Skip to content

Information

1973 to 2018

member (with some breaks) of the Tanztheater Wuppertal

2009 to 2020

member of the Advisory Board of the Pina Bausch Foundation

2009 to 2013

Artistic Director of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, together with Robert Sturm


Biography

Dominique Mercy

was born in 1950 in Mauzac, France, and received his first dance lessons from the age of six from Mme Dupradeau in Talence. For three further years he studied with Mme Germaine Lalande and in 1965 joined the Grand-Théâtre de Bordeaux. In 1968 he switched to Amiens to the newly formed Ballet Théâtre Contemporain under the direction of Jean-Albert Cartier and Françoise Adret, who were interested in collaboration between choreographers, painters and composers. Mercy danced in pieces by choreographers including Adret, Félix Blaska, Jean Bailée, John Butler, Michel Descombey and George Skibine. Manuel Alum from the Paul Sanasardo Dance Company in New York came as a guest teacher and in 1972 invited him to the Saratoga Summer Festival. Here he met Pina Bausch, who was showing her choreography Philips 836885 D.S.Y. and teaching in Saratoga. He identified with her movements and had the feeling he’d finally found his artistic home. He was therefore delighted when she invited him to Wuppertal to join her new company in 1973 along with Malou Airaudo.

Wuppertal: coming and going

Pina Bausch worked on the principle that things which are not yet art are at least as important as things which already are – if not more so. When Mercy was unable to stop a coughing fit during rehearsals for her first Wuppertal choreography Fritz, together with him she developed it into an outlandish coughing dance. He soon became one of the most important protagonists in the new dance theatre company, taking leading roles in the two Gluck operas Iphigenia on Tauris and Orpheus and Eurydice. When Pina Bausch began to alter her working methods, asking her dancers questions, he went with her as a matter of course. Nevertheless he left the company in 1975 and 1978, founding the Ensemble La Main with Malou Airaudo, Héléna Pikon, Jacques Patarozzi and Dana Sapiro, and working with Carolyn Carlson at the Paris Opera on the productions Wind-Water-Sand and The Architects. And yet every time he returned to Wuppertal with more conviction than ever.

Ideal Collaboration

Over time Pina Bausch and Dominique Mercy developed an ideal form of collaboration. Both loved small, rapid disturbances. Anyone who has seen his floundering Kaspar in Two Cigarettes In The Dark has encountered not just a comic figure but also a human being in profound distress. His solos were almost always ambivalent, knife-edge performances. He especially rated figures with a slight kink or defect. ‘Sad little fellows,’ as he himself said, and worryingly strange oddballs, were his speciality – and repeated roles en travestie. In this way he rose to be one of the most outstanding soloists in the company. Despite this he still found time for other activities. From 1988 to 2009 he taught at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. In 1999 he created the duo Petit psaume du Matin with Jodef Nadj. In 2003 Régis Obadia made a documentary film about him, Dominique Mercy danse Pina Bausch.

When Pina Bausch died in 2009 he took over the artistic direction of the Tanztheater Wuppertal till 2013, together with Robert Sturm, thus securing the continuation of her artistic legacy. To this day he still works on revivals and new productions of repertory pieces. For his work he has been awarded prizes such as the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, the Bessie Award, the Légion d‘honneur and since 2022 Officier des Arts et des Lettres.

Text by Norbert Servos
Translated by Steph Morris


Gallery



Premieres

Season 1973/74

PieceFritz
Date5 January 1974
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Choreografische AssistenzHans Pop
DanceCarlos Orta

Man

Catherine Denisot

Girl with long arms

Charlotte Butler

Grandmother

Dominique Mercy

Man in shirt

Ed Kortlandt

Man-woman

Gabriel Sala

Headless man

Heinz Samm

Fat man

Jan Minařík

Father

John Giffin

Henchman I

João Penalva

Henchman II

Malou Airaudo

Mother

Marlis Alt

Fritz

Monika Sagon

Frau Männerkopf

Monika Wacker

Lady with umbrella

Riitta Laurikainen

Bald woman

Tjitske Broersma

Woman in black furs

Vivienne Newport

Girl

Wolf-Werner Wolf

Face

StagehandHelmut Kühne
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Artistic directorPina Bausch
Ballet masterHans-Dieter Klos
RepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Stage managerWerner Hartkopf
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Fritz” by Pina Bausch, “Rodeo” by Agnes de Mille and “The green Table” by Kurt Jooss in in Wuppertal, Jan. 5, 1974
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1973/74

PieceIphigenie auf Tauris
Date21 April 1974
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceBarbara Passow-Diekamp

