SYM-PHONIE MMXX

SYM-PHONIE MMXX

»SYM-PHONIE MMXX«, a piece for dance, light and orchestra, is a commissioned work by the renowned composer Georg Friedrich Haas initiated by Sasha Waltz and is Haas’s first official stage work for dance. Composed for the large symphonic ensemble of the Staatskapelle Berlin, the music gives room to a symphony of dance and music, which creates a close connection between the musical language and the dancers’ body language. The production’s concept, in the best tradition of dance history, is based on the inspiring encounter of the arts and has been declared the artistic guideline: Sasha Waltz transforms music, dance and visual arts into a full-length work which at the same time reflects the contrasts and contradictions of our current life reality like a seismograph. Thus, creating a piece of clamorous silence and eruptive energy.

photo: Bernd Uhlig

On Is Bringing More Movement To Berlin

On Is Bringing More Movement To Berlin

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Berlin is a city that is always in motion. But now that it’s Spring and it’s getting warmer, everyone is feeling the buzz and getting more active – just the right timing for the Movement Week Berlin – a sports program that was initiated by Swiss sportswear brand On in collaboration with Urban Sports Club.

The Movement Week Berlin is not just purely about sports, it’s about community, enabling access to sports, motivation, and experimentation. Its aim is to bring experienced athletes and sports enthusiasts together in one place with those of you that are curious and want to become more active. You don’t have to be advanced in any discipline to join in on the fun. 

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These Special Online Events Will Treat Your Corona Blues Through Dance, Theater & Digital Art

These Special Online Events Will Treat Your Corona Blues Through Dance, Theater & Digital Art

As a 27-year-old night owl in Berlin, who once devoted himself so dearly to the nightlife and party scene, sometimes I question myself how I ended up spending my Friday night taking an online quiz to find out which döner sauce I am. Now I’m sure most of you can already relate. Corona forced our boundaries of mundane activities to a whole new level. You won’t be surprised to find out you’re not the only one watching an old show on TV and find yourself wondering how the actors are so close to each other without wearing a mask. While we are adapting to the new normal, artists and performers are working hard to bring us the best on digital platforms to keep us connected to the world and we can’t thank them enough. You will be extra happy if you love immersive experiences, dance, theater, opera, digital art, and drag shows! Here is a list of online events you can book right now!

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Niemand kommt, alle sind dabei

Niemand kommt, alle sind dabei

No One’s Coming, Everyone’s Going!

Peaches is going, Sasha Waltz & Guests and cie. toula limnaios are going, Sharon Dodua Otoo is going, She She Pop are going, Kathrin Röggla is going and many other independent artists and culture makers are going – but none of them are coming.

On July 24, 2020, an enormous festival will take place in Berlin where a stunning amount of artists, ensembles and culture makers working in all discilpines will take part – by not showing up. During the coronavirus pandemic, attendance and physical presence can be deadly. And, exactly because of this, many freelance artists and culture makers in Berlin haven’t been able to earn money for months and can no longer pay rent or buy groceries.

This is why the organizers are turning to you: Show your solidarity! Buy a ticket for Berlin’s (non) festival of the year and don’t show up! By buying a ticket, you can help to ensure Berlin’s one-of-a-kind artistic and cultural landscape still exists after this crisis has passed.

These Contemporary Dancers from Berlin Perform in Isolation

These Contemporary Dancers from Berlin Perform in Isolation

photo: Sasha Waltz & Guests. 

It’s been just two weeks since we showed you the cute video of the Staatsballett Berlin dancing from their home. You guys really loved this video, so we thought we could give you a bit of an encore today. In the past couple of weeks, the ballet dancers were not the only once who kept dancing while all shows are canceled and theaters closed. In fact, a lot of contemporary dancers also used the offtime to record some small performances and improvisations.

It’s been quite the adjustment for all of us to suddenly experience things only through our computer stream. It feels like a restriction at first, but as with any new circumstance, people will get used to it and adapt and find new ways to express themselves. Especially for those of us who are used to working in teams, such as dancers who perform with an ensemble, suddenly finding themselves without their teammates might be a challenge. But again, a new experience doesn’t have to be a bad one.

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A Guide to Dance & Performance Theater in Berlin

A Guide to Dance & Performance Theater in Berlin

photo: Anna Agliardi. 

