Oben gehalten

Shibari Classes In July

shibari-bondage-workshop-classes-berlin-dasniya-sommer-art-performance-model-eliko-photo-by-werner-aman

This month: Tuesday July 15 + 29, 2025 at Haus Sommer / Uferhallen
Hours: 7-9.30pm

This Light – intermediate class is directed at people with previous bondage/shibari experience, and at newbies who like to start rope work in a small group environment.
We will start with the basics by intuitively following individual rope impulses. When safety principles like body handling, rope management or friction become fluid, we move to more systematic ties. Floor play will gradually be taken to semi-suspension.
There is time to switch roles to deeper understand restriction from both perspectives. The roped experience, as well as the complex skill set of the rigger, in order to create meditative ties or sexy phantasies.

The class material and aesthetic is strongly inspired by Japanese Shibari artists such as Norio Sugiura, Kasumi Horai or Akira Naka. Dasniya has learned from them during several workshops and encounters in Europe and Asia. Another important teaching source is her professional dance and performance practice which includes collaborating with Roméo Castellucci, Florentina Holzinger or the collective Das Helmi. Continuously transforming the traditional ritual for stage or installations Dasniya has been an inspiring rope artist beyond the Berlin community since 20 years.

Location: Haus Sommer is located at Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt. The atelier with tatami and tea kitchen allows suspension on bamboo for 4 couples. The small group size creates an intimate frame to explore Shibari for single participants, couples, or for small groups of peers.

If you are new to bondage/shibari and interested in this class, please send a mail to the address below. Because of the small group size in this class the level is always adapted to the levels of the group.

– Please bring soft, comfortable clothes and ropes if you have.
– Ideally you register with a partner. If you don‘t have a rope partner yet, there often are other solo participants to pair up with. There is also the possibility to watch the class or self-tie.
– Costs 30 Euro per person.

Mail: workshops(at)dasniyasommer(dot)de / Messenger: haussommer / Insta: Kinbaku Haus / WA: +49-174-393 70 49

Dates: 15 + 29.7.2025
Hours: 19-21.30h
Costs: 30 Euro per person (max. four couples)

Haus Sommer is located at Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt – Wedding Uferstrasse 8,13357 Berlin. Entrance B6
In case the door is locked please call the number above.
Map here

In the picture: Eliko. Photographed by Werner Amann. Ropes: Dasniya.

Panke Open Studios

Wo: Uferhallen Studios, Uferstraße 8 – 11, 13357 Berlin
Wann: 19. und 20. Juli 2025

OPEN STUDIOS 2025
Sa 19. Juli    14-22 Uhr
So 20. Juli    13-18 Uhr

Die Uferhallen sind ein bedeutender Produktions- und Präsentationsort für Kunst und Kultur in Berlin. Mehr als 150 Kulturschaffende leben und arbeiten auf dem Gelände. Mit mehreren hundert Besucher*innen täglich sind die Uferhallen ein zentraler Ort des kulturellen Austauschs und ein fester Bestandteil der Kulturszene und der Stadtgesellschaft Berlins.

Die Panke Open Studios 2025 verbinden erstmals drei bedeutende Atelierhäuser in Berlin – die Uferhallen, die Gerichtshöfe und die Chausseestraße 48 – zu einem gemeinsamen Event. Mit dieser erstmaligen Kooperation schaffen die Panke Open Studios eine neue Plattform für den Austausch zwischen Kunstschaffenden und Publikum im Quartier. Zeitgleich öffnen in der Nachbarschaft weitere Kulturorte ihre Türen. So entsteht entlang der Panke ein inspirierender Kulturparcours – eine Einladung, Kunst dort zu erleben, wo sie entsteht, Einblicke in aktuelle künstlerische Prozesse zu erhalten und zugleich auf den Spuren der Stadt- und Kulturgeschichte vor Ort zu wandeln.

Autonomous Avatar at Festival der Zukunft

Another round with ‚Autonomous Avatar‘ at ‚Festival der Zukunft‘.
Much enjoying to dance this one again with Corey. Arriving at the stage where the performance becomes second nature is so much fun. Just walking on stage and do it. Warm thanks to Tobias and Nadja!

