Education & Community

Sasha Waltz & Guests is a publicly funded cultural institution that assumes responsibility for its social environment. Since 2015 the company has continuously developed its focus on »Education & Community«. The support of young artists, the work with the Berlin dance-scene and socio-political commitment are three pillars of this work. The guiding ideas of the programmes are cosmopolitanism and a diverse and cross-generational community: currently, these include »Dabke Community Dancing« in Radialsystem, »Tempelhof Community Dancing« in cooperation with Berlin Mondiale / Cabuwazi and the long-term accompaniment of artists in exile. The »Open Studio« as a place for interdisciplinary artistic improvisation as well as open professional and amateur workshops in Berlin and abroad are also part of the activities. The »Kindertanzcompany«, founded in 2007, currently comprises four groups, regularly shows its work and continues to grow.

The aim of the work of Sasha Waltz & Guests / Education & Community is to bring the transdisciplinary knowledge of the company to bear in an even broader and more versatile way and thus to contribute to an open, empathetic and liberal society.

Children's Dance Company at radialsystem

A playful way of practicing movement and dance is the starting point of the work of the Kindertanzcompany, the childrens’ dance group of Sasha Waltz & Guests, located at Radialsystem in Berlin. It consists of four different groups (6 to 8 years, 9 to 11 years, 11 to 14 years and 14+ years), in which every young dancer gets individual support.

The children's dance company dates back to an initiative of Sasha Waltz, Hanna Hegenscheidt and Livia Patrizi. In 2007 they converted a children group from the initiative »TanzZeit – Zeit für Tanz in Schulen« which had existed since 2005/06, into the Kindertanzcompany, in which the children could regularly train and develop. While the Kindertanzcompany keeps playful approaches to dance at its core, children and teenagers are encouraged to explore physical movement on a regular basis and keep evolving their talent. In regular training sessions under the guidance of experienced dancers of the company Sasha Waltz & Guests, the young dancers explore their own repertoire in physical movement as well as the interaction with one another in dance. In addition they are offered intensive workshops with guest trainers (such as Juan Kruz Diaz de Garaio Esnaola and Royston Maldoom in 2018). The »Kindertanzcompany« further supports exchange with other groups of young dancers – such as the JugendTanzCompany of the Piccolo Theater in Cottbus – and seeks to do so increasingly in the future. Not least, the dancers of the Kindertanzcompany are trained in acting on stage and interacting with an audience, as they are encouraged to regularly develop and present their own stage pieces. Those are presented in annual extensive showing events at Radialsystem.

Thus in 2009, the piece »Der Kleine Mann«, dealing with lifelong dreams, was created under the direction of Gabriel Galindez Cruz. In 2010, the kids dealt with the topic »Monster«, which they had chosen themselves. In 2012, a number of the young dancers participated in the project »MusicTANZ – Carmen«, involving over 100 kids from Berlin schools, choreographed by Sasha Waltz and with the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle. Often the kids’ pieces are developed in collaboration with musicians who perform live during the stagings. Thus in the production »The Wild Things« (2013) the dancing was accompanied by a chamber orchestra of four musicians who performed contemporary compositions by the japanese composer Hideki Kozura. In 2014/15 the childrens’ group developed a structured improvisation in which they collaborated with the band »Bukahara«. This project lead up to the piece »Feuerblume«, which was not only chosen for the »Tanztreffen der Jugend« (kids’ dance convention) in 2015, but also toured Oslo on the occasion of the International Conference of Teaching Artists in 2016. Also in 2016, the Kindertanzcompany created the piece »Märchensonate«, a creative reinterpretation of the fairy tales by the Brother’s Grimm, accompanied by sonatas by Claude Debussy, performed live by a string quartet and pianist. Throughout the last years the teens group – a part of which has danced and worked together for over ten years – has increasingly turned towards critical topics: with »genau so, aber anders« (2016/17) they presented their critical view of society, whilst reflecting on their role in it as teenagers. In 2017 they performed a piece based on poems by young refugees from Afghanistan as part of the Sasha Waltz & Guests project »ZUHÖREN – dritter Raum für Kunst und Politik«. In 2018 two pieces were developed: »Check your mate« with the kids group (11 to 14 years), which was invited to be performed in the frame of »Tanztreffen der Jugend« at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele in 2019. The teens group in their production »Teqsi muyu marq'ay - Eine warme Umarmung für die Erde« dealt with climate change and climate justice, which in 2019 was invited to the festival »Rampenlichter« in Munich and was also performed in the frame of the project by Sasha Waltz & Guests »Zuhören #4« at Radialsystem in Berlin.

