Faces in HELLERAU, Dana Bondarchuk, Deputy Head of Production Office,#2-2022

In our "Faces" series, we introduce people who work in front of or behind the scenes to ensure that everything runs smoothly in the building and that our guests feel at home.

When and how did you come to HELLERAU?

That's an interesting story: a friend of mine worked in the press department at HELLERAU and was looking for someone for a longer-term internship. As I was also looking at the time, I started this internship in 2010, initially for two months, until my friend became pregnant. I took over from her during her pregnancy and was the press and public relations assistant for about a year. After that, I took care of setting up the address database at HELLERAU, which is still being used today. in 2012, I managed the accreditation office for the dance platform in HELLERAU and coordinated the professional audience there. I then worked in the KBB (Artistic Operations Office) and have been Production Manager since Carena Schlewitt's directorship.

What are your tasks as production manager?

As one of four production managers at HELLERAU, I oversee the productions for which I am responsible from start to finish. When I find out that a production is coming to HELLERAU, I get in touch with the artists and take care of their supplies and accommodation. Based on the technical specifications of the production, I write the duty roster for our technical trades, discuss the technical details with our trade managers for stage, sound/video and lighting and work with them to draw up the duty rosters for the technicians. When the companies are in the house, I'm their contact person for problems and difficulties, I'm there on the evenings of the shows and act as an interface with the front of house staff and the evening service.

What was a particular challenge that you overcame?

One situation I'm very proud of was five years ago when the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre from Taiwan was here in 2018. A supposed bomb (it was an old water pipe) was found near the main railway station, the airport and large areas of the city were closed and the company couldn't land in Dresden. I got the call at around 22:00 that they were now being distributed to other flights. One group flew to Frankfurt, the other to Munich. The group in Munich was able to fly to Dresden the next morning. But the group from Frankfurt didn't get a flight that day. But the first show was to take place in the evening! So I looked for a bus company in Frankfurt at 6 a.m. and luckily found one that would take the second group to Dresden. It was exciting, but also fulfilling when they were finally here and the show went ahead as planned.

You are also a "Green Delegate" at HELLERAU. What is that?

At HELLERAU, there is one person in each department who deals with sustainability. I am the representative of the production office and try to integrate sustainability ideas and sustainable living into all areas. It's also important to me in my private life. For example, we used to provide crates of water for the artists during rehearsals. There were a lot of used bottles left over that we had to dispose of. We then thought together about whether we could install water dispensers. People could simply go there and fill up with water. That's how we established our recycling bottle system. Artists get reusable drinking bottles from us and fill them up in the water dispenser. When they leave, they take the bottles with them as a souvenir or they stay here, we clean them and reuse them. Either way, it's more sustainable than before. But we also talk to the artists about their journeys and see whether the distance can be covered by train in a reasonable time instead of by plane. And there are many more ideas that are on our team's agenda.

What do you particularly like about HELLERAU?

I like the architecture of the building. I'm happy every time I ride up here on my bike and the building shows off its beauty in all weathers. I like the team here. I find it enriching that we deal with each other openly and try to remain very solution-orientated and that we do as much as we can for the art.

What do you wish HELLERAU for the future?

That it shines and continues to be a place for experiments and new experiences.