Dance in August 2025: A festival of diversity and political voices!

Dance in August 2025: A festival of diversity and political voices!

In Cologne, anticipation is growing for the upcoming Old Town event “Tanz im August”, which will take place in Berlin from Wednesday, August 13th to August 30th, 2025. Under the direction of Ricardo Carmona, who is responsible for the festival for the third time, visitors can expect 20 different, exciting productions, including three world premieres and ten German premieres. For Carmona, who previously worked as a dance curator at HAU, the connection between queer perspectives and postcolonial themes is at the heart of the artistic direction, which also reflects the diversity of the artists invited. rbb24 reports that this year's program will be designed almost exclusively by young dance artists.

What is particularly noteworthy is the festival's international orientation, with productions from far beyond Europe, including South Korea, Thailand, Africa, Brazil, Lebanon, Spain, Ireland and Portugal. While other large companies from Europe and the USA are missing, possibly due to financial constraints, the festival is bold and present in its thematic focus. The performances cover topics such as queer feminist, non-binary and transidentitarian approaches. Critical social problems such as classism, racism and neo-colonialism also play a central role, making the festival an important space for political discussions.

Diverse topics and exciting productions

The program focuses on a variety of choreographies that address important social issues. Inka Romani from Valencia will reinterpret an almost forgotten folk dance with “Fandango Reloaded”. Nora Chipaumire from Zimbabwe deals with resistance against neo-colonial controls in her performance “Dambudzo”, while Radouan Mriziga gives space to the indigenous culture and mythology of North Africa with “Magec / the Desert”. Yara Boustani's homage to her hometown of Beirut is particularly touching.

The politically relevant tone of the festival is underscored by Daniel Mariblanca's “71 Bodies 1 Dance,” which is based on interviews with 71 transgender people. Clara Furey and Xan Dye also deal intensively with self-determination and identity beyond common binaries. Another highlight is the piece by Lia Rodrigues, which addresses the boundaries between people and nations and thus reflects our social division.

Festival highlights and stages

A look at the highlights of the festival shows an impressive range of themes and artistic expressions: Némo Flouret presents “Derniers Feux”, while Marlene Monteiro Freitas brings “Nôt”, an adaptation of “Fairy Tale from the 1001 Nights”, to the stage. In “Specky Clark” Oona Doherty talks about her great-great-grandfather in Belfast and, together with the dance family, will make the audience think.

The Austrian dance is complemented by the QueerTango Festival in Berlin, which starts from July 10th to 14th, 2025. This festival has now established itself as one of the most important of its kind and enjoys an excellent reputation. With over 250 international participants and sold-out workshops, it offers an open, relaxed atmosphere that promotes dialogue between cultures and experiences exchange among lesbians, gays and transgender people.

In summary, the programs of the “Tanz im August” festival and the QueerTango Festival embody the diverse, dynamic and culturally rich face of the dance scene in Berlin. Anyone who dares to venture beyond the Cologne city limits during these two weeks will certainly encounter many exciting, moving and insightful moments.