One of the artistic genres that we as iHeartBerlin have been most excited about in recent years is that of dance and performance theater. We love theater in general, of course, but dance has a special place in our hearts. Maybe because it’s the one thing that creates a bridge between what was historically once our main focus, clubbing, and the world of theater: expression through movement. In fact, a lot of the dance pieces that we cover are heavily influenced by the music and style of the nightlife, which also includes traditional staples such as the ballet.

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Plateau Effect at Staatsballett Berlin – A Radical Decision Not to Dance at the Ballet

Plateau Effect at Staatsballett Berlin – A Radical Decision Not to Dance at the Ballet

Now it’s finally here: the new creative leadership of Berlin choreographer Sasha Waltz at the Staatsballett – anticipated by some and criticized by others. And the season premiere of Plateau Effect by Jefta van Dinther could not have been a more daring choice for the first piece of this new era. 

The Swedish choreographer van Dinther is well known in the contemporary dance scene and has been often invited to Tanz im August and to HAU theater. His pieces are known for an emotional radicalness and for not caring about the needs and expectations of the audience. Even if his work is acclaimed by critics and the dance and art world, it is not something you would take your granny or even your parents to watch. Many of his pieces are raw, sexual, rough and often accompanied by a soundtrack you would rather hear at Berghain than in an opera house. 

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Disrupting Urbanity: RADIKAL Contemporary Dance from Brussels

Disrupting Urbanity: RADIKAL Contemporary Dance from Brussels

photos: Laetitia Bica

What makes a city a radical place? Conflicts and aggression? Melting pots of cultures? Extremity and irregularities? Or a specific energy that runs through the streets of the city like blood filled with adrenaline through human veins? I have never been to Brussels so far, but I heard it’s a special city. On the one hand tons of young passionate idealistic global citizen working for NGOs and the European Union. On the other hand, old-school politicians, lobbyists and international companies doing what they do best: capitalism. In that mix performance, art, dance and theater have a powerful nourishing ground of ambivalence to get inspiration from.

Therefore we are very excited to collaborate as media partners with Radialsystem V for the upcoming dance festival RADIKAL. Featuring over 20 contemporary dancers and choreographers from over 10 countries this festival has a unique program we would like to present to you. Under the patronage of Sasha Waltz on the 3rd and 4th of November eight performances will take place in one of our favorite theater stages in town. We are giving away 1×2 Tickets for Radical Light from Salva Sanchis. More pictures, the trailer and the program after the jump.

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The Most Amazing Moments of 2016

The Most Amazing Moments of 2016

For me 2016 was actually a great year, even though I almost don’t dare saying it out loud. A lot of sad and terrible things happened in 2016, yes, but there still was a lot of good stuff that I think needs some more attention: Small and big moments in Berlin that showed what a great city this is and what amazing people live here. We should focus more on these things, at least for a moment, and take these positive memories and feelings with us into the new year.

Here are the most happy moments and amazing happenings of 2016 in photos and videos.

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20 Years of Sophiensaele: The Greatest Show on Earth

20 Years of Sophiensaele: The Greatest Show on Earth

photos: Anna Agliardi

Last night I was honored to be part of an evening of celebration, surprises, glamor and a bit of nostalgia. My favorite off-theater in town, the Sophiensaele, celebrated their 20th anniversary. I can’t believe so many years have passed already since the theater located in a former ballroom near Hackerscher Markt was founded by contemporary dance choreographer Sasha Waltz and the theater makers Jochen Sandig, Jo Fabian and Dirk Cieslak.

The festivities were accompanied by the Berlin premiere of  The Greatest Show on Earth by Anna Wagner and Eike Wittrock. This particular show is a celebration of dance and performance art in a circus-like setting. 14 artists show in different ways  the challenges facing humans in the 21st century and combine the risks of body art with the spectacle of physical performance.

I was absolutely stunned and surprised by a freaky show between Zombie Apocalypse, Cat Content and Shit-Musical. Every performer had a unique style to communicate with the audience. Some were engaging and entertaining others were disturbing and obscene like the zombie artistics by Vincent Riebeek and Florentine Holzinger. What all had in common was authentic passion for their showpiece. The whole show was supported by the amazing music of the Neo-Dadaist 2-person “thing”-orchestra Les Trucs which certainly ranked as the evening’s favorite between the audience, right after the cat.

Photographer Anna Agliardi took some great impressions of the show, which you can discover with the dates right after the jump.

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