Priestresses, Scythians

Barry Wilkinson

Guard, Scythians

Colleen Finneran-Meessmann

Oracle, Priestresses

Dominique Mercy

Orest

Ed Kortlandt

Pylades

Hans Pop

Agamemnon, Guard, Scythians

Hiltrud Blanck

Priestresses, Scythians

Jan Minařík

Thoas

Josephine Ann Endicott

Clytemnestra, Priestresses, Scythians

Lajos Horvath

Oracle

Malou Airaudo

Iphigenie

Margaret Huggenberger

Priestresses, Scythians

Marlis Alt

Priestresses

Matthias Schmidt

Guard, Scythians

Monika Wacker

Priestresses, Scythians

Stephanie Macoun

Priestresses

Sue Cooper

Priestresses, Scythians

Vivienne Newport

Priestresses, Scythians

Yolanda Meier

Electra, Priestresses, Scythians

SingerBozena Kinasz

Iphigenie

Elena Bajew

Diana

Hartmut Bauer

Thoas

Heikki Siukola

Orest

Klaus Kettenbach

A manservant

Luigi Lega

Pylades

ChoirJiri Kubica
Werner Wilke
StagehandPaul Aron
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
SouffleuseGertrud Bürkle
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
Source of castInsert for “Iphigenie auf Tauris” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, season 1973/74
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1974/75

PieceAdagio – Five Songs by Gustav Mahler
Date8 December 1974
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Choreografische AssistenzHans Pop
DanceBarbara Passow-Diekamp
Barry Wilkinson
Colleen Finneran-Meessmann

5. Song

Dominique Mercy

2. Song, 3. Song, 5. Song

Ed Kortlandt

3. Song, 5. Song

Hans Pop
Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Jan Minařík

1. Song, 5. Song

Josephine Ann Endicott

4. Song, 5. Song

Lajos Horvath
Laszlo Fenyves
Malou Airaudo

2. Song, 5. Song

Margaret Huggenberger
Marlis Alt

5. Song

Matthias Schmidt
Michael Diekamp

3. Song, 5. Song

Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Pedro José Mascarello Bisch
Stephanie Macoun
Sue Cooper
Vivienne Newport

5. Song

Yolanda Meier

5. Song

SingerHelmut Kolvenbach

Adagio

Set design assistantDietrich Klug
StagehandHelmut Kühne
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Ballet masterHans-Dieter Klos
Training assistantWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Stage managerWalter Maiser
Source of castBooklet for “Adagio – Five Songs by Gustav Mahler” and “I'll Do You In…” by Pina Bausch with Tanztheater Wuppertal and “Gross-Stadt” by Kurt Jooss with Tanztheater Wuppertal in in Wuppertal, Dec. 8, 1974
Evening leaflet for “Adagio – Five Songs by Gustav Mahler” and “I'll Do You In…” by Pina Bausch with Tanztheater Wuppertal and “Gross-Stadt” by Kurt Jooss with Tanztheater Wuppertal in in Wuppertal, Dec. 8, 1974
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1974/75

Season 1974/75

PieceOrpheus und Eurydike
Date23 May 1975
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceBarbara Passow-Diekamp
Barry Wilkinson
Colleen Finneran-Meessmann
Dominique Mercy

Orpheus

Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Jan Minařík
Lajos Horvath
Laszlo Fenyves
Malou Airaudo

Eurydice

Margaret Huggenberger
Marlis Alt

Amor

Michael Diekamp
Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Pedro José Mascarello Bisch
Stephanie Macoun
Sue Cooper
Tjitske Broersma
Vivienne Newport
Yolanda Meier
SingerBozena Kinasz

Eurydice

Kristina Eckert

Amor

Lois White

Orpheus

ChoirWerner Wilke
StagehandHelmut Kühne
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
SouffleuseElse Hildesheim
Ballet masterHans-Dieter Klos
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Stage managerWalter Maiser
Source of castBooklet for “Orpheus und Eurydike” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, May 23, 1975
Evening leaflet for “Orpheus und Eurydike” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, May 23, 1975
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1977/78

PieceRenate wandert aus (Renate Emigrates)
Date30 December 1977
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceAnne Marie Benati
Arnaldo Alvarez
Barbara Passow-Diekamp
Dana Sapiro
Dominique Mercy
Ed Kortlandt
Erich Leukert
Fernando Cortizo
Heinz Samm
Hiltrud Blanck
Héléna Pikon
Jacques Patarozzi
Jan Minařík
John Giffin
Josephine Ann Endicott
Luis P. Layag
Malou Airaudo
Mari Di Lena
Marion Cito
Marlis Alt
Monika Sagon
Monika Wacker
Tjitske Broersma
Vivienne Newport
Yolanda Meier
StagehandPaul Aron
LightingHans-Joachim Deinert
Make-upHeinz Dildey
SoundHorst Kersten
Costume assistantOrtrud Himmelreich
Ballet masterEgbert Strolka
Jean Cébron
BallettkorrepetitionWerner Precht
Technical directionRolf Bachmann
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerHerbert Görsch
PropsGünther Fränzel
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Renate wandert aus (Renate Emigrates)” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, Dec. 30, 1977
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1977/78

