Friedemann celebrates International Dance Day on Rai Uno TV

Friedemann Vogel SOUL THREADS (c) Stuttgart Ballet

International Dance Day holds special resonance for Friedemann, who was selected to write the official 2021 International Dance Day message under UNESCO patronage. This year, he celebrates the occasion with a live performance, bringing a solo from his own creation Die Seele am Faden / Soul Threads to the "Siamo Danza" gala in Palermo staged at the Teatro Massimo under the artistic direction of étoile Eleonora Abbagnato, and hosted by Giuseppe Fiorello, will be broadcast on Rai Uno on International Dance Day itself, 29th April, at 9.45pm.

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Verdienstorden des Landes Baden-Württemberg for Friedemann Vogel

Ministerpräsident Winfried Kretschmann und Friedemann Vogel © Staatsministerium Baden-Württemberg / Ilkay Karakurt

Friedemann is deeply honoured to receive the Verdienstorden des Landes Baden-Württemberg (Order of Merit of the State of Baden-Württemberg) — among the most exclusive civic honours in Germany, permanently capped at just 1,000 living recipients across all fields and conferred personally by the Minister-President.

Already a Kammertänzer — the highest distinction that Germany bestows on a dancer — Friedemann stands as the sole representative of dance among 27 recipients this year spanning science, politics, sport, and business. He received the honour on 27th March at the Neues Schloss in Stuttgart, and is very touched to be recognised not only as a lifelong ambassador for ballet and dance on the world stage, but for his commitment to charitable causes and to the service of science, and feels more inspired than ever to discover where else dance can lead.

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Friedemann in Tokyo

Mizuka Ueno and Friedemann Vogel © Alwin Maigler

Friedemann is delighted to join prima ballerina Mizuka Ueno at the Tokyo Ballet for three special performances from 20th to 22nd  March. The two Prix de Lausanne laureates reunite to perform a pas de deux from John Cranko’s “Swan Lake” as well as Roland Petit’s “Leda and the Swan” – a first for Friedemann, who will also dance Marco Goecke’s solo “Mopey”. 

Also look out for screenings of "Cranko" by Joachim Lang in Tokyo cinemas starting from 13th March!

https://johncrankojp.com

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SHUT EYE by Sol León and Paul Lightfoot

It's always invigorating for Friedemann to learn new dance vocabulary, so he is very excited to perform the Stuttgart premiere of "Shut Eye" by the esteemed choreographic duo Sol León and Paul Lightfoot on 6th March, with more dates to follow. 

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Shut Eye by Sol León and Paul Lightfoot (c) Roman Novitzky

Friendship is a Superpower Friedemann Vogel and Eleonora Abagnato on ARTE

“With just one look, we know everything is going to be all right” 

 In “Friendship – a Superpower?”, Friedemann and Eleonora Abbagnato talk about how they became friends immediately, and how their deep connection off stage feeds into their strong onstage chemistry. This new ARTE documentary, which examines the underrated contribution of friendship to physical and mental health from a medical and scientific lens.

 Directed by Manuela Jaehnig and produced by Bilderfest, the documentary is now available to watch on ARTE TV online. 

https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/117723-000-A/freundschaft-eine-superkraft/

Die Seele am Faden / Soul Threads in Stuttgart

STUTTGART

"It's not the beautiful that is desirable, but rather the real.” 

Following the performances of his award-winning solo at the Teatro Nazionale in Rome in December, Friedemann will present the Stuttgart Ballet premiere of “Die Seele am Faden/Soul Threads” in January, and cannot wait to share his first full-length choreography co-created with Thomas Lempertz – a former Stuttgart Ballet soloist - with the audience in his home city. Sharing the stage with him will be musician Alisa Scetinina (GAISMA) - another Stuttgart Ballet alumna.  There will be six performances between the 10th and 30th January at the Stuttgart Schauspielhaus as part of the Interaction triple-bill.  

