Kristen Rulifson & Mei Bao: No Such Virtue

CHOREOGRAPHY & DANCE: Kristen Rulifson, Mei Bao

MUSIC POST PRODUCTION & REMIX: Mei Bao

No Such Virtue is an emergent playground of sharp edges, fuzzy corners, and buzzing thresholds. Two people navigate this landscape through slipping, slapping, and sounding while being confronted with negotiations of power and pleasure. 

When you hit me, I am pushing your edge

My veins dilate, I get flustered

Your touch is helping me sense more of my selves 

I’ll fight you if you’ll fight me

I’ll lick the sweat from your neck

But I have to ask for it

Why am I laughing?

This research is rooted in improvising with intimacy and impact. We ask: what preparation and (after)care is needed to consent to being “pushed to the edge”? Through this practice as performance, we are interested in developing modalities that can open pathways for transformation and new ways of relating to personhood.

Kristen Rulifson ("Kriss"; they/them) is a dancer and performer, director, and free diver. Kriss is a recent graduate from Dance Intensive Program at Tanzfabrik Berlin (2022) and holds a degree in Neurobiology Physiology and Behavior from the UC Davis (2014) and Expressive Arts Therapy from the Tamalpa Institute (2016). Their focus is on contact improvisation and contemporary dance with a specific interest in breakdance, partnering, aquatic research, and improvisational composition.

Mei Bao (they/them) is a Danish-Chinese musician, performer and dance artist based in Berlin. They have worked professionally as a musician and performer, and have recently completed the Dance Intensive Program at Tanzfabrik Berlin. Mei is currently involved in projects by Lisanne Goodhue (CA) and Kai Merke (DK). As a musician, Mei is a drummer/vocalist in the band Felines (2013 - present) and a performer/drummer/vocalist in the activist art group GP&PLS (2018-present), whose work centers around supporting refugees in and at the borders of the EU.

Libertad Esmeralda Iocco, Katherine Rojas Contreras & Pimon Lekler: The afternoon of an infinite day (duet)

CHOREOGRAPHY & DANCE: Libertad Esmeralda Iocco, Katherine Rojas Contreras

MUSIC: Pimon Lekler

Libertad and Katherine are investigating automatism and the alienation of movement from daily life and work. What lies behind seemingly empty movements? Do these movements belong to us? What happens when we experience moments that give new meaning to everyday life?

The automatic daily patterns of routine work may lead us to believe that we have no way out other than repetition.

With the music of Pimon Lekler, Libertad and Katherine will dive into the transit of being and cease to be automatons.

Are we the same people after seeing and recognizing ourselves in a different way?

Libertad Esmeralda Iocco is an emerging Argentinian contemporary and tango dancer, choreographer and teacher. She started to study dance in 2012 and has since performed in several pieces. Some choreographies she has made: Hacia la Contemplación, Opuesto Complementario, MalVinas, Velar por, El viaje es nuestro, Der Nachmittag eines unendlichen Tages (2022). In 2021 she was awarded the Dis-Tanz-Solo scholarship to develop her participative dance project Entanglements. She danced in the pieces SeMiCirculo, MalVinas, Replica, El viaje es nuestro, Fractura by Valentina Menz (2021), Cosmica 1971 by Britt Augus (2022) and in The unknown known by Akiles (2023).

Born in Chile, Katherine Rojas Contreras has been a professional dancer and teacher for more than 10 years after studying in Chile, Argentina, Israel, Paris and now Berlin, where she lives. Graduating as Dancer and Dance teacher in Chile, in 2012, she continued her training in London including participating in several workshops with David Zambrano, Deltebre Dansa, Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch and Gaga Intensive, among others.

Whilst in Chile she was part of different independent dance companies such as MovimientoFuga and The 7th Dance Company. She also worked with choreographers such as José Vidal. In 2019 she moved to Berlin where she works as a freelance dancer, having performed for VolArt, Grace Euna Kim, StaatsOper, and Babak Rardmehr.

Pimon Lekler is a music producer, composer, pianist and violinist with a classical music background. He has composed music for over 40 theater pieces, short films, animations and performances, several of which have won awards at international festivals.

