As part of its 11th International Encounter for Young Dance Artists “How to Dance in Times of Crisis?”, the Initiative LUNA PARK will realize the collective performance format LUNAPARK.works for the eighth time in Berlin from December 20, 2025 to January 5, 2026. The encounter is conceived as a two-week artistic residency and is aimed at young dance artists, offering them the opportunity to work free of charge on their own choreographic ideas, solos, and group pieces. At the core of the residency is the participants’ independent artistic research, developed both individually and collaboratively. The resulting works – some completed pieces, others presented as works in progress – will be publicly presented as LUNAPARK.works 08 on January 3 and 4, 2026, at Studio 1 of Uferstudios Berlin-Wedding.

Since 2016, “How to Dance in Times of Crisis?” has been organized by Initiative LUNA PARK as an international exchange and residency format, with annual encounters taking place in Berlin and Athens. The program is driven by questions about the role of dance and artistic practice in times of profound social, political, and ecological transformation: How do crises change our understanding of art? How do they influence our physical expression? And what kinds of social spaces can dance open up beyond traditional theatrical contexts?

The encounters are accompanied by lectures, seminars, and moderated discussions, as well as trainings and practical workshops in choreography, improvisation, and artistic research. Experienced choreographers and dance scholars support the participants both conceptually and practically, and closely mentor them in the development of their own projects, which are presented within LUNAPARK.works 08.

Program 03. January 2026 at 19:00
– “Introduction to Participate (Shall We Groove?)” (10’), led by Anastasia Drouga & Dafni Stathatou (Duende Dance Company)
– “alBumS” (30’), solo by Nolwenn Benichou-Samson
– “F.O.B.A.” [Fear Of Being Alone] (6’), group piece by Penny Vaiou
– “πέτρα που κυλάει (stone that glides)” (7’), solo by Penny Vaiou
– “Maja” (20’), duet by Eleonora Cirelli and Veronica Sala

Program 04 January 2026 at 19:00
– “Introduction to Participate (Shall We Groove?)” (10’), led by Anastasia Drouga & Dafni Stathatou (Duende Dance Company)
– “Come to your senses” (20’), solo by Marthe Meier
_ “Work in progress” (10’), duet by Elina Kavalaki and Niovi Papandreou
– “Behind the Door” (20’), duet by Anastasia Drouga & Dafni Stathatou (Duende Dance Company)
_ “Minus Six” (25’), group piece by Angeliki Liakopoulou, Eleni Charikiopoulou, Elina Kavalaki, Myrsini Georgopoulou Shaqiri, Niovi Papandreou, Zoi Tragidi

Participants and Production Team

Artistic Direction, Concept and Curation: Kosmas Kosmopoulos
Choreography and Performance: Nolwenn Benichou-Samson, Eleni Charikiopoulou, Eleonora Cirelli, Anastasia Drouga, Myrsini Georgopoulou Shaqiri, Elina Kavalaki, Angeliki Liakopoulou, Davide Lorenzi, Marthe Meier, Andrius Nekrasoff, Niovi Papandreou, Katerina Samara, Veronica Sala, Dafni Stathatou, Caspar Sebastian Stuart Ilschner, Milica Tancic, Zoi Tragidi, Panagiota Vaiou et al.
Assistance and Training: Nikos Kalyvas, Dr. Maria Tsouvala
Music and Composition: Antonios Palaskas
Lighting and Set: Eduard Mont de Palol, Dr. Georgia Touliatou
Text and Dramaturgical Consultancy: Kai Pichmann
Production Management and Communication: Fee Josten, Carmen Maria Jentzsch
Photography and Documentation: Giovanni Lo Curto

Performances
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 7:00 PM
Sunday, January 4, 2026, 7:00 PM
Venue
Uferstudios (Studio 1), Badstraße 41a, 13357 Berlin
Duration
Approx. 90 minutes, with short breaks

Tickets
Free admission, donations welcome.
Reservations via performance@lunapark.works

Production and Funding
A production format by Initiative LUNA PARK e.V. and Kosmas Kosmopoulos, in collaboration with Gesundbrunnen Primary School and Uferstudios. Funded by the German-Greek Youth Office (DGJW) within the international exchange project “How to Dance in Times of Crisis?”, supported within the project “tanz(t)räume”, funded by TANZPAKT Stadt-Land-Bund and co-financed by the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, as well as “tanz(t)räume 2025–2027”, funded through the Social Cohesion Urban Development Program via the project fund of QM Badstraße.