Friedemann Vogel, principal dancer of the Stuttgart Ballet, will receive the "Outstanding Performance" award of the German Dance Prize 2020. The award ceremony will take place on October 16 and 17, 2020 at the Aalto Theater in Essen, Germany.
The 8-member jury announced today: "Only very few male dancers of his generation have had such a continuous and at the same time international artistic career as Friedemann Vogel. He has been a member of the Stuttgart Ballet for more than twenty years and is now a star of the dance world. His artistry and talent are sought after all over the world. A respected cultural ambassador for his country, he has at the same time strongly influenced the German dance scene. Vogel shines in the great classics of the ballet repertoire as well as in contemporary works. Many renowned choreographers have created for and with him in recent years. His intense emotional performances, combined with his excellent technical skills, are unparalleled. It is this combination that makes him so special and exceptional. One believes wholeheartedly in what he portrays, regardless of the style or genre in which he dances. With Friedemann Vogel, we honor as "outstanding performer" an artist whose unprecedented incentive is not only the perfection of classical ballet but also the motivation and drive to explore and discover new facets of all dance forms. The jury consisted of Helena Waldmann (chair), Professor Nik Haffner, Tim Plegge, Nina Hümpel, Kathleen McNurney, Brit Rodemund, Gisela Peters-Rohse and Professor Patrick Primavesi.
"This award means a lot to me, especially at this time," says Friedemann Vogel. "It has given me new strength and motivation and inspires me to keep looking for new ways to engage with our audience, which is so necessary right now. I thank the jury and Dachverband Tanz from the bottom of my heart."
The artistic director of the Stuttgart Ballet Tamas Detrich said: "I am so happy for Friedemann and at the same time very proud. He is THE German dancer of his generation and has achieved so much for more than two decades, not only here in Stuttgart, but also as one of the most sought-after dancers internationally. With his exquisite technique and outstanding acting skills, he not only impresses me again and again, but also our audience here in Stuttgart and around the world."
Friedemann Vogel was born in Stuttgart and received his dance training at the John Cranko Schule and the Princess Grace Ballet Academy in Monte Carlo. He joined the Stuttgart Ballet in 1998 and was appointed principal dancer in 2001. In 2015, he was awarded the title of "Kammertaenzer" by the state of Baden-Württemberg, the highest honor a dancer can achieve in the Federal Republic of Germany (For more details, please see the full biography attached).
The German Dance Award was established in 1983 and is currently organized by the "Dachverband Tanz".Dachverband Tanz Deutschland e.V. ("Dachverband" = umbrella organization), has been functioning as an official national platform for dance art in Germany since 2006. Founded on the awareness of its participants that dance must speak with one voice in the German political landscape, Dachverband Tanz Deutschland e.V. currently functions as a network of the most important dance associations and institutions - regardless of aesthetic differences, different production methods, and specific dance careers.
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