Folkwang

Folkwang und dann? Folkwang and what's next?

with Brunella Sabatino

Last summer, Brunella Sabatino finished her master’s degree in dance (Choreography/Interpretation) at Folkwang. We first met shortly afterwards when we were both participating in the student-in-residence programme in Montepulciano. A few months later we met up for coffee to talk about what had happened since.

Brunella Sabatino | Foto: Christian Clarke

Transition from university to professional life as a dancer

Brunella begins by telling me about her summer right after her studies at Folkwang and how she felt after finishing her master’s: “I was in an institution for so long” — first at Accademia Nazionale di Danza in Rome for her bachelor’s and then at Folkwang for her master’s program. “And then somehow, especially at Folkwang, you really have this community feeling that you can strongly and easily identify yourself with — this idea of being a Folkwang student. But I was excited and happy about being out of an institution and thinking about who I would be in the outside world.”

Brunella spent her summer in Italy and was looking forward returning to Essen-Werden in September to see what life would be like there now that she was no longer a student. After the initial excitement of the summer, she admits, it was difficult to stay patient and wait for projects to happen. “When September started and many people went back to university, I felt like September was the time when things are beginning but I didn’t really knew yet, and there was this moment of panic. Also, in the beginning, it was tricky to find a routine.”

However, she continues, “I really felt supported by Folkwang because, in the dance department, it’s very open, and you are invited to come and visit. This community feeling is still there, and actually, most of the contacts and relationships that I made at Folkwang really help me outside. In fact, the first job I did in September came through Folkwang.”

Student-in-residence program, Montepulciano | Foto: Eva Świątkowski

First jobs and own projects

Her first job in September was at Fragile 2024, a festival of the Pina Bausch Zentrum “under construction”, where she was performing in A string section by the Reckless Sleepers. Afterwards, she did a residency at Tanz Station Barmer Bahnhof, where she worked on her project Chella ca guarda n’terra during the format of Tanz meets…Special and presented it in a final showing.

“This residency was very important for me. I had this week alone in this place. It was just me, seven hours everyday. I thought I might get tired of myself after a while, but actually, it was very positive. It was the start of something because then a lot of things developed from this. The people from Tanzstation were very supportive with my project.

And then in March I’ll start another production at Lutz Theater Hagen where I’ve already worked before. I’m involved in their section for young audiences. This job started through Folkwang because they were auditioning Folkwang students, and I joined two productions while I was still a student.”

Brunella has also recently started a one-year residency at Schlossfabrik e.V., which allows her to use the dance studio for her work. Schlossfabrik is a non-profit association supporting interdisciplinary projects.

Tanz meets…Special at Tanz Station Barmer Bahnhof | Foto: Ralf Silberkuhl

Essen as a home

I ask Brunella why she decided to stay in Essen instead of returning to Italy after finishing her studies. She explains, “all my friends are here. It’s because I want a community, especially when everything is so uncertain. For me, art means being part of a community.”

However, she mentions that it has become more difficult to stay in contact now that the Asta Café is no longer there. Previously, it was a reliable meeting spot – a place where you could always go and be sure to see someone you knew. Yet, the sense of community remains, as friendships and social contacts at the university exist not only within the café but also in studios, rehearsal spaces, classrooms, and other shared spaces.

Advise for Folkwang students

In her experience, it was much easier to find collaborators while studying at Folkwang. The supportive community makes collaboration simple—ask, and things happen. After graduating, however, this dynamic changed. In work life projects often require funding, and people are frequently occupied with other commitments, making spontaneous collaborations much more challenging. Brunella emphasizes, “Collaborate as much as possible. There are so many great people around.”

Ein Beitrag im Rahmen des Projekts „Folkwang StudiScouts“.

Greta Gottschalk / 27. März 2025