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Friedemann Vogel in Soul Threads / Die Seele am Faden by Fabrizio Sansoni

New Year’s Concert at La Fenice on Rai1 and ARTE with Friedemann Vogel

Friedemann begins 2026 with a special performance filmed in Venice with longtime dance partner Eleonora Abbagnato and members of the Rome Opera Ballet. The dance film will accompany the eagerly anticipated traditional Venice New Year’s Concert at Teatro Fenice, and be broadcast on TV on Rai1 on 1 January and also available on ARTE.TV

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Onegin with The National Ballet of China

BEIJING

After dancing "Onegin" at ballet galas in Tampa, New York, Litomyšl, Brussels, Como, Toxpan, and Barcelona, and on tour in Washington with the Stuttgart Ballet, Friedemann is pleased to round up the 60th anniversary of John Cranko's masterpiece this year with one more full-length performance with the National Ballet of China on 30th December at the Tianqiao Theatre in Beijing. 

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"Die Seele am Faden/Soul Threads" in Rome

Friedemann Vogel in Soul Threads photo by Yan Revazov

A masterpiece of reflection and interpretation, combining choreography, music, lighting design and direction to create a unique work…. A dazzling solo drawn with the breath, skin, bones, tendons, brain and heart, truly embodies the power and the beauty of the battle between man and robot.” Maria Luisa Buzzi, Editor in Chief, Danza & Danza Magazine

"Die Seele am Faden/Soul Threads" was honoured with two Danza & Danza Awards for its Italian premiere at the 2024 Spoleto Festival, including "Choreography/Performance" for Friedemann, and "Lighting Design" for Fabiana Piccioli. 

Friedemann is thrilled to bring "Die Seele am Faden/Soul Threads" back to Italy, for two performances on 12th and 13th December at the Teatro Nazionale, as part of the Rome Opera Ballet 2025-2026 season. 

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Gala for the Red Cross Italy in Udine

Friedemann is delighted to take part in the 44th International Dance Gala on 8 December at the Teatro Nuovo in Udine, organised by the Dance and Ballet Association in support of the Italian Red Cross.

Italy has long been close to his heart – a place he returns to year after year. With Udine being his fourth appearance in Italy this year, this charity gala feels especially meaningful.

Immediately after Udine, he will bring his own creation "Soul Threads" to Rome for two performances at the Teatro Nazionale on 12–13 December, continuing his close artistic connection with Italy.

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When Dance Meets Science during Berlin Science Week

Friedemann Vogel (c) Universität Tübingen SFB 1391

As an Associate Member of the Tübingen Collaborative Research Centre, Friedemann has been giving lectures and workshops at the Tübingen University on the subject of “Different Aesthetics” since 2024. To launch his collaboration with the Research Centre, he performed a solo “Écorché! Anatomy of Dance” – inspired by the representations of the skinned body in anatomy and art, and co-created with choreographer Thomas Lempertz – to express pain, transformation, and aesthetics through the medium of dance. 

The film of the performance, recorded in the Alte Anatomie at the Tübingen University, will be screened on 7 November at the Holzmarkt 25, as part of the Berlin Science Week. Friedemann is delighted to participate in a conversation after the film screening with project partners – Anna Pawlak, Franziska Hammer, and Olaf Kramer – to discuss the origin of the performance and the possibilities of artistic and scientific cooperation, addressing questions including how research and science can benefit from exchanges with the arts, and the role arts plays in societal upheavals. 

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New York and Washington D.C. Tour with the Stuttgart Ballet

Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel as Onegin (c) Stuttgart Ballet

Friedemann is looking forward to being back in the States, on tour with the Stuttgart Ballet, and dancing in two very different works: first, in Hans van Manen’s playful “Trois Gnoissiennes” for the highly anticipated Fall for Dance Festival at the New York City Center on September 26th and 27th, then in John Cranko’s dramatic masterpiece “Onegin”as the ballet season opening performance at the Kennedy Center on October 8th, with additional shows on 10th and 12th.

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Merit Award from the Premio Capri Danza International

Friedemann Vogel by Ann Ray

Friedemann is very honoured to receive the prestigious Merit Award from the Premio Capri Danza International, in recognition for his important contribution to the art of dance, and for his outstanding performance of “Soul Threads at the 2024 Spoleto Festival.

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BÉJART'S BOLÉRO at CARACALLA in ROME

BÉJART'S BOLÉRO AT CARACALLA 

"It starts as a challenge, and ends as a total wildride." 

