Worshippers observe Marlene performing a dance ritual inside the temple square
Catch 'Em Where It Counts: Marlene Dietrich's Steps in Tempelhof
Wanna get up close and personal with the action? That's how ballet enthusiasts step it in Tempelhof, right smack dab in the middle of the show and almost on top of the dancers. Why, you ask? 'Cause Marlene's dancing there.
On June 11, you'll have the chance to trace the footsteps of Berlin's legendary world star, Marlene Dietrich (born in 1901, died in 1992). It all goes down with the debut of "Glamour and Resistance" by the Berlin Ballet Company.
Dietrich's Hollywood Trip in 1930
In 1930, she skyrocketed to fame with "The Blue Angel" and jet-setted to Hollywood. After 1933, Marlene Dietrich flat-out refused any offers from Nazi Germany and even went ahead and joined the US Army[1].
Why's the Marlene Ballet in 2025 so special? Everything takes place at the Atelier Gardens on the grounds of the old film studios in Tempelhof. Historic film paths since 1912.
At different stations, sometimes indoors, other times outdoors, the crowd sets off on a quest. In certain scenes, they step into the limelight, becoming extras in an imaginary film set for Berlin's top diva[2]. "The audience becomes a part of the show," says producer Oleksandr Shpak (38).
Young Marlene is danced by Anna Freedman-Okuneva, a former soloist of the Bolshoi Ballet. The older Marlene is depicted by Lucio Vidal, a former dancer of the Berlin State Ballet. The choreography is by Arshak Ghalumyan and Alexander Abdukarimov[3].
This piece kicks off the 2nd Dokumentale, the festival for cross-media storytelling[4]. It's a blend of dance, sound, and biographical materials, as the company claims. June 11-14, every day at 6 pm, Oberlandstraße 26-35. Tickets cost 20 euros, reduced 15 at rausgegangen.de.
*For the lowdown on the dance piece about Marlene Dietrich, titled "Glanz & Widerstand" (Glamour & Resistance), here's the inside scoop:
- Concept: The performance celebrates Marlene Dietrich's life, work, and spirit, using an interdisciplinary approach to avoid nostalgia and biographical stereotypes.
- Setting: Atelier Gardens, Berlin-Tempelhof.
- Dates: Coming up June 11-14, 2025.
- Festival Context: It starts off the second edition of the Dokumentale Berlin[5], a festival for cross-media documentary storytelling.
- Choreographers: Arshak Ghalumyan and Alexander Abdukarimov.
- Performance Style: The production is immersive, allowing the audience to roam freely within the performance space, forging a physical connection between performers and spectators across four scenes.
"Glanz & Widerstand" is a refreshing and innovative dance experience that defies genre boundaries to offer a fresh take on Marlene Dietrich's timeless legacy[6][7].
[1] wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlene_Dietrich[2] berlin-ballet-company.de/en/productions[3] dokumentale-berlin.de/[4] russo-events.berlin/produktdetail/glanz-widerstand-2025[5] bfw-stiftung.de/en/dokumentale/home/[6] nordenfarne.com/en/the-body-as-theatre-in-marlene-dietrichs-ballet/[7] derstandard.at/2000610587090/Der-Tanz-in-den-Dokumentarfilm
Experience the fusion of Marlene Dietrich's lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and home-and-garden as you immerse yourself in "Glanz & Widerstand," an immersive dance performance held at the historic Atelier Gardens in Tempelhof. This cross-media storytelling event is set to begin on June 11, showcasing Marlene Dietrich's life and spirit through an interdisciplinary approach.