Date: Friday July 4, 2025
Location: Deutsches Museum München/ Planetarium
Time: 19 Uhr

Direction, Text, Concept: Tobias Staab
The choreography was developed in close collaboration between Tobias Staab and the dancers Dasnyia Sommer and Corey Scott-Gilbert.
Performers: Corey Scott-Gilbert & Dasniya Sommer
Voice: Sandra Hüller
3D-Design: Luis August Krawen
Music: Beni Brachtel
Stage Design & Concept: Nadja Sofie Eller
Costume Design: Annika Lu Hermann
Motion Capturing: Warja Rybakova
Light Design: Matthias Singer

Funded by: Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien / NEUSTART KULTUR, Dachverband Tanz Deutschland / tanz:digital. Produced with support by: DOCKdigitalLab, Planetarium Bochum

Premiere: War Games – Münchener Kammerspiele

 

Choreographing for WAR GAMES by Skart at Münchener Kammerspiele.
After a longterm rehearsal process, stretching over two years, with 12 devoted teenagers from Munich, we opened yesterday with a blast. There are two more shows at Therese-Ghiese Halle this week end:

Premiere June 26, 2025 at 19.30h
Saturday 28, at 19.30h
Sunday 29 at 16h.

Theatre of the new generation

War is as old as mankind. For 300,000 years, there has been fighting somewhere in the world – despite all the cries of “Never again!”. Why can’t mankind break out of this spiral? “War Games” examines war as a performative cultural history and social vicious circle. Together with children and young people, SKART questions power, violence and the rules of the game. The result is a multi-layered performance with theater, video, sound, costumes and stage design – perhaps even dance. But “War Games” is not children’s theater. SKART and the team deal with “adult topics” on a radically equal footing: What is violence? What does it do to us?
Humorous, provocative, intense – SKART is one of the most innovative groups working with children and young people in the German theater scene. “War Games” is art, education and a social statement at the same time. SKART gets involved – with a bang!

SKART & Friends Charlotte Heidenreich (Performerin), Stephan Janitzky (Künstler), Anton Kaun (Video- & Noisekünstler), Deniz Khan (Musiker), Lea Letzel (Künstlerin & Pyrotechnikerin), Janne Plutat (Kostümbildnerin), Mark Schröppel (Performer & Theatermacher), Dasniya Sommer (Tänzerin & Choreografin), Henrik Weber.

With Karla Bacher, Lionel Barth, Isaac de Mercey, Sophie Einloft, Milan Glück, Anna Haas, Emma Konrath, Lukas Lauser, Nala Ouaffi, Melanie Siebs, Jakob Waldow.

Artistic Production Management: Elke Bauer, Daniela Schroll
Technical Production Management: Richard Illmer
Stage Management: Thomas Graml, Josef Hofmann
Lighting: Wolfgang Eibert, Yongwoo Kwon, Christian Mahrla, Louis Nickel
Sound Paolo Mariangeli, Alejandro Nieto
Video: Technician Julia Römpp
Carpentry: Florian Thoma
Props: Julia Molloy
Costume: Janne Plutat
Make Up: Jannes Donner
Stage Manager: Hanno Nehring
Photos: Judith Buss

Workshop series: Harness in motion

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The series ‚Harness in Motion‘ consists of three workshops this summer:

1. class: Navigating weight lightly – 27.6.25
2. class: Skin, ropes and trust – 22.7.25
3. class: Adrenalin: shibari fight club – date tba / in September

The workshop focuses on dynamic system of movements and rope restriction. Dasniya will open her vast dancers tool box to creatively expand the traditional shibari vocabulary. Rope harnesses will serve as anchor points and transform the classical top-bottom dynamic into playfully and intimately moving with your partner through space.
Note: This class is the second of a series of three classes that will explore this topic in depth. The classes build on each other but it is not obligatory to take all three of them.

For more information please contact: workshops(at)dasniyasommer.de
or register via: Karada House.

