Choreographer, Dramaturge, Teacher/Mentor

The path to the stage: Originally from Switzerland, Arthur Stäldi discovered his passion for dance early on. After completing his training in Lucerne and Rotterdam, he gained initial experience working with various theatres in Switzerland and Germany. The stage quickly became a space for artistic exploration. From 1989 to 1994, he was active in Hamburg as a dancer and co-founder of COAX. Together with Rica Blunck, he developed works such as Coax, Archetyp, Drifting, and Intravenös, which were presented not only in Germany but also across Europe.

First independent choreographic steps: Early in his career, Arthur began to develop his own artistic language. In 1984, he created his first performance She is still alive, but… with Rudi Schill at the Kunsthalle Lucerne. Further works followed, addressing different aspects of human existence, including Klang der Erde (1987) and Heldenfriedhof (1989). Between 1990 and 1992, he continued to make his mark with projects like the Photo-Performance (with Bernadette Lahmer) at the Fotoforum Bremen and 1/2 Stunde oder Der Himmel ist die Grenze at the Theater auf dem Hornwerk in Nienburg.

The founding of laborgras: In 1992, Arthur met Renate Graziadei – a creative partner with whom he embarked on a new chapter. Together, they founded the artist collective laborgras in 1994 in Hamburg. Since then, laborgras has continuously created new works that not only highlight the expressive power of dance but also explore its interplay with other media and artistic disciplines. One example of this interdisciplinary approach is I, Myself and Me Again (2006), a piece recognized both in dance research and in the context of new media.

Long-term collaborations and projects: Artistic collaboration has always played a central role in Arthur’s work. He maintained especially close and long-standing partnerships with choreographer David Hernandez, among others. In 1995, he was involved both as a choreographer and dancer in the Kampnagel production Trauma 509, directed by Max Eipp, and took part in the Männerprojekt in Zurich, working alongside four international choreographers.

Dance pedagogy and artistic exchange: Beyond performing and choreographing, Arthur has been active as a teacher and mentor. Since 1996, he has taught contemporary dance technique, improvisation, and composition at numerous renowned institutions and festivals, including P.A.R.T.S. in Brussels, the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin, and the Stadttheater Kassel. His teaching practice has brought him into contact with diverse artistic communities, spanning Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Italy, Australia, France, Spain, and Colombia.

Studio laborgras: From 2002 to 2023, Arthur and Renate shared their artistic vision through Studio laborgras in Berlin-Kreuzberg – a space for creative development, exchange, and collaborative research. It served not only as the home of their own productions but also as a platform for workshops and artistic partnerships.

After his dance career: Since retiring from performing in 2006, Arthur Stäldi has continued his work as a dramaturge, choreographer, and teacher, and remains actively involved in the development of innovative dance and performance projects.

Awards and recognition: Arthur has received multiple awards for his work with laborgras, including the Kurt Jooss Prize (2004, Essen) and the Berlin Art Prize (2015).

Picture: Claude Hofer