Maurice Béjart's Boléro is one of Friedemann's all-time favourite works to perform. Having had the immense pleasure to share this masterpiece with audiences in Stuttgart, Santiago de Chile, and Tokyo, Friedemann is thrilled to dance on the iconic red table with the Rome Opera Ballet as part of a triple bill at the 2025 Caracalla Festival on 30th and 31st July.

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Summer Gala Performances 2025

Friedemann Vogel by Baki Photographer

Friedemann is looking forward to revisiting the beloved pas de deux from classics like Manon and Onegin with new audiences at three ballet galas in Litomyšl, Brussels, and Como this summer. He will be dancing with Paris Opera Ballet étoile Ludmila Pagliero at the Litomyšl Ballet Gala on 27th + 28th June in Czech Republic, and with fellow Stuttgart Ballet principal dancer Rocio Aleman on 3 July at La Gala des Étoiles in Belgium, as well as on 9th July at the Stars of the Ballet Gala in Italy. 

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Die Seele am Faden / Soul Threads in Hamburg

Following four sold-out performances in the SWR Schwetzingen Festspiel in May and the Kleist Forum in June, Friedemann is very excited to bring his award-winning work Die Seele am Faden/Soul Threads - a timely and profound reflection on the human soul in our age of machines - to Hamburg on 14th July as an invited guest for the Hamburg Ballet Days.

There will be a post-show discussion with Friedemann, Thomas Lempertz (visual artist and co-choreographer of the work), and Florian Vogel (director of the Kleist Forum and producer of the work), moderated by dramaturg Vivien Arnold.  

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Friedemann Vogel Photo (c) Yan Revazov

Danza & Danza Award

Friedemann is thrilled to receive an award from the Danza & Danza Magazine in recognition of his choreography and performance of his first full-length co-creation with Thomas Lempertz "Die Seele am Faden/Soul Threads" at the 2024 Spoleto Festival. 

"The sense of freedom I feel when everything I dance depends on me is inexplicable". 

Read more in the cover story on Friedemann in the latest issue of Danza & Danza.  

Les Etoiles Ballet Gala

Léonore Baulac and Friedemann Vogel (c) artwave Tzong-Yi

Friedemann is looking forward to giving his debut performance in Bologna at Les Etoiles: Gala Internazionale di Danza on 28th and 29th December. He will be reuniting with Paris Opera Ballet étoile Léonore Baulac to perform two pieces. More details on the programme to follow soon. 

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Die Seele am Faden im Schlosstheater Schwetzingen

"Die Seele am Faden/Soul Threads leaves an indelible mark for its completeness of reflection, quality of performance, choreography, music, light design and direction". Danza&Danza Magazine

Following the successful Italian premiere of "Die Seele am Faden/Soul Threads" at the very atmospheric San Simone in the Spoleto Festival, Friedemann is delighted to bring his co-creation with Thomas Lempertz to yet another special venue: the Palace Theatre - the oldest ranked theatre in Europe - on the stunning grounds of the Schwetzingen Palace. 

The two performances on 6th and 7th May will be part of the Schwetzingen SWR Festival.

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Schlosstheater Schwetzingen (c) Schloß Schwetzingen

“Écorché! Anatomy of Dance” a new film for Universität Tübingen

Friedemann will be joining the Collaborative Research Center as an associate member and long-term partner for their “Other Aesthetics” programme at the University of Tübingen for the winter semester 2024/25, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to this fascinating research project, which addresses the questions “Why does art move us? What do we mean by aesthetics? What does art do in and for our society?”

His participation will include teaching joint courses with Professor Annette Gerok-Reiter and Professor Anna Pawlak, respectively the Spokesperson and Deputy Spokesperson of the Center. He will also be involved in a workshop to develop and analyse movement sequences together with students and researchers from several disciplines.

“Écorché! Anatomy of Dance” - the performance that Friedemann gave and co-conceptualized with choreographer Thomas Lempertz and Professor Pawlak to launch the collaboration in March in the Alte Anatomie of the University of Tübingen is now available to watch on the website of the Centre.

LINK Film

Friedemann Vogel (c) Thomas Dashuber/Universität Tübingen