Maia Joseph: The Other

CHOREOGRAPHY, DANCE & COSTUME: Maia Joseph

MUSIC: Tanya Tagaq & A Tribe Called Red

One's voice does not have to be loud in order to be heard. There is power in choosing when to speak and knowing when to stay silent. However, not everyone has the luxury of this choice. The Other personifies the different cultural, political, racial and genetic factors which mute the voices of some, while allowing others to speak volumes.

In her solo, Maia Joseph seeks to overcome the repercussions from internalizing the voices of many, while struggling to listen to her own.

Maia Joseph is a 2022 graduate of Tanzakademie Balance 1. Born and raised in Toronto, Kanada, she moved to Berlin in 2019 to further her dance training. Since 2020 she has freelanced alongside her studies for artists such as Cristina Perera, Kiani Del Valle, Marie Zechiel and Salvatore Siciliano. Currently she is working as a company member of the Luna Park Initiative e.v under the artistic direction of Kosmas Kosmopoulos.

Jessica Ikonen & Nastasja Berezin: spectrum

CHOREOGRAPHY & DANCE: Jessica Ikonen, Nastasja Berezin

Rehearsal space provided by Berlin Dance Institute

In which situations do we feel powerful? When we work hard, succeed, and feel in control of our physical, mental, and emotional state? Or when we allow ourselves to express vulnerability and admit weakness? In their choreography, the dancers Jessica Ikonen and Nastasja Berezin explore how the journey to feeling powerful can travel through the bodies and personalities of two different people. They investigate where their perceptions meet and where they separate, and ultimately, how they can support each other on that journey.

Jessica Ikonen is a 22-year-old dancer from Finland. She started her dance training as a child with classical ballet, and through her teenage years, she incorporated contemporary and modern dance into her training while attending various competitions around Finland. Her passion for dance brought her to Berlin to complete a professional dance education at Berlin Dance Institute, from which she graduated in September 2022.

Nastasja Berezin is a 21-year-old dancer from Potsdam, Germany. Her movement background lies in rhythmic gymnastics, but four years ago she discovered contemporary dance. It has completely taken over her life to the point where now she finds herself finishing a 3-year degree at the Berlin Dance Institute. Beyond dance, Nastasja enjoys acting and is a member of Ogalala Kreuzberg.

Cikacé Lestine, Marta Marja Ruszkowska, Hana Stojaković: Jean Djender & The Foolz

CHOREOGRAPHY & DANCE: Cikacé Lestine, Marta Marja Ruszkowska, Hana Stojaković

COSTUME: Grzegorz Matląg »Maldoror«

Hear ye! Hear ye!

You are hereby summoned to attend the annual ball of your most reverend and divinely beloved King – His Majesty Jean Djender de la Fluide of Sexony du Gendrefuque de Cooir, First of His Name.

The ceremony will take place at the Royal Court of the Castle of His Majesty Jean Djender de la Fluide of Sexony du Gendrefuque de Cooir, First of His Name.

The opening dance will be performed by His Majesty Jean Djender de la Fluide of Sexony du Gendrefuque de Cooir, First of His Name & the Fools of the Royal Court of the Castle of His Majesty Jean Djender de la Fluide of Sexony du Gendrefuque de Cooir, First of His Name.

Make merry!

Cikacé Lestine is a polymorphic being and a professional wannabe. Depending on the contexts and occasions, they might present themselves as a forever student, a so-called performer, a soon-to-be writer, an aspiring DJ, an occasional French teacher, or a drag king boy band superstar.

Marta Marja Ruszkowska was born and raised in Poland and is now based in Berlin. She is a dancer, performer, dance maker and student at Inter-University Center for Dance Berlin (HZT). She is a holder of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes scholarship in the field of dance and co-founder and member of the drag king boys band Hot Compost.

~ universal basic income is beautiful and good! ~

Hana Stojaković is born and raised in Croatia and is now based in Berlin. Hana is a dancer, performance artist and a visual designer. Hana holds a BA in Visual Communication from the School of Design Zagreb and is currently enrolled in the BA of Dance, Context, Choreography at Inter-University Center for Dance Berlin (HZT). Hana has been touring with the drag king boys band Hot Compost as Bobbi since 2022 and embracing cheeky togetherness as a soft weapon since 1997.