Darstellende

Darstellende is a German adjective meaning performing or representational, derived from darstellen, which means to depict, portray, or present. In cultural and academic usage it appears most often in the compound term Darstellende Künste, sometimes written as Darstellende Kunst, which designates the performing arts. The form darstellende is used attributively to modify Kunst or Künste in phrases referring to this field.

The scope of Darstellende Künste typically includes disciplines performed live for an audience, such as theatre (acting, directing, dramaturgy), dance, opera, and other forms of stage performance. Contemporary practice may also encompass performance art and related live performance practices. The term is commonly contrasted with Bildende Künste, or visual arts, to distinguish performing arts from creation that is primarily visual or contemplative in nature.

In educational and cultural policy contexts, institutions often structure programmes, faculties, or departments under the heading Darstellende Künste or Darstellende Künste, reflecting its status as a distinct field within the arts. The terminology can vary by institution and region, with occasional use of singular Darstellende Kunst or plural Darstellende Künste depending on naming conventions.

See also: Kunst, Theater, Tanz, Schauspiel, Oper, Performance art, Bildende Kunst.