 | Sophie´s Odyssee - full-length dance evening, with professional guest dancers Funded by: Kulturamt Münster, Kulturministerium Westfalen and private sponsors |
| 2001 | Karneval der Tiere - Collaboration with Student Orchestra, Ibbenbüren Funded by Culture Department, Ibbenbüren, Westfalen |
| 2005 | It’s Showtime Dance, singing etc with children and professional performers Funded by: Kulturamt Münster |
| 2007 | Sommertanztraum With professional guests |
| 2009 | Tanztraumtour With professional guests |
| 2011 | Zirkus Zauberhaft Dance, music and singing project for children and adults With professional guests |