Dasniya Sommer is a Berlin-based choreographer and teacher who works in the range from performance to photography and video art, from Japanese Shibari to classical ballet. She examines movement and image from the perspective of the dancer. For 20 years Dasniya has practiced Japanese Shibari/Bondage stretching performative aesthetic categories, making shibari accessible to a wider and intersectional community.
 She tries to combine pure Japanese techniques (currently Akira Naka inspired) with an unconventional anarchic approach, often integrating objects or organic material into the process. 
Dasniya’s teaching is informed by her experience as a rigger and shibari model. Melting schools and philosophies from a great number of teachers such as Chanta Rose, Kamijoo Saki, Kasumi Hourai, Arisue Go, Akira Naka, Tamandua, Gestalta, and Norio Sugiura. She regularly teaches at ‘Haus Sommer’ her studio in Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt, and a.o. at ImPulsTanz Vienna, Lismore’s Queer-Community/Australia, and Braunschweig University of Art. ‘Sculpting or moving with ropes I deeply enjoy the handcrafting moment combined with sensual attention towards my partner or the bondage material.‘

Photo by Pippa Samaya.

 

SKART & MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

Eine neue, schöne Zusammenarbeit mit den MOTUS und Meine Damen und Herren Ensemble.
Premiere ist nächste Woche auf Kampnagel, 9. April 2025, 19 Uhr.

WAR GAMES

In der rund 300.000 Jahre alten Geschichte des modernen Menschen gibt es keinen Augenblick, in dem nicht irgendwo auf der Welt Krieg geführt wurde. Obwohl die meisten Erdenbewohner*innen anscheinend dagegen sind, gibt es wenig Vorhaben, die der Homo sapiens so zuverlässig umsetzt, wie das Morden im großen Stil. Wie eine schlechte Angewohnheit wechselt der Krieg regelmäßig seine Erscheinungsform und wird kontinuierlich verdammt – wirklich aus der Mode kommt er allerdings nie. In ihrer neusten Produktion WAR GAMES widmet sich das altersgemischte Kollektiv SKART & Masters of the Universe zusammen mit Performer*innen des inklusiven Ensembles Meine Damen und Herren dem Phänomen Krieg als performativer Kulturgeschichte. Gemeinsam mit Schüler*innen der Stadtteilschule Altona untersuchen sie kriegerische Konflikte als gesellschaftliche Teufelskreise. In Form künstlerischer Endlosloops stellen sie die Frage: Warum ist »Nie wieder!« eben nicht jetzt?

Mit: SKART & Masters of the Universe

Von und mit SKART & Masters of the Universe, Björn Auftrag, Charlotte Heidenreich, Friederike Jaglitz, Deniz Khan, Lone Lausen, Isabella Lüthe, Maja Maciak, Stephan Mahn, Tintin Patrone, Janne Plutat, Lars Rubarth, Minu Schilling, Mark Schröppel, Sina Schröppel, Michael Schumacher, Dasniya Sommer, Henrik Weber

Gefördert im Programm Jupiter – Darstellende Künste für junges Publikum der Kulturstiftung des Bundes – gefördert von der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien. sowie von Hamburgische Kulturstiftung. In Kooperation mit ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS.

 

SHIBARI CLASS IN April

 

Shibari class Tuesday April 8th, 20th 2025
Hours: 7-9.30pm

The course Beginner with Previous Experience is directed at learning the basics of Shibari/Kinbaku technique. We start the class intuitively by following individual impulses with rope. After that we focus on systematic management of rope. On body handling and safety principles: knots, wrapping and aesthetic frictions. The material contains a wide range of harnesses for floor work and simple semi-suspension. It is strongly inspired by shibari works of Japanese artists I learned from over the last fifteen years. There is time to switch roles to deeper understand restriction from both the models perspective as well as the complex skill set of the rigger. In order to experience sexy phantasies and meditative ties.
Haus Sommer is located at Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt. The atelier with a tea kitchen allows for suspension on bamboo for four couples. The small group size creates an intimate frame to start exploring Shibari for single participants, couples and groups of peers.

– Please bring soft clothes and ropes if you have.
– You can register alone or with partner. If you want to join alone it’s possible to pair up with each other. We will try to connect single participants a few days befor the workshop, but can’t always guarantee. Many thanks for patience and understanding.
– At the beginning we suggest regular participation and practice to create a solid technical base.
– Costs 30 Euro per person.

