A mysterious story presented with Renaissance music, contemporary dance, and historical texts. What made hundreds of people dance uncontrollably through the summer of 1518 ?

The Curse of St. Veit – Tanzwut 1518

Concert – 60 minutes
5 musicians + 2 dancers

Grace Newcombe – voice, gothic harp
Marc Lewon – lute, gittern, cittern, voice
Elizabeth Sommers – Renaissance violin
Philipp Wingeier – Renaissance drum, recitation
Christian Senatore – contemporary dance; choreography
Laetitia Kohler – contemporary dance; choreography
Holly Scarborough – transverse flute, pipe and tabor; concept, direction

The Curse of St. Veit, Ensemble Zweigulden, directed by Holly Scarborough © Dirk Letsch
The Curse of St. Veit, Ensemble Zweigulden, directed by Holly Scarborough © Dirk Letsch
The Curse of St. Veit, Ensemble Zweigulden, directed by Holly Scarborough © Dirk Letsch
The Curse of St. Veit, Ensemble Zweigulden, directed by Holly Scarborough © Dirk Letsch
The Curse of St. Veit, Ensemble Zweigulden, directed by Holly Scarborough © Dirk Letsch
The Curse of St. Veit, Ensemble Zweigulden, directed by Holly Scarborough © Dirk Letsch
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Partners

  • “Da erhub sich ein dantz von iungen und alten leutten, die tantzten tag und nacht, dass sie nider fielen, also dass über 100 zu Strassburg auff einmal tantzten. […] [Man] bestellte eigene leutt umb lohn, die mussten stets mit ihnen, tantzten mit trummen und pfeiffen; es half alles nichts. Viel tantzten sich zu tode.”

    Daniel Specklin, Chronik von Strassburg, 1587

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