The pandemic could not keep the young dancers from dancing these past two years - they first continued their training online, before meeting open air in Berlin parcs and other public spaces. Now in 2022, they are all looking forward to the production of three new pieces.

Groups and contact

All Kindertanzcompany groups are full for the school year 2022/23. Both registration and admission on the waiting list are currently not possible.
The next registration opportunity will be in August 2023. In the meantime, you are welcome to sign up for our newsletter: https://www.sashawaltz.de/aktuelles/#newsletter

KiCo 1, Group 6 to 8 years old

led by Mata Sakka, Fernando Balsera, Neslihan Schmidt
The children's dance group for younger children imparts first dancing experiences and pleasure at the movements of one's own body. In small groups, the children develop a basic and playful repertoire of movements. They meet Sasha Waltz & Guests dancers Fernando Balsera and Mata Sakka and the concert pianist Neslihan Schmidt twice a month for two-hours long intensive-workshops.
Dates: 2 x month, 2 hours

KiCo 2, Group 9 to 11 years old
led by Alessandra Defazio, Annapaola Leso (with Joel Suárez Gómez)
Through improvisations and group games once a week, the children continue developing an individual repertoire of movement and expression.
Dates: 1 x week, 1,5 hours

KiCo 3 / Kids, Group 11 to 14 years old
led by: changing teams of dancers - currently (2023): Gabriel Galindez Cruz, Alessandra Defazio
Dates: 1 x week, 1,5 hours

KiCo 4 / Teens, Group 14+ years old
led by: changing teams of dancers - currently (2023): Gabriel Galindez Cruz, Wibke Storkan
Dates: 1 x week, 1,5 hours

Location: radialsystem, Studio A

Contact
Émilie Guérin
Education & Community
Project Management Children’s Dance Company
Tel: +49 (0) 30 24 62 80 26
eguerin@sashawaltz.de

Sasha Waltz & Guests GmbH
Sophienstr. 3
D-10178 Berlin
www.sashawaltz.de

Repertoire-Workshops "In C" / March and July 2023 / Radialsystem, Berlin / for professional dancers

Sasha Waltz & Guests will hold two repertoire workshops around the piece „In C“ of Sasha Waltz open to all professional dancers in March and July.

In this 12-day-repertoire workshop, you will not only learn the concept and choreographic material of the piece but also practice this structured improvisation as a group under the direction of Sasha Waltz & Guests dancers and official In C tutors.

The two workshops will take place independently of each other.

When will the workshops take place?
March:
13th to the 26th of March 2023
6 days a week
From 10:00 to 17:00 (incl. warm up and breaks)

July:
17th to the 30th of July 2023
6 days a week
From 10:00 to 17:00 (incl. warm up and breaks)

Where?
Radialsystem, Berlin

Administration and fee
The registration fee is 360 Euro for the complete workshop.
Please register by e-mail and send your CV to Emilie Guérin (eguerin@sashawaltz.de).

Upcoming dates

OPEN STUDIO #47
In the shortest month, when winter promises to give way to spring, we invite you to dance and play with us once again.

Friday, 24 February 2023
19:30-21:30
Radialsystem (5th floor)
Sasha Waltz & Guests’ Studio A
Holzmarktstraße 33, 10243 Berlin

Open Studio is an improvisation jam organized by Sasha Waltz & Guests for artists of all disciplines. Following the motto open & playful, we would like to encourage all participants to meet, interact and exchange.
For this session we invite all musicians that would like to participate to our jam. We will provide essential miking amplification and monitoring for acoustic instruments and/or voice. Electronic instruments are also welcomed, with the usual recommendation of keeping it simple and quick to install. We kindly ask to allow everyone to join on the few spots available, taking turns in our usual friendly way. Arriving in studio 15 minutes before the start is always appreciated and will grant you a quick sound check!
As in the past editions, we welcome visual artists of all disciplines to get inspired and create your art in the studio.