Mail: workshops(at)dasniyasommer(dot)de / FB: haussommer / Insta: Kinbaku Haus / WA: +49-174-393 70 49

Dates: 8.4.2025
Hours: 19-21.30h
Costs: 30 Euro per person (max. four couples)

Haus Sommer is located at Uferhallen Kulturwerkstatt – Wedding Uferstrasse 8,13357 Berlin. Entrance B6
In case the door is locked please call the number above.
Map here

In the picture: Eliko. Photographed by Werner Amann. Ropes: Dasniya.

Intermission by VAL

Here doing dramaturgy for vAL / Corey Scott-Gilbert‘s new work at Tanztage Berlin 2025/ Sophiensaele. Passionately exploring what a dramatugical approach means from a practical dancers perspective. Thanks for this beautiful collaboration, and the lovely team brought together by Corey.

INTERMISSION

Reality has become so absurd that it’s hard to distinguish fact from fiction and we, simultaneously the viewers and the subjects, are left numb. If our authentic self is being clouded by the ravages of social ills, what do we have that can break through this psychic interference to be shared? The answer could be in our dreams, but what if we are so overwhelmed and oversaturated that we can only stare in a dreamless abyss?

INTERMISSION is a solo work based on a collective archive of dreams, aiming to fill the gaps of a fragmented remembering. By falling through a procession of postures stored in his body’s archive, vAL mines for clarity in a dense fog of disrupted dreams. What memory remains is shared through a stichting of narration, ballad and physical conjurings that start to reimagine what new dreams might sound or look like. The archive is brought to life by his own performative doubt, variability and curated interruption. This relentless pursuit of lost dreams inspires anarchy which ultimately becomes his repair. What may eventually erupt when we sit together in our puzzlement?

Cast and credit:
Performance: Corey Scott-Gilbert | vAL
Choreographic Associate: Ariel Cecelia Freedman
Dramaturgy: Dasniya Sommer
Sound: ILYICH
Light: Gretchen Blegen
Scenographer: Lea Steinhilber
Costume: SADAK
Production: Neda Sanai
Photos: Mayra Wallraff

This performance features hanging textiles made in collaboration with Luis Alberto Rodriguez and SADAK as well as the voices of Charli Reese Kane, Harvest Shira Shiloah, Kayden Tickner, Stelios Tsatsos, Gus Solomons Jr.

A production by vAL. Originally commissioned by Emerging Change Tanzfestival with the support of Flutgraben Performances Residencies and Sophiensæle. The 34th Tanztage Berlin is a production of Sophiensæle. Funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion. With the kind support of Tanzfabrik Berlin e.V., Theaterhaus Berlin and Uferstudios GmbH. Media partners:  Berlin Art Link, Missy Magazine, Siegessäule, taz.

Workshop at Zimmt: Festival for Multisensory Perception

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A sweet trip to Leipzig teaching at Zimmt Festival. Always appreciating the advance of trust of a new group. Retrospectively I think teaching bondage is fundamentally about holding a space which legitimates forms of playful and consensual rope work or bdsm dynamic. A determined time in which bodily encounters are allowed and warmly accompanied while exploring liminal desires. I am using similar tools as in movement classes, except the task unfold in an opposite way: from movement to bodily restriction. Or from shaping outer contours to internal and emotional movement.
People learn the rope techniques and a sort of scripted ritual of a bondage session. Exploring about desires, borders or thresholds and interacting beyond the verbal via rope. A material which allows extreme proximity, but equally putting a temporal space between the practitioners. For example touching indirectly to relax about the actual touch.
After 20 years of teaching, exchanging and mutual growing I still enjoy observing the mind shifting process participants go through, even in a basic introduction workshop. Thanks to ‚Zimmt‘ for this lovely invite!

Festival for Multisensorical Perception

3D Audio Concerts, Exhibitions, Workshop and Lectures

From November 25 to December 4, the sens taktil festival will focus on the overlaps and interactions between the experience of touch and the experience of hearing: in the rooms of ZiMMT and on the grounds of Kontor 80, we invite you to a joint multi-sensory, synaesthetic exploration in which the boundaries between art and the viewer become blurred. In audiovisual concerts with 3D sound or in an ASMR performance, on sound loungers or in walk-in and touchable installations of the tactile exhibition, in workshops, in the festival sauna or on the tactile path, experiences are created that can be heard and felt.