Ikonostase I, II, II, IV
“Opening doors” – In November 1990, “Boogie Woogie – homage to Piet Mondrian” was staged in the Tanz Atelier Prantl.
This event was my first encounter with the work of Sebastian Prantl and Cecilia Li. In the ensuing years, I kept following their work with my ears and eyes. It was a pleasing experience to participate from the background, from outside, in the events that were effected by motion and sound in time and space. I was very impressed with the way dancers were made to create spaces that communicated with the existing architectural setting and of the music that in turn provided the space for the dance. And that finally gave me an idea that I spoke about to Sebastian Prantl. I wondered whether the Vienna church of the Jesuits might not be an appropriate setting for the ensemble’s performances; after all, they had given performances in very unambiguous settings before.
When the hierarchic structure was abandoned, religion lost its significance combined to it. The art started to develop according to the individual artist’s likes and needs. Religion also changed, following the self-responsibility of the believers, to new forms of Christian belief. Today, the resulting distance opens up new access to religion. Christian faith tends towards manifestation in sensually perceptible ways. Theater, music, and dance often illustrate the fact that human life is rooted in spiritual dimensions.
On this basis, the project Ikonostase II became the manifestation of an encounter, supported by the respect for each other and the joy of experiencing one another.”
[Gustav Schörghofer SJ, art critic and theologist, member of the Jesuit Order, principal of the Jesuit Church in Vienna]
[Ikonostase I – Studio production Tanz Atelier Wien, May 1999]
concept/choreography: Sebastian Prantl
music concept/piano: Cecilia Li
musicians: Igor Pomykalo (lira da braccio, violin)
dancers: István Horváth, Michikazu Matsune, Michaela Pein, Sebastian Prantl, Ingrid Reisetbauer
organization: Bettina Kogler, Gertraud Morocutti
[Ikonostase II – Vienna University Church, September/October 1999]
space/choreography: Sebastian Prantl
music concept/piano: Cecilia Li
musicians: Ernst Kovacic (violin), Igor Pomykalo (lira da braccio, violin), Iwakichi Yamashita (Japanese flute, percussion)
dancers: István Horváth, Michikazu Matsune, Michaela Pein, Sebastian Prantl, Ingrid Reisetbauer, Alessandro Sabatini
drawings: Lore Heuermann
costumes: Susanne Schintler
light/technical works: Martin Walitza
organization: Bettina Kogler, Gertraud Morocutti
[Ikonostase IIa – Colourscape Music Festival, Rathausplatz, Wien, October 1999]
concept/choreography: Sebastian Prantl
music concept/piano: Cecilia Li
dancers: Michikazu Matsune, Michaela Pein, Sebastian Prantl, Ingrid Reisetbauer
organization: Jeunesse Austria
[Ikonostase IIb – Feldkircher Tanzherbst, Feldkirch, November 1999]
concept/choreography: Sebastian Prantl
music concept/piano: Cecilia Li
dancers: Michikazu Matsune, Sebastian Prantl, Ingrid Reisetbauer
organization: Feldkircher Tanzherbst
[Ikonostase III – Plus/Minus “Variations on no motif by Stockhausen”, A cooperation of Tanz Atelier Wien and Capella con Durezza; Minoritenkirche Krems, June 2000]
concept/choreography: Sebastian Prantl
dancers: Gro Benedikte Eknes, Jozef Frucek, Andrea Jankovská, Othello Johns, Michikazu Matsune, Tomoko Nishino, Hana Pauknerová, Michaela Pein, Sebastian Prantl, Paul Wenninger
musicians: Capella con Durezza unter Renald Deppe
costumes: Susanne Schintler
light/technical works: Martin Walitza
organization: Bettina Kogler, Gertraud Morocutti, Susanne Schintler
[Ikonostase IV – Wide Heaven – New Earth, St. Stephan’s Cathedral, Wien, June 2000]
concept/choreography: Sebastian Prantl
music concept/piano: Cecilia Li
dancers: Gro Benedikte Eknes, Jozef Frucek, Andrea Jankovská, Michikazu Matsune, Tomoko Nishino, Hana Pauknerová, Michaela Pein, Sebastian Prantl, Paul Wenninger
organization: Stephansdom