Artist Development Bursary – Stairwall

Esther was born and raised in Freiburg, Germany. She trained at London Studio Centre, graduating with a BA (Hons) in 2003. Afterwards, she studied with Butoh master Yoshito Ohno in Yokohama 2015/16.

Since then, Esther has performed at many venues including the Royal Opera House, The Barbican, Lilian Baylis Sadler’s Wells, Somerset House, MAO Gallery.  Collaborating with choreographers and artists, Kate Flatt, Aletta Collins, Jacky Lansley, Michael Keagan-Dolan, Bernadette Iglich and Groove Armada amongst others.

Esther is Co-Founder of the inclusive dance company Dandelion Collective and Associate Artist of Dance Research Studio DRS directed by Jane Attenborough award winner Jacky Lansley. Esther has presented her own work at Tate Britain, the Southbank Centre and the New Diorama Theatre.

Esther’s work is influenced by her study of Butoh, a form of Japanese dance theatre that encompasses a diverse range of activities, techniques and motivations for dance, performance or movement. It is also informed by her interest in nature and her personal heritage of pre and post war German dadaism and expressionism.

Since moving to the North East in 2018, Esther has developed multidisciplinary work. She is very much interested in exploring the micro and macro moments of life and examining how separate art forms can converge to illuminate truth and story.

Esther’s current piece ‘Stairwall’ is a duet between two artforms – Visual Art and Dance. Staged around a wooden wall, the audience will witness the simultaneous emergence of both movement and installation.

Esther said “I’m thrilled to be working with Dance City, as an artist based in Northumberland, it’s great to finally put down roots, and to know that these are watered by Dance City is humbling and reassuring.”