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Haus Sommer ist das Netzwerk-Label der Tänzerin und Choreographin Dasniya Sommer. In wechselnden Kollaborationen mit anderen Künstler:innen untersucht und erweitert sie die Formensprache klassischen Balletts unter dem Einfluss von Shibari, Body Art und zeitgenössischer Performance Kunst.

Haus Sommer is the network label of dancer and choreographer Dasniya Sommer. In changing collaborations with different artists she questions and expands the formal language of classical ballet under the influence of Shibari, Body Art and contemporary performance art.

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Tanzpraxis

The finest match: Laurie Young dancing with Naniek K. . Finishing my research with a space and choreographic sketch in the most fortunate community. I learned of Naniek K. through the work Ratu created by Jee Chang for this years Tanztage Festival. They kindly introduced me to a truly royal and felt ur-berliner 81 year old Indonesian dancer and lady. She had more energy than all of us together in the room! ;)
Touching on basic ideas and making space to two rare generations in the spot light. Observing their universes of experience side by side, and a familiar proximity of Asian and Western European philosophies of movement reconciled something for me.
Laurie Young encountered Naniek K. with such grace and responding to her with an emotional clarity which resonated in a tangible time-relationship that I passionately want to continue researching with them!
In the background playing with rhythms of yellow.

More photos soon by Fungi Fung.

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TOIL – Sheena McGrandles & Friends

Back to Uferstudios rehearsing ‚Toil‘ by Sheena McGrandle.
Save the premier: December 3, 2025 + 4 +5 + 6.12.2025

HAU2, Hallesches Ufer 34, 10963 Berlin
Tickets  here
English here

“TOIL” untersucht den tanzenden Körper bei der Arbeit –  hin- und hergerissen zwischen Entfremdung und Begehren, Routine und Rebellion. Ausgehend von Ballett, irischem Folk und Punk entwerfen fünf Tänzer*innen in Begleitung von zwei Musiker*innen ein physisches Porträt des Tanzes als Ort von Arbeit und Sehnsucht zugleich.

“TOIL” ist eine choreografische Erkundung von Arbeit und ihrer emotionalen, historischen und körperlichen Dimensionen. Entstanden aus einer tiefen Hingabe an den Tanz mit all seinen Kämpfen und Freuden, reflektieren die Tänzer*innen Michelle Cheung, Eli Cohen, Martin Hansen, Mickey Mahar und Dasniya Sommer was bleibt, wenn Bewegung selbst zur Arbeit wird. Live begleitet von Marta Forsberg und Steve Heather, bewegt sich die eigens für “TOIL” komponierte Musik zwischen Elektro, Folk und Punk. In einem reduzierten Bühnenbild entsteht eine intensive Auseinandersetzung mit der eigenen Körperlichkeit, mit Rhythmus und Zusammenhalt. Ein ständiges Bemühen, den sich ständig veränderten Rhythmen der Zeit zu folgen.

Team

Konzept und Choreografie: Sheena McGrandles / Choreografie und Performance: Michelle Cheung, Eli Cohen, Martin Hansen, Mickey Mahar, Dasniya Sommer / Musikkomposition: Steve Heather, Marta Forsberg / Dramaturgie: Jette Büchsenschütz / Bühnenbild, Kostüme: Michiel Keuper / Kostümassistenz: Julianne Längin /Lichtdesign: Elliott Cennetoglu / Technische Leitung: Emese Csornai / Choreographic outside eye: Laurie Young and Louise Trueheart /Kreative Produktion: Saskia Schoenmaker / Produktionsassistenz: Cote Jaña / PR/Social Media: Agnė Auželytė

Image © Evan Loxton.

ZHdK – Arbeitsweisen

Very rewarding to co-teach at the Züricher Hochschule der Künste/Theater for the last few days. The students were so openly and curiously engaging in the performance/dance tasks which was more than inspiring for us in return.
Thanks to SKART for taking me on the boat and together digging for ideas and new creative insights!

Shibari Classes In March

Upcoming workshop: Tuesday March 24, 2026 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: 24.3.2025
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.

Performance: Bellied

 

Few rehearsals and special concentration with Corey Scott-Gilbert / vaL for his new solo work Bellied during Art Week / PERFORM! 2025.

When: Sunday, September 14th at 3pm.
Where: Terrasse Neue Nationalgallerie

Music and sound design: Turkana
Dramaturgie: Dasniya Sommer
Costume: SADAK

Photos: Neue Nationalgallerie and fottomatti.

Research: Storia Infinita

Research: Eliko moves and suspends between plastic plates. Moss-swings, passepartout underlay for organic material and the skin as intimate surface. Eliko‘s partner joins the session, lifts and swings her gently for hours in the air.
Meanwhile woollen clouds are falling apart. One looks like Falkor from the Never Ending Story, maybe after the Japanese luck dragon Fuku Ryū.

Model: Eliko
Fotos: Werner Amann
Support: Iman.rhv
Space concept + ropes: Dasniya Sommer

Some thoughts trying to connect different levels of a research and questions on how the space would be shared with sound and performance. During Open Studio weekend at Uferhallen one guest asked if the contrast of the material has specific meaning. Others saw references to the Czech/Slovak feminist female artist Anna/Anča Daučíková.
To star with I was mainly inspired by the bright, oversize Dojo of the BJJ championship in Crete I saw last autumn.
Or is it a colourful chessboard? A dojo as place of learning, or a chessboard as place to play against each other? Speaking with a sound person they wondered if the geometric plates is a visual arrangement of music? Is there a correlation between the coloured areas and a performers physical impact on the material, for example a extra boxing dummy? And is the boxing dummy recognisable as such, or is it stuffed with sheep‘s wool into an amorphous structure that eventually bursts open, revealing soft wool?
Do the squares represent tonal sound diagrams, or are they simply colored dojo mats depicting a non-hierarchical space? Do the panels in the primary colors need to be complemented with intermediate/pastel tones? Is the wooden ladder part of the space and does it suggest something about the process-oriented, unfinished nature of the work, which is what research always is? Not a finished piece, but a step/phase in the creative process.

 
Studio Rental
From Oktober to December 2026 I am partially sharing my Studio at Uferhallen. It is a bright and calm space for physical training, shootings, meetings and research.

Two rooms 45m2, with dance floor or tatami, photo screens and tea kitchen. The space is great for concentrated writing projects, shibari tying/teaching, and shootings on white and green screen.
For more information contact: email(at)dasniyasommer(.)de