Doors Open at 19:00 for sound set-up (only musicians)
Doors Open at 19:15 for everybody

Looking forward to seeing you again!

Current productions

»Hin und Zurück«
Group 2
Choreography by Annapaola Leso and Alessandra Defazio supported by Joel Suárez Gómez

»In C - nächste Generation«
Group 3 + 4
Adaptation and Training by Aladino Rivera Blanca, Alessandra Defazio, Annapaola Leso, Jiří Bartovanec, Orlando Rodriguez and Wibke Storkan

»TEXERE«
Group 3 + 4
Choreography by Gabriel Galindez Cruz

Past productions

2018
Check out your mate
Teqsi muyu marq’ay – Eine warme Umarmung für die Erde

2017
Märchensonaten (restaged)
Genau so, aber anders (restaged)
Poetry Project (during ZUHÖREN-Third Space for Art and Politics)

2016
Märchensonaten
Genau so, aber anders

2015
Feuerblume

2013/14
The Wild Things

2009/10/11/12
Davon
Monster
Der Kleine Mann

»ZUHÖREN 4 – Dritter Raum für Kunst und Politik« radialsystem Berlin

After three editions of the community events circling around the active and physical listening in 2016 and 2017 Sasha Waltz & Guests is embarking again for a new adventure. Within the complexity of climate change and climate justice the Compagnie wants to share its collective techniques of working: Inviting people to join forces with local civic initiatives, the network of the dance company and some international guests - embodying diverse perspectives and working together towards action. Workshops, conversations and interventions that involve head, heart and feet will mix with dance and music and commonly shared food. A weekend of learning, connecting and enjoyment!

Read the programme of the fourth edition of »ZUHÖREN«: https://issuu.com/sashawaltzguests/docs/zuho_ren_4_programm_final

Dabke Community Dancing

In light of the current situation and as per the regulations on measures to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Berlin by the Berlin Senate, we will cancel all Dabke Community Dancings until further notice. We will keep you informed on the developments. Stay healthy!

In response to the enthusiastic reception of »Dabke Community Dancing« by the audience of »ZUHÖREN – a third space for arts and politics« 2017, Sasha Waltz & Guests is now offering this workshop with Medhat Aldaabal (dance) and Ali Hasan (live percussion) on a regular basis. Dabke, a traditional circle dance, is very popular in the Middle East where many variations of it are practiced. For the two Syrian artists Aldaabal and Hasan it connects their own history and excitement about Berlin with an open, cross-generational audience.

The workshop is taking place at radialsystem / Cabuwazi Tempelhof and is open to participants of all ages. No dance background knowledge is required – the joy of collective movement is all it takes.

Admission is free.

Workshop Leader
Medhat Aldaabal (dance)
Ali Hasan (live music)

Technical Management
Giorgio de Santis

Information & archive

Almost every month, the project »OPEN STUDIO« by Sasha Waltz & Guests invites artists of all disciplines into the Studio at radialsystem in Berlin for a collective session of free improvisation (2 hours). Artists from Berlin and beyond, experienced or developing, from the creative disciplines of dance, music, visual art, drama, singing, philosophy, etc. can join in an open process without registration and at any point of time. »OPEN STUDIO« is a meeting place – it provides a free environment for an inclusive creative practice, for the exchange of all different forms of artistic knowledge, for collective research and creation and the exploration of new perspectives.

http://www.openstudio-archive.de/

Women for Common Spaces

The aim of the initiative »Women for Common Spaces« is to build up a network of confident, informed, qualified and engaged Arabic speaking exiled women, with a focus on respect for people’s cultural and social identity. Getting knowledge about politics and law in Germany, and fight any form of violence and radicalization in exiled communities, are essential goals of the project.
The work of the initiative is thought as an active contribution against every form of violence and radicalisation in exile communities. In the first instant women in Arabic speaking workshops will be given support in naming challenges and activities with local guest and partner organisations contribute to a new knowledge. Through a common space of listening, a room of free expression, in which women could come, articulate, communicate and help each other in finding solutions, women should be given a voice.

