Audience & Engagement

The Physical Introduction is aimed at anyone interested in getting to know the special movement quality or choreographic idea of a piece one hour before a stage performance. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, the aim is to get yourself moving. The Physical Introduction prepares us as visitors to sharpen our senses and gain access to what is happening on stage. It is not about acting out specific scenes from the performance, but about feeling the principles of movement or the special atmosphere of a piece through improvisation and mindfulness exercises. One thing is certain: this type of introduction is fun! No previous knowledge is necessary for the approx. 45-minute physical introduction. Comfortable clothing is a good idea, but not a must. And at the end of the introduction you can relax and move on to the performance.

Our current lecturers:

Sophie Czarnetzki is a Cologne-based artist who uses dance as a transformative force for social change and visibility. With deep roots in urban dance and club cultures, she develops an artistic language that addresses themes such as self-empowerment, intersectional feminism, mysticism and power structures. Groove and participation are central elements of her work, with which she creates collective experiences and strengthens connections between people. She pursues the goal of bringing urban dance cultures to the stage and making dance more accessible and inclusive, influenced by her own chronic rheumatic illness. As a performer in the Import Export Kollektiv at Schauspiel Köln, she was most recently also a co-director. Sophie Czarnetzki uses innovative mediation formats to bring dance to life for everyone and promote social dialogue.

Ada Sternberg is a dancer, dance mediator and DJ from Berlin. She is particularly interested in the fusion of different performing arts with a reference to current political and social discourses, especially queerfeminist perspectives. In addition to urban and contemporary dance, somatic practices flow into her work. It is very important to her to create access to dance and music and to create ‘safer or braver spaces’. Formats such as SHAKETHEPAINAWAY, Training against Patriarchy (Bundeskunsthalle) and Bodies of solidarity were created in this context. As a performer, she recently collaborated with the feminist circus collective Ponyclub in the production Mean Girls. She also works regularly with the CocoonDance Company in Bonn.

The Physical Introduction mediation format was developed by Professor Ingo Diehl with dance students and alumni of the Contemporary Dance Education master's programme at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts (HfMDK).

Talks before or after a performance and as a stand-alone event offer the possibility of sharing the experience with others, to pose questions and, in doing so, of gaining a deeper and more enduring understanding of topics, concerns and the distinctiveness of contemporary dance. In addition to the talks moderated by tanzhaus nrw staff and external guests, more relaxed and informal discussion rounds are also offered on a regular basis.

Talk: Panel
A moderated discussion with the artists about their work, central themes of the performance and your questions.

Talk: Together with the others
An open exchange for everyone. Share thoughts, listen to perspectives - over wine and snacks.
The talks will be held in German and/or English.