Gabriele Brandstetter in Bielefeld: Norbert Elias Lecture on Re-reading the Geisha

When Dance Theory Becomes a Literary Thought Figure: Gabriele Brandstetter at the Norbert Elias Lecture

The Norbert Elias Lecture at the University of Bielefeld brings a formative voice of dance and theater studies to the stage of academic discourse on June 16, 2026: Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Gabriele Brandstetter speaks about Re-reading the Geisha. Change of Performance Cultures. The event is public and free of charge, starting at 18:00 in Building X, Room X-E0-001. ([bielefeld.jetzt](https://www.bielefeld.jetzt/node/1765140?utm_source=openai))

A Lecture Between Cultural History, Body Knowledge, and Contemporary Analysis

Brandstetter is considered an outstanding researcher at the intersection of dance, theater, performance, and aesthetics. Her work at the Free University of Berlin revolves around the history and aesthetics of dance from the 18th century to the present, as well as questions of body, gender, image, and movement. This evening draws its intellectual tension from this very topic: those who listen do not experience a dry lecture, but a precisely measured movement through cultural codings and artistic perceptions. ([fu-berlin.de](https://www.fu-berlin.de/presse/expertendienst/experten/b/brandstetter/index.html?utm_source=openai))

The Geisha as a Figure of Western Modernity

At the center is a figure that has long served as a projection surface in the arts of Western modernity. The Norbert Elias Lecture asks how performance cultures change when familiar images are reinterpreted. For those interested in literature, a productive resonance space opens up here: between narrative, role models, external attribution, and cultural memory. The series itself sees itself as a place where literature, art, history, and politics are intertwined. ([uni-bielefeld.de](https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/linguistik-literaturwissenschaft/forschung/projekte/norbert-elias/aktuelles-progamm/?utm_source=openai))

An Evening for Students, Educators, and Culturally Curious Individuals

The target audience of the lecture ranges from students and early-career researchers to educators and scholars; the event is publicly accessible. The location in Building X represents a dense academic environment on the Bielefeld campus, with good connections, barrier-free access, and parking options in the vicinity. This creates a reading atmosphere that is open, focused, and discursive at the same time. ([aktuell.uni-bielefeld.de](https://aktuell.uni-bielefeld.de/event/norbert-elias-lecture-gabriele-brandstetter-fu-berlin/?utm_source=openai))

Academic Authority with Cultural Impact

Gabriele Brandstetter has shaped her position in the German-speaking humanities over the years; her research is anchored in renowned university and subject contexts. Particularly relevant for the Bielefeld evening is that she will receive the German Dance Prize in 2026 and was last visible with publications such as TIME shapes and Seeing Dance. The lecture thus connects professional authority, linguistic precision, and the openness of a public cultural conversation. ([uni-bielefeld.de](https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/linguistik-literaturwissenschaft/forschung/projekte/norbert-elias/aktuelles-progamm/?utm_source=openai))

Conclusion: Those who attend the Norbert Elias Lecture will experience an evening that bridges theory, art history, and contemporary diagnosis. Gabriele Brandstetter promises not a mere lecture, but a densely literary and cultural studies event that sharpens the view of performance and perception sustainably. Anyone interested in language, body images, and cultural interpretation should experience this event live. ([bielefeld.jetzt](https://www.bielefeld.jetzt/node/1765140?utm_source=openai))

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Sources:

• Norbert Elias Lecture: Gabriele Brandstetter - Current Uni Bielefeld
• Current Program - University of Bielefeld
• Norbert Elias Lectures - University of Bielefeld
• Prof. Dr. Gabriele Brandstetter - Free University of Berlin
• Parking and Mobility - University of Bielefeld
• Building X - University of Bielefeld
• Event entry - Bielefeld.JETZT