KLANG KÖRPER IMPROVISATION

About the Performance

“During our 7-day residency, we would like to re-examine and rethink  our existing approach to developing plays and presentations for young audiences. Tobias Schmitt and Sarah Herr have been working together for some years and during both the development phase and performance, questions have often come up as to what other forms of interaction with the audience are possible beyond rehearsal visits, post-performance participatory activities or audience discussions. What performance formats could be created that allow the boundaries between the performers and the audience to disappear, while at the same time, allow interaction to take place on equal terms without causing the artistic translation “to suffer”? Concretely, we are looking for a new artistic practice of collaboration between dancers / musicians, and children (ages 3-6) and their caregivers. 

Improvisation with body and sound is a ‘language’ that young children understand exceptionally well. Together with the artists, they can explore, discover, move and listen. Here, spoken language does not really play a role in this process, meaning that a diverse audience can all feel welcome.

Thematically, we find that there is a very strong connection between our research question and the theme of the Schwindelfrei Festival 2026. We are focused on developing a new practice whereby children and their caregivers can become equal co-creators within the context of a performance format that features dance and music.

About the Artists

We are a collective of freelance artists (dance, physical theater, music) with a special focus on a young audiences. Since 2016, we have been developing dance theater and performances for theater spaces, non-theater venues and public spaces / site-specific settings under the name 5elefants tanzkollektiv (DE/CH) while working with various artistic ensembles. Our art aims to appeal to children, teens and adults alike. The themes we explore in our pieces are chosen because they play a role in the realities of life in childhood and adulthood.  In this way, we make a shift in perspective possible, so that everyone can share a laugh about the quirkiness of everyday life. Our resident team consists of locally-based dancers / performers Elisabeth Kaul, Andrea Kreisel, Sarah Herr and the musician and composer Tobias Schmitt.” (5elefants tanzkollektiv)

What can you expect?

A playful and humorous presentation of the research with almost no spoken language.

Cast & Credits

Sarah Herr / dancer, performer / Mannheim
Elisabeth Kaul / dancer, performer / Heidelberg
Tobias Schmitt / musician / Mannheim
Andrea Kreisel / dancer, performer / Heidelberg

https://www.5elefants.com 

_{Photo © Helena Reis}