Cranko, Haydée – und ich, George Bailey

In the organizer's words:

George Bailey was the pianist of the Stuttgart Ballet for over four decades - on Saturday, October 24, 2026, he can be experienced live at 8 pm at the Kulturhaus Schwanen in Waiblingen. Under the title "Cranko, Haydée - and me, George Bailey", Bailey and author Susanne Wiedmann will present an evening of readings, talks and live music. The event starts at 8 pm, admission from 7 pm. The event is co-presented by the Taube bookshop.

Anyone listening to George Bailey will not only encounter a musician, but also a contemporary witness to dance history. John Cranko brought him to Stuttgart in 1972. Bailey accompanied rehearsals and training sessions, influenced generations of dancers with his playing and became a permanent, supporting figure behind the scenes for many. Choreographers such as John Neumeier and Maurice Béjart wanted to work with him because he did more than just deliver bars: he listened, felt and gave the space rhythm, energy and air.

The focus of the evening is the biography of George Bailey written by Susanne Wiedmann. The author, who worked as a dance dramaturge at the Nationaltheater Mannheim, tells of an artist's life between Denver, Heidelberg and Stuttgart, between jazz, everyday theater life and great ballet history. It is about art and discipline, elegance, experiences of racism, stage people and the often invisible work behind the glitter.

The evening combines these stories with music and personal memories. Bailey himself sits at the grand piano and plays from his repertoire. The result is not a classic book presentation, but a lively encounter: with a musician who was part of a world-famous ensemble for decades, with an author who takes a close look, and with a theater world that is rarely told so closely from the inside. An evening for dance enthusiasts, music lovers and all those who like to look behind the scenes of great art.

Price information:

Solidarity pricing system at Schwanen With us, everyone decides for themselves what ticket price they can pay - whether they have a small, normal or generous purse. And thanks to donations from our "Obendrauf" jar, we can subsidize individual tickets or pay for them completely while stocks last. Simply quote the code word "Ticket Obendrauf" at the box office or on admission.