Return to BalletNotes Home PageBirgit Scherzer, choreographer
(Compiled September, 1998)
Born July 14, 1954, at Stollberg/Erzgebirge, Germany, Birgit Scherzer made the decision she wanted to dance at age 9. She and her younger sister, Steffi, auditioned for a professional dance school. Steffi was accepted but Birgit was told she would have to wait four years before being reconsidered for admission. At the end of those four years she was informed that they were still unsure if she was suited to dance on account of her body type, she was not sufficiently turned out in the hips, etc. Birgit decided on a career in archeology but was informed by the university that she would have to wait two years for entry into the school. In the meantime she auditioned for the Palucca School in Dresden, where they taught a contemporary based dance curriculum. She was accepted and eventually graduated with a diploma as a dancer.
From 1976 to 1981 she was a dancer and Apprentice Choreographer at the Landestheater Halle. In 1981 she auditioned for the Komische Oper, Berlin by performing a pas de deux of her own creation. She was hired as a dancer and choreographer. While at the Komische Oper her choreography was recognized with awards in 1983 and 1987 as well as a special award from the Confederation of Creative Theatre, German Democratic Republic, and in 1988 the Critics’ Prize from Berliner Zeitung for Keith.
Ms. Scherzer remained at the Komische Oper until 1989, when she made the very serious decision to leave East Germany thus leaving her family and established reputation behind. In the West she had to start from nothing. She also had no idea that the Berlin wall would shortly fall. Ms. Scherzer was to pursue a freelance career, she taught at the College of Musik and Drama in Saarbrücken, and in 1991 was appointed the Director and choreographer of the Saarbrücken Staatstheater Ballet. With that company she has toured her works in Germany and to Switzerland, Luxembourg, Paris and Iceland.
Ms. Scherzer has also produced films of her choreography, including The Dying Swan (1971), Carmina Burana (1994) and Kassandra / Bluebeard (1997).
Having spent 8 years as the director of a dance company, Ms. Scherzer has decided to resign from that position in order to spend more of her time as a creator of new and exciting dance works. At the end of the 1998 - 99 she will once again pursue a freelance career and already has secured many commissions.
Choreography to Date (1998)
1980 Psychogramm Landestheater Halle Baba Yaga Landestheater Halle 1983 Concert in Tailcoat and Hat Komische Oper, Berlin 1984 Mentality Komische Oper, Berlin 1986 The Master and Margerita Volksbühne, Berlin Concerto Staatstheater, Schwerin Tango Deutsche Staatsoper, Berlin Marriage of Figaro Theater im Palast, Berlin Etude 1 Balletschule, Berlin Etude 2 Staatliche Balletschule, Berlin 1987 Mentality Bühnen der Stadt, Gera Adagio Komische Oper, Berlin Alone Komische Oper, Berlin Solo with a Ladder Komische Oper, Berlin Concert in a Tailcoat and Hat Deutsche Staatsoper, Berlin 1988 Keith Komische Oper, Berlin Ararat Komische Oper, Berlin Story of a Soldier (w/Ruth Berhaus) St. Moritz Music Festival 1989 Quartet Theater im Palast, Berlin The Prohibition of Music Theater im Palast, Berlin Bach Pas de deux Bühnen der Stadt, Leipzig Sweeney Todd Staatstheater, Saarbrücken 1990 Zarewitsch Staatstheater, Saarbrücken 1991 Women - Men - Couples Komische Oper, Berlin Macho, Macho Staatstheater, Saarbrücken Requiem!! Staatstheater, Saarbrücken Stille (Silence) Staatstheater, Saarbrücken 1992 Women - Men - Couples Staatstheater, Saarbrücken Jesus Christ Superstar Staatstheater, Saarbrücken 1993 Romeo und Julia Staatstheater, Saarbrücken Act Without Words Staatstheater, Saarbrücken 1994 Requiem!! Komische Oper, Berlin Kaspar Hauser Staatstheater, Saarbrücken 1995 Requiem!! Opernhaus, Chemnitz Carmina Burana Staatstheater, Saarbrücken sturm im mund janis joplin Staatstheater, Saarbrücken 1996 The Miraculous Mandarin Staatstheater, Saarbrücken Le Sacre du printemps Staatstheater, Saarbrücken Franz Woyteck Komische Oper, Berlin 1997 Orféo und Euridice Staatstheater, Saarbrücken Kassandra / Bluebeard Staatstheater, Saarbrücken 1998 Swan Lake Staatstheater, Saarbrücken Return to Requiem!!
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