International ÖTR Ballet Days, Vienna

For two days in June, Vienna was once again the European dance centre. Casual "smaltalk" with colleagues, targeted "stretching" of the muscles, concentrated "thinking through" of one's own performance and a first joint "warm up" under the guidance of Harem Tromp conveyed real dancer life to the viewer. The Eleven from around 20 dance training centres got in the mood for their very special performances at this year's International Ballet Days of the Austrian Dance Council (from Japan to Perchtoldsdorf as well as from Udine via Vienna, Bratislava to Stuttgard).

Once again, the venerable Viennese "Odeon" formed the place for classical ballet and contemporary expressive dance on these two days in June as an atmospheric "dance temple". The enthusiastic spectators and fans enjoyed high-calibre choreographies in the evening performances, which were perfectly translated into strong dance sequences by the international young artists. The Viennese stage technology company Tüchler once again provided for the contemporary health-oriented movement sequence as a base, i.e. dance floor, because the main stage was once again equipped with Manero Ultra Light and the dance floor "Event". The Tüchler innovation "Manero Ultra Light" is a mobile sprung floor. It offers the dancers 37% gentler cushioning, has 100% ball reflection and is easy and quick to lay (7 kg/sqm). It is applied easily and without the use of adhesives or adhesive tapes. The patented puzzle gearing immediately ensures a stable bandage. The high-end underbody is designed to meet the highest mechanical requirements. When asked about the soil properties, Bianca Medlitsch (21 years old) from the Klagenfurt School of Artistic Dance gets into a frenzy. "First of all, this floor is extremely quiet. This is very pleasant for the whole performance. Secondly, it gives me an excellent hold on the jumps and thirdly I can set and handle the turns perfectly without having to feel like I might slip away," she describes her experiences. Bianca dances barefoot and devotes herself to the genre of expressive dance. Rafael Pierzynski (20 years, Poland), Martina Lorenz (23 years) and Leon Maric (20 years, both from Slovenia) and Michael Gross (19 years, Munich) reacted similarly. Unison, the "contemporary dancers", as they call themselves, describe Manero Ultra Light as very stable and by its own precise point reflection well harmonizing with the body. All four are students of the Institute for Dance-art at the Anton Bruckner Private University, Linz. And from the point of view of Harem Tromp, "the" dance professor at Bruckner Uni, Manero Ultra Light with its multifunctionality is a classic universal floor for such an event as the International Ballet Days of the Austrian Dance Council. As an additional sugar for the dancers, Tüchler sponsored three variants of the Manero Classic sprung floor for their individual warm-up phase. 2 by 2 metres of the classic surface-elastic sprung floor system were laid in three degrees of damping, namely 65%, 60% and 50%. In order to find the optimal surface for themselves, the dancers were also able to try out the dance coverings ConfiDance, Consor and Drosselmeyer on the respective floor unit to the different degrees of cushioning of the floor. "The basic requirement for my movement sequences, such as pirouettes, is a relatively soft floor, which does not allow me to slip," says Dalma Weninger (22years) from the School of Dance and Fine Arts, Györ, describing her requirements for a good sprung floor. After various turns and scheduled pirouette rehearsals, she opted for Manero Classic with 60% cushioning and the dance edition Consor. The South Tyrolean "en pointe" dancer (French "in lace") Katharina Mair (13years) from the ballet studio Renate Kokot chose Manero Classic with 65% cushioning and the dance edition ConfiDance. And her friend Franziska Amplatz (13th year old), like the lady from Hungary, after a rehearsal episode on Manero Classic with 60% damping and the dance edition Consor. "I was thrilled by the high technical level and imaginative choreography. Magnificent pas de deux's were shown and with the modern pieces I was fascinated by the ever-increasing "synchronised dance". The feedback from the actors on the sponsored dance floor Manero Ultra Light oscillated between very good and sensational," sums up event manager Peter Rille. (Christian Teske)

Participant Ballet School of the Vienna State Opera Sawako Murase Ballet Studio, Osaka Tanecne Confectionery Evy Jaczovej, Bratislava School of Artistic Dance, Klagenfurt Danceart, Dornbirn Tanaka Noriko Ballet Academy, Japan School of Dance and Fine Arts, Györ DanceArts, Vienna Europakonservatorium St. Pölten Hungarian Dance Academy Dance Department, Carinthian Music School Mizuno Seiko Dancing Kids Studio, Japan Ballet Studio , Perchtoldsdorf YORK-Studios, Dance Center Jane Gardner, Linz IDA-Institute of Dance Arts, Anton Bruckner University Linz Private University, Conservatory Vienna John Cranko School, Stuttgart ADEB, Associazione Danza E Balletto, Udine