ProfitrainingBettina Paletta

Bettina's training is designed to prepare dancers for rehearsals or teaching, enriched by live music. Beginning by grounding the body, fostering an internal focus before transitioning into dynamic movement, the class begins with floor work, followed by center exercises that target stability, balance, coordination, and dynamic movement. Emphasis is placed on musicality, natural flow, alignment, and achieving length and expansion in the body. Across-the-floor exercises lead to combinations featuring jumps and full-bodied movement sequences. She balances set exercises with moments of improvisation. Rooted in Weissmann technique, her classes celebrate the joy of dance while honouring training as a ritual, that unites dance and live music.

Biography

Since 2016, Bettina Paletta and Emre Kesim have been blending contemporary dance and live music. Bettina, a dancer, teacher, and choreographer, trained at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden and has performed internationally since 2007, she worked with international choreographers performing in Germany, Macedonia, Japan and Turkey, as well performing her own pieces. Emre, a multi-instrumentalist and composer, studied Jazz at Bilkent University. His career began with Modern Dance Turkey. He accompanied contemporary dance training at the State Conservatory of Hacettepe University and the Contemporary Dance Program of Ankara University. Since 2018 both are based in Hannover, collaborating with the free dance scene and theaters. Their joint project KATHARSIS premiered at Eisfabrik in 2024.

Q&A

1. What elements of Weissmann technique can we expect to experience as part of your class?

My class is rooted in the Weissmann technique which integrates movement principles inspired by Horton, Limón, Taylor, and Wigman techniques. This foundation merges seamlessly with my style of contemporary dance, which emphasizes floor work, elements of folk dance, and the concept of class as a ritual experience.

2. I remember that your entire class is about learning phrase material that builds into combos that take us through the space. Is that what you mean by "structured contemporary technique?"

The class is 95% set movement exercises and 5% improvisation.