Street Performances Take Over Berlin's Stage during Summer Season
August is set to be a month of dance in Berlin, as the city plays host to the 37th edition of Tanz im August, the city's largest dance festival. Directed by Ricardo Carmona, this year's festival will feature 20 productions across 10 venues, with 3 premieres and 10 German premieres.
One of the highly anticipated performances is Yana Eva Thoennes's Call Me Paris. This anatomical work offers a haunting exploration of the Paris Hilton sextape scandal and the nonconsensual circulation of a recording of a German teenager in Bergisch Gladbach. Call Me Paris will be shown in two different venues, providing an interesting contrast in perspectives. The Schaubühne's Globe auditorium offers a close-up, intimate experience for audiences, while Teatro Piccolo Arsenale offers a traditional "frontal" perspective.
The audience can expect an overview of the scene as the protagonist herself tries to piece together what really happened. Thoennes, a longtime Berlin dramaturg, curator, and festival organizer, is intrigued by how Call Me Paris will be affected by the different perspectives in the two venues.
This year, Tanz im August will also feature international acts such as Brazilian Lia Rodrigues's Companhia de Danças and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company. These performances, along with the many premieres and adaptations to new stages, create a unique rhythm for the festival.
Summer festivals like Tanz im August provide a developmental opportunity for artists and those interested in the arts. They offer a platform for new performances to take shape in new contexts, and for audiences to deepen their engagement with a subject and see different artistic approaches.
In addition to the dance performances, Tanz im August also offers programs for students and children, making performing arts accessible to many. Kids under 14 can attend many shows for €5.
Berlin's streets come alive during the summer months, with new vitality and public spaces being used more. Some performances in Berlin are held outdoors, like at the Globe Theatre and Tempelhofer Feld.
Berlin sends its talent to various international festivals such as Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Avignon, Hamburg's Kampnagel, and Venice Biennale. Thoennes was invited by Willem Dafoe to the Biennale.
In a conversation, Thoennes spoke about the rhythms of a summer debut, describing them as strange, with multiple premieres and adaptations to new stages. However, she also emphasised the excitement and opportunity that these festivals provide for everyone - organisers, directors, actors, and audience alike.
As the festival approaches, audiences in Berlin and beyond are eagerly awaiting the dance performances, workshops, and events that Tanz im August 2025 has in store.