PieceHe Takes Her by The Hand and Leads Her Into the Castle, The Others Follow
Date22 April 1978
VenueSchauspielhaus Bochum
Bochum
Germany
DanceDominique Mercy
Jan Minařík
Josephine Ann Endicott
Vivienne Newport
ActorHans Dieter Knebel
Mechthild Großmann
Rudolph Lauterburg
Soňa Červená
Vitus Zeplichal
Volker Spengler
LightingEgon Jendrian
Make-upBaldo Pazzaglia
Costume assistantAlois Bürger
Magdalene Jacke
Technical directionHorst Gehringer
Stage managerGerd Beiderbeck
PropsRainer Peters
Walter Ludwig
Source of castBooklet for “He Takes Her by The Hand and Leads Her Into the Castle, The Others Follow” by Pina Bausch and “He Takes Her by The Hand and Leads Her Into the Castle, The Others Follow” by Pina Bausch with Tanztheater Wuppertal in in Bochum, 04/22/1978 – 04/23/1978
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1977/78

PieceCafé Müller
Date20 May 1978
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1980/81

Season 1982/83

Season 1983/84

Season 1984/85

Season 1985/86

Season 1986/87

Season 1989/90

Season 1990/91

PieceTanzabend II
Date27 April 1991
VenueSchauspielhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceAnne Marie Benati
Barbara Kaufmann
Beatrice Libonati
Bernd Uwe Marszan
Dominique Mercy
Dulce Pessoa
Finola Cronin
Francis Viet
Geraldo Si Loureiro
Jakob Haahr Andersen
Jan Minařík
Janusz Subicz
Julie Anne Stanzak
Julie Shanahan
Kyomi Ichida
Marigia Maggipinto
Mariko Aoyama
Mark Alan Wilson
Nazareth Panadero
Quincella Swyningan
Thomas Duchatelet
Urs Kaufmann
Set design assistantHelga Schnüttgen
LightingJohan Delaere
Make-upCarla Terhardt
ManagementMatthias Schmiegelt
Organizational staffClaudia Irman
Technical directionJohan Delaere
Lighting directionWolfgang Lauber
Leitung KostümEvelyn Schönwald
Leitung RequisiteHerbert Kuhn
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerPeter Lütke
CloakroomHarald Boll
Rosemarie Hess
Source of castBooklet for “Tanzabend II” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, April 27, 1991
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1992/93

PieceDas Stück mit dem Schiff (The Piece with the Ship)
Date16 January 1993
VenueOpernhaus Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Germany
DanceAida Vainieri
Barbara Kaufmann
Beatrice Libonati
Bernd Uwe Marszan
Dominique Mercy
Felix Ruckert
Francis Viet
Geraldo Si Loureiro
Hans Beenhakker
Héléna Pikon
Jakob Haahr Andersen
Jan Minařík
Janusz Subicz
Jean Laurent Sasportes
Julie Anne Stanzak
Julie Shanahan
Marigia Maggipinto
Mariko Aoyama
Nazareth Panadero
Quincella Swyningan
Ruth Amarante
Thomas Duchatelet
MusicianMatthias Burkert
Set design assistantHelga Schnüttgen
LightingKlaus Weiz
Make-upFrank Pohler
SoundFrank Strätker
Klaus Grimm
ManagementMatthias Schmiegelt
Organizational staffClaudia Irman
Ballet masterAgnes Pallai
Brian Bertscher
Christine Kono-Pohlmann
Technical directionDieter Simon
Klaus Weiz
Manfred Marczewski
Leitung BühnentechnikManfred Marczewski
Peter Ernestus
Lighting directionSiegfried Schuchmann
Leitung KostümEvelyn Schönwald
Leitung RequisiteHerbert Kuhn
Workshop managementLeo Haase
Stage managerJürgen Schneidenbach
CloakroomAndreas Maier
Harald Boll
Rosemarie Hess
Source of castEvening leaflet for “Das Stück mit dem Schiff (The Piece with the Ship)” by Pina Bausch in in Wuppertal, Jan. 16, 1993
Discover photos, videos and more in the archivesBrowse the archives
Season 1993/94

Season 1994/95

Season 1995/96

Season 1996/97

Season 1997/98

Season 1997/98

Season 1999/2000

Season 2000/01

Season 2001/02

Season 2003/04

Season 2005/06

Season 2008/09



From the Pina Bausch archives
Dominique Mercy

Sorry, there is no media.


back to top