The Lviv program runs November 7–15, featuring Rainer Behr’s dance intensive, educational workshops, archival screenings, discussions on Pina Bausch, and performances of “Field. Morning Lady.”
A dance performance “Field. Morning Lady” by Rainer Behr and Halyna Shchupak to be presented in Lviv. This was reported by UP Culture.
On November 14–15, the dance performance “Field. Morning Lady” — a joint project by German choreographer Rainer Behr and Ukrainian dancer Halyna Shchupak — will be staged in Lviv. The program will also feature an educational component, an intensive dance workshop, screenings of documentary and archival materials about Pina Bausch’s work, and an open meeting with Rainer Behr.
The performance “Field. Morning Lady” was created in Ukraine in 2024. It is a collaborative work by two artists with different professional backgrounds, united by their longstanding connection to the European contemporary dance tradition and their desire to foster artistic dialogue between Ukraine and Germany.
In 2025, the performance was included in the longlist for the 7th GRA Festival and Award in the category “Best Performance Reflecting on the Events of the Russian-Ukrainian War.” The project was supported by the Per Forma grant program of Kyiv Contemporary Music Days.
“This performance is a way for me to talk about experiences that cannot always be put into words. The body remembers, reacts, retains tension, and at the same time seeks the possibility of moving forward. In working with Rainer, what matters to me is that we meet not only as Ukrainian and German artistic communities, but as people with different experiences who are trying to hear one another. Art does not provide ready-made answers to difficult questions, but creates a space where we can stay with them, feel, and reflect on what is happening to us and around us,” says Halyna Shchupak.
From Masterclasses to Open Dialogue
The Lviv program will offer several ways to explore contemporary dance, from practical movement sessions to discussions about artistic experience and Pina Bausch’s creative legacy.
On November 7–8, German choreographer Rainer Behr will lead a dance intensive titled “The Essence of Dance” at the Khvylia art association. Participants will have the opportunity to work with the choreographer, explore his approach to movement, and learn more about the principles he developed over years of practice at one of the best-known contemporary dance theatres.
On November 9–11, Pina Bausch Lab and Rainer Behr will present BESH Dance Company’s educational program, featuring masterclasses for students at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, including students of choreography and acting. The program is being held in cooperation with the Pina Bausch Foundation.
Participants in the Pina Bausch Lab will have the opportunity to discover Pina Bausch’s choreography and working methods through hands-on experience. The program will include dance training, work with excerpts from Pina Bausch’s repertoire, and creative tasks that will allow participants to explore her approach to movement and apply it in their own practice.
On November 14–15, the performance “Field. Morning Lady” will be staged at the First Academic Ukrainian Theatre for Children and Youth in Lviv.
On November 15, the “Pina Bausch: A Closer Look” event will also take place at the Khvylia art association. It will feature screenings of documentary and archival footage from the Pina Bausch Foundation’s collection, followed by an open Artist Talk with Rainer Behr, a longtime dancer with Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch.
Participants will have the opportunity to talk with the choreographer about his many years of work at Tanztheater Wuppertal, his experience collaborating with Pina Bausch, and the distinctive features of her creative method, which influenced the development of contemporary dance.
Admission is free. Places are limited, so advance registration is required. The event is organized by BESH Dance Company in cooperation with the Pina Bausch Foundation and is held in partnership with the Goethe-Institut in Ukraine.
Background
Rainer Behr is a German dancer and choreographer who has been a member of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch since 1995. For many years, he worked directly with Pina Bausch, participating in the creation and performance of her works.
Today, alongside his work with the theatre, Behr creates his own choreographic projects and leads masterclasses in various countries.
Halyna Shchupak is a Ukrainian dancer and choreographer who graduated from the Dance Interpretation master’s program at Folkwang University of the Arts. Since 2022, she has worked closely with Rainer Behr as a performer and co-creator of joint artistic projects between Ukraine and Germany.
“Field. Morning Lady” continues this artistic dialogue, bringing together the creators’ individual artistic experiences with the broader context of contemporary Ukraine and its culture.
The performances, educational events, and public program in Lviv will take place in partnership with the Goethe-Institut in Ukraine.
- When and where: November 14–15 at 7:00 p.m. — performances of “Field. Morning Lady”
- Venue: First Academic Ukrainian Theatre for Children and Youth (11 Hnatiuka Street, Lviv)
