Strong feedback for Startissimo 2009:
Many artists interested and widespread support by well-known ambassadors and jury members
Published: 6 january 2009
Startissimo 2009, the 7th Circus and Varieté Festival Dresden, receives a very positive response among national and international artists and other circus professionals. The festival management already has received more then 80 applications for the competition during the festival which takes place from 23rd 26th of April 2009. Furthermore, there are now 15 ambassadors supporting the festival and the first members of the pre-selection team and of the jury could be appointed.
Feedback by artists worldwide
Since the competition "Young Professionals" was announced first in October 2008, many interested artists from all over the world have applied for it.
Until now, there were candidatures from Germany, France, Great Britain, Belgium and Russia as well as from the Ukraine and Switzerland. Startissimo also attracts artists from non-European countries: even artists from Canada and Taiwan handed in their application for the competition that will take place at the Varieté and Circus Festival. There is still the possibility to register for the competition until 15th of January 2009. The applicants should be professional artists and from 18-27 years old. All necessary documents can be found on www.startissimo.de.
Support worldwide by international ambassadors
The 7th International Varieté and Circus Festival Dresden offers the possibility for young artists to present themselves in front of a wide audience and numerous professionals of the circus branch. In this way, Startissimo is supposed to be the ideal stepping stone into the varieté and circus business for the young professionals. Many famous personalities from circus and varieté like to support this idea by working as ambassadors for Startissimo 2009 and promoting it in their countries. As international ambassadors act among others "The Queen of Clowns" ANTOSCHKA (alias Ekaterina Mozhaeva; Russland), Julia Trush ("Trio Bingo", artist; Ukraine), Martin Hanson (founder of the World Circus Association; the Netherlands), Rustam Tsodikov (artist; White Russia), Peter Dubinsky (President of Firebird Productions Inc.; USA), Nikolay Kobzov (choreographer and President of "Kobzov´s Circus Union"; Ukraine) as well as Felicity Simpson (Directrice of "Circolombia"and Co-Founder of"Circo Para Todos Colombia"; Great Britain).
Also in its home country Germany, Startissimo 2009 already found many supporters who work as ambassadors of the festival. These are Arnd Schimkat (actor and comedian, Munich), Sven ³Daniello² Pawlitschko (clown, comedian and magician; Berlin), Karl Heinz Helmschrot (producer, director and presenter; Hannover) as well as Stefan Warmuth (Head of the ³Savoy Dance Orchestra², director and producer; Berlin). Furthermore, there are Renate Wasdrack (Owner of the agency ³Les Artistes²; Berlin), Vitaly Peresunchak (CEO of the Art & Show GmbH; Wiesbaden), Dimitrij Sacharow (producer, director, actor and musician; Berlin) as well as Moritz Denker (CEO of think entertainment; Berlin) supporting the festival as ambassadors.
Pre-selection committee and jury ensure high quality of the competition
During the days of the festival, the international artists and artist ensembles have the possibility to present their skills in two competitions and to compete with each other on a high international level. On 23rd of April 2009, the competition "Young Newcomer" will take place. The 2nd competition, "Young Professional" where candidates compete for the "Goldener Rathausmann" (golden member of City Hall) will be on 24th of April 2009. The highlight of the festival is the glamorous TV gala on 26th of April 2009 which will be broadcasted by the national TV station MDR. Many well-known personalities from varieté and circus will ensure an expert valuation of the presentations as members of the pre-selection committee and of the jury.
For the pre-selection committee which chooses the best artists and artist ensembles among all registrations for the competition "Young Professionals", the first members could be appointed: Next to Renate Wasdrack who also works as festival ambassador, there are also Ronald Wendorf (Art director, Federal School of Ballet, Berlin and School of Artistry) and Markus Pabst (artistry director, Berlin) in this independent board. The list of artists who are nominated to participate in the competition on 24th of April 2009 will be published in February 2009.
During the competition "Young Professionals", the presentations are rated by a jury. Cynthia Akanga (choreographer; Canada/Belgium), Andrew Watson ("Acrobatic Performance Designer" for Franco Dragone; Great Britain/Belgium) and Werner Buss (member of the managing board of GOP Entertainment-Group;
Hannover) are already determined as members of the jury. Markus Pabst who already takes part in the pre-selection committee will also have a seat in the jury.
In the next weeks, more ambassadors as well as members of the pre-selection committee and of the jury for Startissimo 2009 will be announced.
With Startissimo 2009, the city of Dresden is continuing its long-lasting circus tradition which started with the foundation of the legendary and still well-known "Zirkus Sarrasani". The mayor of the city of Dresden, Ms Helma Orosz, will be the patroness for the 7th Startissimo festival. It will be presented again by MDR 1 Radio SACHSEN and MDR SACHSENSPIEGEL. The festival will offer first-class artistry for all who are interested in the art of varieté and circus. 1,200 spectators can watch the performances, three in total, of Startissimo 2009. It will take place at the Messe Dresden (Dresden Fair Centre) and tickets will be available in January 2009. More information about the festival, the ambassadors as well as the members of jury and pre-selection committee can be found at www.startissimo.de.
