PRESS INFORMATION / ImPulsTanz 2014: First programme highlights In 2014, the ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival will set its audience into motion. From 17 July to 17 August, Europe’s biggest dance and performance festival will once again turn Vienna into the epicentre of contemporary dance and movement. The festival's choreographic spectrum is unsurpassable: the bow stretches from international and Austrian dance stars, who present themselves with world premieres and distinguished productions of the current season, to the newcomer programme [8:tension], which this year will appear in form of an “extended version” –, to the renowned ballet contest Wien-­‐Welt-­‐Wettbewerb, that will take place in the frame of ImPulsTanz for the first time. As one of this year's highlights in the performance programme choreographer and filmmaker Lloyd Newson and the legendary DV8 Physical Theatre from London as well as Ismael Ivo and his 35 dancers strong Grupo Biblioteca Do Corpo® will each present a world premiere at ImPulsTanz. The Belgian choreographer Alain Platel and his world famous company les ballets C de la B will stage Tauberbach, their latest coproduction with the Münchner Kammerspiele that will arrive in Vienna after its presentation at the Berliner Theatertreffen. Embedded into the international programme are the latest creations by the Austrian scene. Enfant terrible Florentina Holzinger will bring her out of control alter ego to live, choreographer Chris Haring and Liquid Loft show with Deep Dish at Volkstheater an equally blunt as ecstatic portrait of an unleashed bourgeoisie. An Kaler ensures in a planned cooperation with Tanzquartier Wien electrifying dance moments and Amanda Piña & Daniel Zimmermann, the political stars on the contemporary dance floor, try to uncover the Polynesian war dance Hoko in WAR. ImPulsTanz is seeking traces also towards the future. Since 2001, the [8:tension] Young Choreographers’ Series has been a fixed part of the festival and since then international newcomers show what the future of dance looks like today; 2014 even as “extended version” featuring around 14 companies from all over the world. A two-­‐week residency during the festival gives the chance for artistic exchange. The Prix Jardin d’Europe, endowed with EUR 10.000, will again be awarded in form of a jury and an audience prize and opens new opportunities to the young scene on the global terrain of contemporary dance. For the first time the 7th International Contest and Festival for Ballet and Contemporary Dance will be hosted as Wien-­‐Welt-­‐Wettbewerb 2014 by ImPulsTanz. Under the artistic direction of ballet icon Vladimir Malakhov, who recently made a shift as director of Berliner Staatsballett to the Opera of Tokyo, about 300 dancers from more than 20 nations will participate in the contest that takes place from 22 July to 27 July. The Gala evening on 27 July in Volkstheater marks the ceremonial highlight of the contest where the prizes will be awarded. Beyond the performance programme ImPulsTanz invites its visitors to not only watch dance, but dance themselves: let it be at live concerts and DJ nights in the legendary ImPulsTanz festival lounge in Burgtheater Vestibül, or in one of the 200 workshops at the Viennese Arsenal, where world stars pass their knowledge on to beginners and professionals, children and Golden Agers, yogis and improvisation artists, such as the legendary David Zambrano, the mother of Modern Dance Risa Steinberg or voice and movement expert Francesca Harper. New and one of many highlights is the HipHop workshop for beginners by the L.A. based Austrian Nina Kripas. Recently she toured with the Black Eyed Peas and danced for stars such as Sean Paul, Avril Lavigne and Craig David. Frequently updated programme information can be found from spring onwards at www.impulstanz.com.