Browse through a first publication of the texts here: https://issuu.com/sashawaltz

Past workshops

2019
Luc Dunberry
Maria Marta Colusi
Florencia Lamarca & Silja Viermann
Jeremy Nelson & Luis Lara Malvacias
Blenard Azizaj
Juan Kruz Diaz de Garaio Esnaola
Appstage dance students (AlmaDanza, Bologna)

2018
Michal Mualem
SHARE - dance intensive
David Zambrano
Julyen Hamilton
Idan Yoav
Jeremy Nelson & Luis Lara Malvacias
Juan Kruz Diaz de Garaio Esnaola
Maria Marta Colusi

2017
Charlotte Zerbey
Florencia Lamarca
Jeremy Nelson & Luis Lara Malvacias
Juan Kruz Diaz de Garaio Esnaola
Judith Sánchez Ruíz
Maria Marta Colusi

2016
Jeremy Nelson & Luis Lara Malvacías
Julyen Hamilton
Maria Marta Colusi & Jiri Bartovanec
Yoshiko Chuma

2015
Charlotte Zerbey
David Zambrano
Jeremy Nelson & Luis Lara Malvacías
Julyen Hamilton
Susan Klein
Yoshiko Chuma

...

»ZUHÖREN 3 - Dritter Raum für Kunst und Politik« November 2017

Sasha Waltz & Guests are taking »ZUHÖREN« forward: the third edition will take place between November 24 and 26 2017 at radialsystem. Once again, »ZUHÖREN« will open up a space at the intersection of art and politics, private and public combining a program of films, dance, concerts, workshops, audiovisual installations, shared meals and conversations intended to bring about inspirational exchanges. The company will present artists and activists from the Middle East, the United States, Brazil and Berlin, whose work presents forms of artistic resistance, contributing in unique ways to the creation and strengthening of new, diverse communities: with the artists Hiwa K and Rick Lowe, choreographers Lia Rodrigues and Modjgan Hashemian, #NDAPL-activist Floris White Bull, the documentary filmmakers Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi and the curator of the ifa-Galerie Berlin Alya Sebti. Also participating are the Berlin-based initiatives »Baynetna – Between Us, German-Arabic Library«, »Women for Common Spaces«, »The Space Berlin e.V.« and »The Poetry Project«.
Key themes throughout this edition of »ZUHÖREN« are women’s political and creative engagement for future generations, and peaceful struggle in new alliances. These themes are taken up in the conversations and presentations, but also appear in the dance and music events.

Only by listening does what is specifically individual step back and open up to a new theme, a new thought, a new world. Listening implies a readiness to engage with another’s thoughts, interpretations and perspectives. In an era when a fragmented public sphere encourages people to propagate their own convictions as loudly and uninhibitedly as possible, simply listening is already almost a subversive act. Shared experience of concentration – rather than individual experience – has also become rare, as the common experience of a common world erodes and its conditions and possibilities are undermined.
Carolin Emcke, Süddeutsche Zeitung 2016

»ZUHÖREN 2 - Dritter Raum für Kunst und Politik« Improvisationen Gespräche

ZUHÖREN - Trailer from Sasha Waltz & Guests on Vimeo.

»ZUHÖREN – Dritter Raum für Kunst und Politik« Continu Gespräche

With »ZUHÖREN«, Sasha Waltz & Guests opens up a »third dimension« for art, culture and journalism from February 3-9. The program starts out from the expressive dance piece »Continu« (2010), which is about violence, the individual and the group. In view of the current situation concerning the need for asylum and civil society engagement, Sasha Waltz will host encounters and conversations with various notable persons. What artistic strategies do we have at our disposal to exert political influence? Exemplary projects from Berlin present their work.