Choreographer, Innovator, Visionary Founder of AMICI Dance Theatre Company.
Early Life and Influences
Wolfgang Stange was born in Berlin in 1947, in the immediate aftermath of World War II. The devastation of conflict and the resilience of survival left an indelible impression on him from an early age. This formative experience would later echo through the themes of his life’s work.
Stange’s introduction to dance came through the pioneering Austrian expressionist Hilda Holger, whose inclusive philosophy - rooted in the belief that dance belongs to everyone - became a guiding influence. Driven by a deepening passion, Wolfgang moved to London where he trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance. It was here that his dedication to accessible and emotionally resonant dance took root.
Personal Life and Partnerships
Throughout his adult life, Wolfgang made the United Kingdom his home while frequently travelling and working abroad, particularly in Sri Lanka. His creative and personal journey was shared with his life partner, George Bevan - a Sri Lankan artist and tap dancer. George was both muse and anchor, offering a deep bond of love and stability.
AMICI Dance Theatre Company: A Vision Realised
In 1980, Wolfgang founded AMICI Dance Theatre Company, a groundbreaking collective committed to inclusive performance that united disabled and non-disabled artists. Based at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and supported by Turtle Key Arts, AMICIi grew into one of the world’s leading inclusive theatre companies.
Wolfgang’s approach was fearless and empathetic. He placed total trust in the transformative power of movement, regardless of an individual's physical, mental, or emotional limitations. Through AMICI, he created space for authentic expression - where stillness and silence could speak as powerfully as any grand gesture.
AMICI’s productions tackled profound and often difficult themes, from genocide and war to mental illness, exclusion and resilience. With unflinching honesty, they invited audiences to witness the triumph of compassion and humanity over brutality. Their impact was often described as life-changing.
Recognition and Achievements
Wolfgang’s influence reached far beyond the London stage. In 1982, he collaborated with Sir Ben Kingsley on Feel Free, a television play by Nick Darke inspired by Stange’s work. Kingsley would go on to become AMICI’s patron.
His choreographic masterpiece The Journey was honoured with the Vaslav Nijinsky Award in 1993 and performed in both London and Warsaw. In recognition of his immense contributions to inclusive arts, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Hammersmith & Fulham Borough Council in 2022, and in 2023 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Roehampton University.
As a revered teacher and facilitator, Wolfgang led workshops and residencies across the globe - in Egypt, the USA, Japan, Australia, Europe and notably in Sri Lanka. There, he collaborated with the Sunera Foundation to create powerful productions for the Butterfly Theatre Company, working with refugees, tsunami survivors and disabled ex-soldiers from both sides of the Sri Lankan civil war.
Legacy and Impact
Wolfgang’s passionate belief in the innate creativity of every human being became the heartbeat of his life’s work. His artistry was not about perfection, but about truth - in movement, in story and in connection. His workshops inspired countless individuals to embrace dance as a means of self-discovery, healing and community.
Many who crossed paths with Wolfgang - whether through Amici, in rehearsal rooms, or on workshop floors - went on to become artists, educators and advocates for inclusive practice. His influence ripples on, alive in the creativity of those he empowered.
He was widely recognised as a rare and unsentimental talent, with an unmatched ability to coax raw, moving performances from his cast. As Luke Jennings of The Observer once wrote: "What some might see as disabilities, Stange sees as traits to be harnessed and used, few artists make a real difference. Stange has."
A Life of Creative Defiance and Compassion
Wolfgang’s character was as dynamic as his choreography. A natural storyteller, his presence filled rooms and hearts. He met adversity with optimism, often saying, “We will find a way” - and invariably, he did.
His boldness could challenge as much as it inspired, but it always came from a place of profound care. His values - honesty, compassion, equality and justice - were lived every day and translated powerfully into his creative work.
Final Reflections
Wolfgang Stange’s death on 3rd December 2024 marked the end of a remarkable era - but his spirit lives on through AMICI, the communities he touched and the ethos of inclusive expression he championed.
As he once said: "Without hope we would be very lost indeed. Even with the tragic conflicts and wars going on, we must have hope, hope for a better future. I believe our only hope for salvation is acceptance and tolerance."
Wolfgang’s dance continues - in movement, in silence and in the hope he instilled in so many.
