To all emerging dance artists based in Berlin

Since 1996, Tanztage Berlin has presented innovative and genre-bending work by Berlin-based artists in the fields of contemporary dance, choreography, and performance. This producing platform offers a unique opportunity for the city's broadly defined choreographic newcomers, as well as artists who have recently arrived in Berlin, to present their work to a loyal local and international audience. With almost three decades of existence, the festival has repeatedly demonstrated what constitutes its DNA: it encourages artistic risk-taking, experimental formats, and visions that not only challenge conventional narratives about dance and choreography but also question the status of the body in the contemporary world.

The next, anniversary edition of Tanztage Berlin will take place under the artistic direction of Mateusz Szymanówka. The festival is currently scheduled for 8–24 January 2026. It offers emerging dance artists based in Berlin a framework for both new productions and revivals.

Programs from recent editions can be found at: https://tanztage-berlin.sophiensaele.com/en/

To learn more about the festival's history, listen to the Tanztage Berlin Podcast.

You can find the FAQs about the application here.

Applications for premieres, revivals and workshops

This year, in both modules (premieres and revivals), Tanztage Berlin is especially (but not exclusively) looking for projects that:

• explore themes related to work and labor today
• are created collaboratively by two or more choreographers
• rethink how choreographic work is produced

1. Module: Premieres
Tanztage Berlin can support a limited number of productions presenting their premiere at the festival.

We offer:

• A co-production grant between €7,000 and €12,000, depending on personnel costs (e.g. the number of project participants)
• An evening fee of €380 per person per show for the collaborators involved in the presentation (choreographers, performers, or lighting/sound designers running the show)
• Free external rehearsal space (approx. 2 weeks per production) between 17.11.2025 – 19.12.2025
• A half-day rehearsal on stage at Sophiensæle between Christmas and New Year
• Approx. 3 days for final rehearsals (usually shared with another group), technical set-up and dress rehearsal on stage in January, supported by curatorial, technical, and organisational supervision
• Dramaturgical support during the rehearsal process by emerging dramaturgs
• Support with PR and marketing as part of the festival’s general communication, free photo/video documentation, and—depending on need—advice on calculation, administration, and accounting
• Travel and accommodation costs will only be reimbursed in exceptional cases

2. Module: Revivals
Finished productions can also be submitted for a revival.

We offer:

• A flat fee of €3,000 for rehearsals and realisation of the project
• An evening fee of €380 per person per performance for the collaborators involved in the presentation (choreographers, performers, or lighting/sound designers running the show)
• A half-day rehearsal on stage at Sophiensæle between Christmas and New Year
• Approx. 3 days for final rehearsals, technical set-up, and dress rehearsal in January, supported by curatorial, technical, and organisational supervision
• Support with PR and marketing, free photo/video documentation, and—depending on need—advice on calculation, administration, and accounting
• Travel and accommodation costs will only be reimbursed in exceptional cases

3. Module: Workshops

Are you a choreographer, dancer, or somatic practitioner working with knowledge that could be valuable in the everyday lives of today’s workers or activists — or that could contribute to greater social cohesion or somatic competence in our society? For its anniversary edition, Tanztage Berlin is looking for workshop ideas that are open to the general public.

We offer:

• A flat fee of €800 for conceptualizing and facilitating a 4-hour workshop for a non-professional audience (a group of 20 participants) during the festival (space to be determined)

Special Service: Workshops

Traditionally, we invite the artists selected for Tanztage Berlin and their teams to attend free workshops that support them in preparing for the festival and their future artistic work.

Please save the following dates:

Workshop: Accessibility and Aesthetics of Access (25.10.2025)
Artists selected for Tanztage Berlin 2026 will be invited to a workshop on accessibility and Aesthetics of Access, facilitated by Angela Alves (choreographer) and Agnieszka Habraschka (artist and access consultant).

Workshop: Narratives of Intimacy – An Introduction to Intimacy Coordination for Choreographers (08.11.2025)
This workshop with Kaya Kołodziejczyk – choreographer, movement director, and intimacy expert for film and theatre – offers insight into the rapidly evolving field of intimacy coordination. Through case studies, practical exercises, and open discussions, participants will be invited to reflect on various aspects of the choreographic process, such as boundaries, touch, and consent.

Workshop: Burning on and Stressed Out – Mental Health and Dance (10.11.2025)
This workshop is focused on the mental health challenges within the dance field, particularly around burnout and stress. This session offers a supportive space to explore, understand, and manage anxiety and emotional exhaustion that often accompany artistic work.
The workshop will be led by Luísa Saraiva, a choreographer and psychologist.

Application

Please apply via email to tanztage@sophiensaele.com using the application form.

THE FORM IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD HERE.

If you have questions, contact us at tanztage@sophiensaele.com or 030-27 89 00-49, or join our info event via Zoom on 01.07.2025 at 19h (details below).

With Tanztage Berlin, we aim to support working methods that represent a broad spectrum of experiences and lifeworlds. We especially welcome applications from people with and without disabilities, those with marginalised perspectives, and projects with diverse, cross-age casts. We accept works presented in various formats: stage, online, durational performance, installation, video. Most performances during Tanztage Berlin are presented as double bills.

More information about our spaces - Festsaal, Hochzeitssaal and Kantine - here.

Our team is undergoing a process of transformation toward inclusivity, anti-discrimination, and critical engagement with power structures. Currently, most of our staff are white and non-disabled. We understand this may be challenging for BIPoC and disabled artists. You are welcome to include reflections on your positioning in your application if you wish.

The Deadline for Applications is July 6th 2025

The programming for Tanztage Berlin 2026 is expected to be completed by mid-September 2025.

Please let us know about any upcoming presentations of your work or open rehearsals at tanztage@sophiensaele.com 

Unfortunately, we cannot offer individual feedback on applications not selected.

Expense allowance fee

We acknowledge that application processes require significant, often uncompensated labor — involving time, expertise, and emotional investment. While Tanztage Berlin is not in a position to offer fair compensation for proposal development to all applicants, this year we would like to introduce a small gesture of recognition: an expense allowance fee of 100€ gross will be offered to every 10th applicant who submits a complete, eligible application but is not selected for the Tanztage Berlin 2026 program.

Info zoom on July 1st 2025

Together with Tanzbüro, we offer an info event via Zoom (in English and German) on 01.07.2025 at 7 pm.
There will be time for questions to festival curator Mateusz Szymanówka and production manager Francesca Spisto, in both spoken and written formats. The event will be live subtitled.
To take part, please register here.

Open office of the curator

Mateusz Szymanówka will host open consultation hours via Zoom in June and July 2025, where you can discuss your proposal for Tanztage Berlin 2026.

Booking via: https://tinyurl.com/ttb2026 
(If no appointments are visible, it means they are fully booked. Please send an email to tanztage@sophiensaele.com if you would like to be added to the waiting list. You will be contacted if a last-minute slow becomes available.)

Accessibility

Please contact our accessibility coordinator at barrierefreiheit@sophiensaele.com or +49 030 27890034 (Mon-Fri, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.) if you have any questions regarding accessibility or if this open call is not accessible to you. We will try to find a solution.

Thank you and best regards from the Tanztage team