Members of the jury
During the festival, the final selection in the category „Young Professionals“ will be made by a 7-member-committee initiated by the MDR, the Dresdner Varieté- und Zirkusfestival e.V. and Telepool GmbH.
In the final selection the following criteria are the decisive factors:
- Technique and dramaturgy in the artistic performance
- Entertainment value and charisma
- Innovation & individuality of the performance
Members of the jury are:
Werner Buss
Member of the Board of GOP Entertainment Group, Germany
born on 11.11.1963 in Braunlage, Germany > 1992 to 2007 Director of the GOP vaudeville theater in Hanover > since 2008 production & development and member of the Board of GOP Entertainment Group
Markus Pabst
Director and manager of Base Berlin, Germany
born in 1967 in Darmstadt > since 1990 he stands for pop and rock, break dance, BMX, Pakur and new movement forms > stands between theatre and acrobatics, is always in search of unusalness > 1994 shows “Karussell der Körper“, Hamburger Binnenalster > he writes scenarios and reports for ARD, ZDF and ARTE > realization of several theatre plays with Klaus Havenstein > house director of many German vaudeville theatres, i.g. Witzigmann Palazzo and the Crystal Mirror (Singapore) > his solo program "Caesar Twins" inspires worldwide > invitation of the queen for the " Royal Variety performance " > Germany-far on tour with "SOAP" > in 2008 foundation of an artist's pool “Base Berlin“ with the Caesar Twins for develop a new style
Andrew Watson
Acrobatic Performance Designer for Franco Dragone (Belgien/Frankreich)
born in 1959, London > 1984 student at the Gerry Cottle Circus (London) to train as trapeze artist > 1986 on tour with the German circus troupe Roncalli > 1987 artist in the We Reinvent the Circus Show (the first major North American tour of Cirque du Soleil) > 1990 awarded with the Clown d'argent at the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo > 1994 to 1999 several positions at Cirque du Soleil (director of casting and artist training, artistic coordinator and artistic director); involved in the shows Saltimbanco, Alegría and Quidam > 1999 return to London to join the New Millennium Experience Company > 2001 return to Montreal to oversee the Cirque du Soleil's production Varekai > 2002 Director of Creation for Varekai > Director of Creation for Cirque du Soleil's production Zumanity > at the moment Acrobatic Performance Designer for the new show of Franco Dragone in Macau 2009
Cynthia Akanga
Choreographer (Belgium/Canada)
student at the Washington Royal Academy of Dance > 1989 medalist of the Conservatoire National de Besançon > studies musicology and choreography > joins the Alvin Ailey Dance Centre and the Martha Graham Dance School, New York > member of numerous companies such as the Philadelphia Dance Company, Donald Byrd Company, Max Luna 3 Company and Raimy Rogers and Geraldine Armstrong > member of the original cast of the musical Notre Dame de Paris in Canada and Europe > participant in BBQ Burlesque Show, Sky and Ice, Typo or Zilon Sonic II > cooperations with directors such as Robert Wilson, Jerome Savary de l'Opera Comique, Gilles Maheu of Carbonne 14, cinematographer Claude Lelouch, and the designer Giorgio Armani > 1996 creation of "The Ninth Symphony" of Maurice Béjart at the Ballet de l'Opera de Paris > 2002 engagement at the Cirque du Soleil as assistant choreographer for the Zumanity creation, later as artistic consultant for the show Love > 2008 director and choreographer of the horse show A Corps et A Cru, Belgium …
Tim Roberts
President of the FEDEC, London
Co-founder of L'Institut de Jonglage, juggling performance troupe touring from 1981 to 1997 Juggling Instructor and Coordinator of the Vocational Training Programme at Le Centre National des Arts du Cirque (CNAC), France from 1993 to 2000 Higher Education Courses Director at Circus Space, London, England 2000 to present Currently President of the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools (FEDEC)
Ingrid Sarrasani
1980 - 2000 leader of the Sarrasani Circus
she is born on the 28th June, 1933 in Hannover> on the 1st December, at the age of 16 years, she has her first appearance in the "Friedrichstadtpalast" in Berlin as "Fred Cordon and partner“ > in the beginning of the 50-years she appears with Fred Cordon at the Show of Franz Althoff, travels to England (Bertram Mills' Circus), Sweden (Circus Scott), Denmark (Cirkus Benneweis)> in 1956 Ingrid Wimmer comes to Sarrasani with the age of 23 years > Fritz Mey-Sarrasani is at this time Circus Director> Ingrid works as an artiste with Sarrasani for 16 years> Fritz Mey-Sarrasani becomes her lifelong companion> on the 3rd November, 1972 son André is born in Heidelberg> in the 70s Sarrasani travels through Europe, shows guest performances in Switzerland, Italy and Holland, always besides: Ingrid Sarrasani> in the manege as an artiste, behind the scenery as a lifelong companion of the manager> in 1980 takes over Ingrid Sarrasani the management of the enterprise> her son supports she in ventures artistic experiments to escape the solidification of the manege art> the biggest program success: ‘ Noah's ark – ark novelties ’> in 1990 leads them the Circus for a guest performance back in his hometown Dresden> in 2000 André Sarrasani removes his mother and becomes a manager of the Sarrasani GmbH> in winter, 2005, 56 years after her first appearance, turned Ingrid Sarrasani back on the stage, in the manege – with her quite personal show> Together with the Rhine Main halls Wiesbaden she presented in December, 2005 ‘ Sensations by Sarrasani - Das Winterspektakel ’ in the Rhine Main halls Wiesbaden> even today Ingrid Sarrasani, the Grand Dame of the German Circusworld
Ernst Günther
Journalist, author and director for entertainment art, Germany
He wrote different stories about vaudeville theater and circus, e.g. 33 circus stories (also in Japanese appeared) and Sarrasani – history and stories. He was a co-author of numerous non-fiction books, for example: Circus Roncalli - history of a legend. He is an author of numerous play books and screenplays for shows like „ Federn des Paradiesvogels “ and „ Berlin – oh, lala! “ (Berlin), Palastvarieté Dresden, Varieté Stadthalle Cottbus. He wrote drafts and play books for various television broadcastings / films, e.g., "Zirkus der Welt" oder "Sarrasani Wiederkehr". Ernst Günther was a co-author and interpreter of the Joke-row of "Bierbar Schrill" of MDR 1 Radio Saxony for seven years, as well as technical adviser for film and television in Germany, Japan, Argentina and Holland. He was distinguished in 1996 with the Saltarino price, literature price and media price of the society of the "Circusfreunde". Other honorings: 1997 the Barum-Verdienstmedaille, honorary document of Sarrasani (Argentina), with appointment the Sarrasani biographer by Trude Stosch-Sarrasani in 1994.
Mario Müller-Milano
Chairperson of the trader and show plate federation of Dresden e.V.
Mario Müller-Milano was born in 1948 as a son of the strength acrobat and circus manager Vilmos Milano and his wife Sonja. Already with 4-years-old he stood with horses and domestic animals in the manege of the parental circus Milano. With 13 years he began an apprenticeship as an artiste. He was active till 1972 as an occupational artiste. After his accident he worked as an independent show plate since 1972 . Today he has his own event agency and is 1st chairperson of the trader and show plate federation of Dresden e. V.
Sebastian Schneemann
Chairperson of the Dresden variety and circus festival e. V.
